June 29,2010 Digby, NS

After leaving Ellsworth, ME on Monday noon, we crossed the border at Calais without incident and arrived in St Joseph, NB where we stopped for an early dinner and look around.  It’s a nice little town and we found a restaurant that had an eclectic menu.  There were items from many different ethnicities and all sounded good.  We continued on to St John and arrived before dark at the ferry terminal.  Was expecting the trip to be longer but after playing with the grandkids for 3 days, we were ready for some down time.  We decided to just spend the night at the terminal after okaying it with the staff.  We watched the 8PM Digby ferry leave then later there was a departure at 11PM.  We were scheduled for the noon departure and settled down for some movies and snacks and a dusk walk on the beach.  There were some kids having a drunken bonfire on the beach and had an undisciplined large dog so we didn’t spend much time there. 

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The next morning we lined up in our assigned line at the front of the row as we were the first to arrive. Soon the parking lot was full and loading commenced.  We were surprised when every other row boarded the ferry, even the 18-wheelers were getting on.  We were stuck with a few other overheight autos. The loadmaster came over and explained it all had to do with the height and we would be loaded appropriately according to the ferry deck space.  Although we were nearly the last ones loaded, we were nearly the first ones off, so that made up for the long wait.  Stopped at the tourist info center and got maps and guides shortly after we got off.  Then drove right in to the Digby Campground and found a spot near another Roadtrek from Ontario.  Nice campground within walking distance from town.

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We looked in a few gift shops then found a nice restaurant with an outdoor deck and had some of the famous Digby scallops.  Delicious as I remembered them from 10 years ago.  Lila then had to explore the sailboat docks.  It was interesting to see the ramp down to the docks had a flat surface for half of it and a stairway for the other part.  When the tide is in you can use the ramp part, but when it is out you need the steps.  There is a nearly 30 foot difference between the high and low tides, 

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June 26,2010 Owl Head to Homeport Rockland, ME

Cap’n Noah left the ship early on Baby and went in to the dock at Owl Head.  When he returned, he had his wife, Jane and their son, Oscar with him.  They would join us for breakfast and the sail back to Rockland.  Oscar is a delightful, happy young lad and was happy to see his Daddy.  Our final meal was just as good as all of the others.  Aimee had whipped up turnovers as a appetite whetter, then brought out an egg souffle with corned beef hash.  Soon, Baby was rigged as a pusher boat and we went around the point and made our way back along the breakwater and the large oil drilling rig back to Rockland around 10 AM.

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We said our final farewells and drug our seabags from below and up the gangway back to civilization, leaving behind the oldest sailing vessel in continuous service in the United States.  No more hauling lines to raise sail or working the anchor windlass.

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  No more remembering to turn around before going below.  Or hand pumping the head.  Or any more of Aimee’s fabulous meals or appetizers.  No more Charlie Noble.  Or sunset cannon.  Or Cap’n Noah telling us the history of this port or that lighthouse or island.  No more chatting and joking with all of the other great passengers on this sailing adventure.

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  Until next time……

June 26-28 At Ellsworth

After we left the Stephen Taber, we headed to the Coast Guard Exchange just at the end of the schooner dock.  Just wanted to see if there was anything I couldn’t live without before we headed to Nova Scotia.  It was an okay exchange, but didn’t see anything to buy.  Got the Roadtrek from the parking lot behind the Lindsey House that is owned and run by the Taber’s owners family as a guest house for folks before and after cruises.

We headed north on US 1 and were soon crossing the Bucksport Bridge that we saw from the schooner.  We had already passed the turnoffs for Castine and Fort Point.  Memories of the trip are already swimming in our heads. 

Called ahead to Ellsworth and found out Johanna was working and John and kids were out shopping. We were at Searsport and it was hot and Lila needed to go swimming.  So while I was calling, she took a plunge from a town beach and came back refreshed.  We got to the Marines new home shortly after they arrived.  It was good to see Heather, Gabriel and Levi again.  And John was hospitable, as always.  We hooked up the electricity to the Roadtrek but John said their water wasn’t that great so didn’t hook up the water.  The grandkids were fascinated by the Roadtrek and had to see every nook and cranny.  They were delighted with the two hidden work tables.  And the shower and toilet were especially wondrous to them.  They were disappointed that they all couldn’t sleep with us in the RV.

We met the menagerie.  There’s Quackers, the outside duck with his own pen and duckhouse in the yard.  Then there are the new arrivals.  Three more ducks, 2 turkeys and 3 laying hen chicks in pens in the basement.  They are in the process of starting a mini-farm and this is the core of the livestock.  Plans are being made for raised bed gardens and other improvements for raising food when after they buy the property.  There is a large warehouse/shop beside the house that John will turn into a woodworking shop to make wood items for sale.  He already has a small sideline business going but doesn’t have room to expand and do it right.  The shop will give him space to produce and also have a showroom/sales area.

Turns out their shopping trip was actually yard saling and they had a few new goodies of their own.  After a little show and tell, we planned a simple cookout and headed to the grocery store to get the ingredients to make it happen. 

I noticed that the kids had written welcome messages on the driveway pavement with their sidewalk chalk.  And that they had a new sandbox.  It got filled and they were busy making castles and such until dinner.  Johanna came home and we had hotdogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers over the charcoal fire.  Sat out talking until the skeeters came out.

 

They have become an electronic family.  Everyone has an Ipod or Blackberry except for Levi.  They are always playing a tune or a game or something.  It is a sign of the times and it’s good that they are becoming computer literate early.  It will stand them in good stead later in life.  But, it’s hard for grandparents to come up to their speed with understanding what they are talking about at times.  And to play the games with them….  I did get to understand a couple of the games before we left.

We had a good time getting caught up.  Lila and I retired to the Roadtrek in the driveway for the night.  It was quiet, even though they live right on Hwy US 1A.  Overnight, that is.  Daytime is a different story.  There is highway construction work going on right in front of their house and lots of heavy equipment and dump truck activity all day long.  John and Johanna reported some overnight work at times, too.

In the morning we had a leisurely breakfast and headed to the Ellsworth Park for some playground time. 

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Then off to Blueberry Hill for ice cream.  There is a replica lighthouse and a dinghy there for the kids to play on/in.  Had a good time and the ice cream there is always good.

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The next morning we wanted to make sure we made it to the ferry in New Brunswick for our reservation, so we headed out around noon.  We are planning to stop by again on the way south so parting is not too bad. 

June 25, 2010 Fort Point to Owl Head

I was up early this morning around 0530.  The water was smooth as glass.  Crows ashore calling to each other.  A  solitary loon calls its primeval sound.  The Bucksport Bridge piers are noticeable in the distance.  This is one of only 3 bridges in the world with an observation tower built in to the bridge tower.  The view reported is magnificient including a lot of the offshore islands and up to Mount Katadhin.

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Aimee is already in the galley; smoke from the Charlie Noble wafts around the deck. Crew up and removing the awning.  Night lanterns down and ready to be stowed for the day.  Soon the colors are raised and the banners and pennants, including the Gumby flag.  Then breakfast:  Hard-boiled eggs, sticky buns (best ones I’ve ever eaten.)

 

We were regaled with the story of the Gumby last night.  It seems that this week is the homecoming week for many.  Some have been taking annual cruises for 18 years.  They have been returning the same week and enjoying each other during mid-June annually.  During one of the cruises, someone brought aboard a small Gumby doll.  It became the mascot for the cruise.  Then over later years, larger and larger Gumby’s appeared until at one point a life-sized Gumby ended up in the chef’s bunk.  It survived for several years until it became too worn to sail.  The flag was added somewhere along and is raised daily during the homecoming cruise.  It did suffer a little damage during this sail and will be getting some needed repairs before next years’ sailing.

Well, It’s Friday and we only have one night left on the cruise.  So, we’re sailing south on a westerly wind towards home port.  Saw 5 other schooners today at one time.

We had Black Bean Chili with woodstove ovenbaked cornbread for lunch.  The wind continued during this beautiful day and we sailed past Rockland down to Owl Head harbor.  This is a working lobster boat harbor and there was activity from lobstermen coming in at the end of the day and again in the morning when a few went out. 

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Another tradition of the Stephen Taber is to have a turkey dinner on the last night of the sail.  We were treated to the full works!  There was turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, broccoli, and cookies.  It was a feast and we all stuffed ourselves.  Then Cap’n Will and Max, one of the newer crew members, brought out guitars and played a few songs.  Others shared stories or jokes or magic tricks.  Notably Fred with his folk songs. And David with his story of the sailor and the tailor’s daughter.  It was fun watching the knots appear in the red string. 

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I mentioned earlier that the Taber traditionally fires the cannon every night at sunset as they are lowering the colors.  I had been attempting to capture this image every night, probably doing my ears damage in the process. On the last night I finally had the timing down and caught the flash of the cannon blast as it was fired.  I noticed the crew members took turns firing the cannon and wore hearing protection. 

June 24, 2010 Castine to Fort Point

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In to shore early for a walk around town.  Lots of Victorian houses and historic signs. Fort George ruins above town.  Location of a major defeat during the Revolutionary War.  Lost the most ships until Pearl Harbor.  Paul Revere, artillery officer,  disgraced.  Battle of Penebscot Bay.  Nice museum in town. Dr Wilson was lucky his mother built it for him to house his extensive collections from his world travels as a geologist and anthropologist.   Also home of Maine Maritime School and there are ships and school buildings evident. 

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We had a lunch of Ham and Cheese sandwiches with a special sauce then set sail north on a southerly breeze up the Penebscot River towards Bucksport.  Ran wing on wing.  Noted no lobster pots.  The salt water is lighter than fresh.  There is a river current running below the salt water.  The lobsters can’t live in the fresh water on the bottom.  Stopped off of Fort Point State Park near the Mary Day out of Camden.  We put up the canopy and had Fried Risotto Balls, cheese, crackers, and Chianti for an appetizer.  Cap’n Noah rigged the sail on Plain Jane and took several out for a sail. 

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We noticed some Mary Day folks diving from their bowsprit.  Out crew climbed the ratlines and dove off of Taber.  I dove off the rail.  None of the other  passengers went swimming.  The water sure was cold.  I dove a few times and swam directly to the ladder to get back aboard.  The crew had assembled the on-deck shower and it was time for a nice hot shower after the brisk swim. 

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Then it was time for Pasta with meat or tomato sauce for dinner.  There was Lemon Ginger Custard for dessert.  Aimee still delighting us with her culinary expertise.  We enjoyed a nice sunset; red sky at night, sailor’s delight.  Nice conversations til dark and to bed.

June 17-19,2010 From Home to Fourth Cliff RV Park, MA

We left home late so we could stop at Eastport for the Thursday concert at the Annapolis Maritime Museum.  It was a special tribute to Tom Wisner who passed away earlier this year.  Tom was a great song writer, environmentalist and lover of the Chesapeake Bay and all of its waters.  We got to Eastport and ate at the Davis Pub on 4th St.  It is one of our favorite stops in Eastport.  Good beer, good food, and we sit outdoors and watch the boats go by. 

Got to the concert just as it began and really enjoyed Tom’s songs being sung again.  Hope they will be sung for a long time.  He did some great stuff.  Met Mary Ellen, one of our fellow volunteers at Flag Pond and Cypress Swamp, there and had a nice chat at intermission.  Concert had to stop at 8:30 due to some weird rules.  The bars can run their jukeboxes til 0145 but the live music at the museum has to stop early.  Got on the road north and traffic across the Bay Bridge was light.  Filled up with gas on the Jersey Turnpike around 10 PM and decided since traffic was light, to try the George Washington Bridge and stay on 95. Big mistake.  Got to the bridge around midnight and made it across just fine, but then we ran into the night construction.  I thought at one time we were going to merge down to NO lanes.  We finally got through along with all of the 18 wheelers and stopped in CT at a park and ride lot around 0230.  It was peaceful enough until the commuters started arriving early.  I got up and headed to the Burger King across the street for coffee and we hit the road around 8. 

Got to Fourth Cliff RV Park around noon and got a great site facing the North River beside one of the few other occupied sites.  When they came back from town we were napping.  Got up and discovered it was another Roadtrek 190.  They are from Key West and he was a Navy Corpsman with the 4th Marine Division in Viet Nam.  We compared RT stories and they travel a lot of the same places we do.  It is nice to meet new people and get to talk to them.  Had a nice sunset and the view from our site is perfect to watch sunsets. 

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Fourth Cliff is uniquely situated on a spit of land located between the Atlantic Ocean just north of Cape Cod Bay and the New Inlet of the North and South Rivers.  There is the opportunity for real ocean activities: beachcombing, surf fishing, swimming and such.   But on the freshwater side there is also a lot of activity.  Lots of power boats use the inlet, there are gravelly flats that provide habitat to marine life, shallow swim beaches, more fishing opportunities.  We were able to go out at low tide and harvest 2 small batches of mussels which really made a great appetizer while we were camped there.  It is fun to watch the sand dollars and crabs in the clear water.

June 20, 2010 Rockland and the Stephen Taber

 

We left Fourth Cliff behind after 2 nights and arrived at Rockland, ME around midday Sunday.  We were early so just went down and met a couple of the crew that were preparing the boat and loading groceries into the large ice chest on deck.  The smaller one on the right is for passenger use; beer and wine and sodas and such.  Wandered around the pretty seaport town and repacked for our voyage then reported on board at 4PM and got our cabin assignment.  No 4 had to be the smallest cabin on the boat.  We had enough standing headroom for one of us to stand at a time.  And the double bed was under the deck so there was barely room to sit up in bed and I had to crawl over Lila to get out.  There was a sink and mirror and a glass over the bed to let in some light from the deck.  We met the captain at 6 for a brief safety briefing and met the crew.  We were free to go in town to eat, then sleep aboard and our first meal aboard was breakfast the next morning and sailing shortly after that. We all went to Jimmy’s Pearl Restaurant (he was a former customer of the Stephen Taber that liked the area so much he bought a restaurant and stayed.) Lila and I ate with David and Susan, and Fred and Cami.  We met Jimmy on the way out and he was appreciative of the business and the referral from Cap’n Noah. The Stephen Taber is on the left, J&R Riggin in the middle and the Nathaniel Bowditch on the right.  Taber and Riggin left at the same time.  We were on a 6 day cruise, Riggin on a 3 day one. 

Met a fellow ham radio operator and we set up a schedule to try to talk on our handy talkies daily but I couldn’t get mine to work right.

The meals were prepared on a very old woodstove by Aimee, who is a genius of a cook.  She made the trip very worthwhile with her great meals. 

June 21, 2010 Rockland to Isle au Haut, ME

  After a delicious breakfast of blueberry pancakes, sausage, melon slices and great coffee Monday morning, we left the dock at Rockland and headed out past the breakwater and began our journey around the thousand islands of Penebscot Bay. We raised sail as soon as we were nearing the breakwater. Since the Taber is a centerboard schooner, she is able to go into some fairly shallow waters and get in close to the islands.  Captain Noah and crew were really good at showing and explaining what we were seeing as we cruised by.  And they LET us help with raising sails and tacking when necessary.  It took a lot of man and woman power to raise the sails but many hands made light work.  Raising anchor was another team effort. 

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L: Susan and Fred on mainsheet.  CL: J&R Riggin passing the Rockland Breaker Lighthouse.  CR: Susan’s back, then her husband David, Rick, Dana, Fred and Lila; the guys are raising the foresail. R: The Riggin seen across Plain Jane which was built by Noah and was a really neat little boat.

We had a great lunch of beef stew salad, and fresh wood stove baked crusty bread.  Getting to know the boat better.  We lost our wind for a while in the afternoon and lowered ‘Baby’ the motorized dinghy and used her as a pusher boat.  Wind picked back up later and we sailed further east to Isle Au Haut.  Cap’n Noah says we did about a 24 mile sail. Dropped anchor in sight of the island and the Riggin.  Appetizers were served soon as we got the sails furled.  Mussels in a wine sauce served with chunks of the crusty bread.  Dinner was Risotto Salmon with Hazelnut Butter Sauce, Asparagus, and Strawberry/Rhubarb Cardamom Pie.  Great sunset and learned the Taber’s tradition of firing the cannon at sunset.  It’s a 12 gauge shotgun shell blank cannon but makes an impressive end to the day.  Colors came down, dinner shortly after. This is the summer solstice and sundown was late. Listened to Fred’s story about him and the .223 vs the young male black bear.  It was an interesting story and turns out he won with only a torn shirt.  The game warden got the dead bear.  Also talked at dark with Jock who is a building contractor in ME.  We talked about his camp on the lake and building stuff.  To bed around 10PM in Cabin 5 which was much better than 4. Now we had room for standing and turning around.  2 beds perpendicular to each other.  There are open cabins, only 16 passengers out of a possible 22.

June 23, 2010 Wreck Island to Castine

We had Oatmeal with almonds and brown sugar, whole milk, juice, yogurt with granola along with the great coffee and tea below in the galley early Wednesday morning.  What a cozy place.  There are two massive tables that seated everybody.  There are a couple crew bunks here, also.  And the wood cookstove.   It’s a neat place with spices and utensils and pots and pans hanging in every available space.  Aimee does wonders with the small space she has to work with.

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Foggy and brisk gusty winds.  Main reefed. Foul weather gear on. Running before the wind, we made good time up to Castine.   Rain quit just before we dropped anchor. 

June 22, 2010 Isle Au Haut to Wreck Island

I was up at 0730 Tuesday for coffee and leftover strawberry/rhubarb pie.  Then had breakfast later, too, of scrambled eggs with parmesan, locally smoked bacon, fried potatoes and Tomato Chewy Bread along with the usual juice and coffee and tea.  It’s a cool, nice morning.  Saw some seals in our harbor.  Cap’n Noah got Baby down and took people ashore for a walk around.  The island is half private and the other half is part of Acadia National Park.  There is a road around the island and a few cars use the dirt road. 

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L: Pretty church LC: Acadia NP sign C: We almost saw the lighthouse (Look closely)  RC: Maine lobstermen never throw anything away R: The Taber from Baby at Isle Au Haut

After a morning ashore, we pulled anchor and motored away from the island. Aimee had fixed another scrumptious lunch while we were ashore.  I wanted to bring her home…..

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L:Halibut Chowder, Basil Salad and Poppyseed Muffins with Lime Cream Cheese Icing C: Muddy anchor coming up R: Anchor chain locker

We headed to Stonington to pick up lobsters for the  lobster boil.  There were a lot of lobstermen working their boats and an amazing number of lobster pots.  I think Cap’n Noah knows something about the quality of the lobsters here.

L: Hundreds of lobster pots, maybe thousands  C: Stonington, ME harbor R: Pulling a lobster pot.

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But when Baby wouldn’t start and we were drifting really close to Green 16 buoy, things got a bit hectic.  A tap with a hammer on the starter got ‘er going and we were off again heading east.  We found a west wind and had a great sail in the afternoon. Anchored off Wreck Island.  Crew rowed ashore with lobster boil equipment.  We followed along shortly after and had a great picnic on the beach.  We all had to find a lobster rock on the side of the island where we came ashore, there weren’t rocks on the beach side where we ate.  And we had to have something to crack the claws.  Cap’n Noah had bought 2 lobsters apiece.  And there was corn on the cob, melted butter, plus some flank steak and sausages. Rose wine went well.  Fred gave me one of his Guiness’, too, which went well with the lobsters.  We were all stuffed and had a great time.

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L: The Taber and Baby off Wreck Island LC: The lobsters and corn are done C: All of the crew were on mess duty RC: Lobsters going in the pot  R: Cap’n Noah taking the crew back after the picnic.

We spent the night anchored off of Wreck Island.  With full bellies, we gathered on deck for a few stories and songs then to bed shortly after dark. 

May 29, 2010 Prince William Forest Park

Well, I think I have found one of the Park Service’s hidden treasures.  If you search for National Parks in VA, it does show up, but National is not part of its name.   The next is a quote from their website http://www.nps.gov/prwi/index.htm

Experience a place where history and nature unite!

Prince William Forest Park is an oasis of natural beauty and human history located only 35 miles south of Washington, DC. 37 miles of hiking trails and 21 miles of bicycle-accessible roads and trails traverse this 15,000 acre piedmont forest. Beneath its canopy lies evidence of human history reaching back to 8,000 B.C.

Oak Ridge Campground has 100 sites in 3 loops.  2 loops can handle RV’s or tents, and one is tents only.  There is also a RV park called Trailer Village that we did not visit.  It has hook-ups and a pool and such.  We found a great site for our 2nd and 3rd nights.  The first night we arrived about dark and found a nice level site but it turned out to be in a very low damp spot and I moved to a higher ground site early Sat morning.  When we arrived at the check-in and campground host site, there were a lot of blue flashing lights in the A loop. The host said there was an ‘incident’ involving fire trucks, rangers, sheriff’s deputies and others but it was about wrapped up.  Didn’t ask questions and the host assured us it was a temporary situation and was nearly resolved.  We had to bypass that campsite by going the wrong way on the one-way but found a site in B loop for the night without difficulty.

When we set up on our new site Sat morning we were beside a large family in a pop up and tent with kids.  Figured that would be nice when Adam and family arrived later.  The bathroom and water source were just across the road.  I’m never sure I have enough water since the gauges in the Roadtrek are always telling me the tanks are full.  I use fresh water for drinking and cooking mostly.  Use the water tanks for flushing and dishes. Leveled the RT with 2 of the Lynx Levelers and set up the awning and Buddipole antenna and gathered some firewood for later, and we were set for the day.  Our site also was right up against a sloping grassy  playing field for the kids as seen in the top picture.  Lots of preteens and younger kids gathered there Sat afternoon and evening for a long soccer game and tree climbing.  I think the girls might have won….. 

This is a very wooded and hilly campground.  The bicycling is interesting. It was a steady climb back to the check-in but coasted all the way back.  Lots of kids on bikes, and adults, too.  The group of veterans on motorcycles across from us spent most of the time at Rolling Thunder in DC. They were up from Florida for the bike parade. 

We had a good campfire for dinner and cooked veggie-burgers and hotdogs and had cole slaw and potato salad.

As the night came on, we made S’More’s.  Only had one kid accept the invite and she was really appreciative of the treat.  Abe had already crashed, Sam enjoyed roasting the marshmallows.  I boiled some potatoes on the LP range for breakfast and washed dishes before settling in for a quiet night.  Whippoorwill’s sang us to sleep.  Along with some Green Tree Frogs. 

Up early.  Adam already had a fire going.  Water for coffee heating.  I got Lila to ramrod the hash-browns cooking while I used the Roadtrek gas range for the pancakes.  Honey, syrup and home-canned pears for pancake toppings.  Everyone got full and seemed happy.  Adam, Sam and Abe left for home mid-day and we hung out around the campground relaxing.  There were a lot of sites used.  Our neighbors use this area a lot, being local, and said it was an unusually large crowd.  Maybe the economy has kept folks closer to home and at cheaper areas.  The sites here are $15 a night without hookups.  Hot showers and good water and lots of shade make this a spot we’ll visit again.  And with our Golden Age Passport we get free entrance and half rate on the campsite, so it’s a great bargain.

May 25, 2010 MCRD Parris Island RV Park

There’s nothing like the sound of small arms fire in the morning to warm the heart of an old Marine…….

We spent 3 nights at this newly opened military campground.  We had planned to spend only 2 but were having a good time and the weather was cooperating and …..  I want to show all the amenities and such that we found there.  It was easy to find and all the sites are level with loose asphalt parking pads.  There is a concrete pad and aluminum picnic table at each site.  There is not much shade but we found one of the few trees and claimed Site 17.  There are 18 sites numbered from 18 at the entrance down to 1 at the far end.

 

                          

The head (bathroom) is located in the middle between Sites 9 and 10.   

The head is a nice new building with handicapped access to the toilets and showers.  There is a laundry room, a water jug filling machine and vending machine there.  The key issued when you register is needed for the doors to the bathroom/showers and the laundry room.  It also unlocks the padlocks for the water and electric hookups.  There is 20/30/50 amp service and plenty of water pressure.  The sewer connection at each site is not locked.  The keys are issued at the ITT office at the Main Exchange Bldg 409 at PI. But reservations are handled through Outdoor Recreation which is at MCAS Beaufort.  The staff at ITT were very friendly and helpful when we arrived without reservations. 

  When we arrived there was only one other rig there.  We sat up on the other end of the campground near a tree.  The road at the far end continues on to Elliot’s Beach Day Use Area.  There is a playground and picnic tables there under the old live oak trees hanging with Spanish Moss.  It’s a nice area to chill out and watch the fishermen and boaters.  Lots of oysters on the mudflats, too.  This is not a swimming area.  There is a rip-rap wall of broken concrete and such to protect the shore here. 

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Back to the campground.  Traffic to and from Elliot’s Beach all day but the campground has its own little frontage road beside the main road.  Traffic almost nil at night.  Quiet.  So quiet you can hear the recruits at the Weapons Battalion chanting when they march.  We heard Tattoo and Taps one night when we were sitting outside. 

Morning sounds start early if you’re sensitive.  The recruits are up and moving to the rifle range and commence firing on the ranges around 0600.  I imagine it’s first light or daybreak when they start so could be later in winter.  Anyways, it’s about a mile away and is not a bother just a presence.  I could hear lots of rifle fire and less pistol fire.  Must have been requalifying permanent personnel on pistol.  This is the range where I was disappointed during boot camp with a broken gas cylinder plug on my M1 on qual day and barely qualified.  Then came back the next year and broke a range record and won a Leatherneck Marksmanship Award with the M14.  Got my LCPL stripe for that, too.  Those were the days.  I had the opportunity to play the bugle at Weapons Battalion while stationed with the PI Drum and Bugle Corps.  I played Reveille, Chow Call, Assembly, Morning Colors, and then Tattoo and Taps along with taking weather readings to determine safe working conditions due to heat and humidity. 

My critique of the campground:  Needs more shade trees.  The one way signs on the campground road are unnecessary': with only 9 sites using the road at each end and it’s wide open visually, I don’t think traffic is going to be a problem.  I have a suspicion the key and padlock system will fail.  I had the number fall off of my keytag and the bead chain parted when I was near the sewer connector.  It’s just lucky I hadn’t opened it yet or the key would have been bye-bye.  I was just thinking if I had been locked in to the electric and had lost the key, what would I have done?  The showers are large and accessible.  The toilet (there is 1 toilet and 1 urinal on the men’s side) is accessible.  2 sinks, good lighting.  The open breezeway could come in handy in rough weather but is open on both ends.  The laundry looked spacious.  I didn’t spend enough time here to count the machines or see what they cost.  The fee is $15 for full hook-ups, not a bad deal.  It’s not far from Mainside, but far enough.  The Main Exchange is about a mile and a half.  There is a service station there.  The main food court is another half mile or so.  The Visitor Center is on the main street and staff there are helpful.  Lots of souvenirs at several stores and the Main Exchange.  Lots of Marines marching and chanting and doing PT and running.  DI’s with their Smokey Bear hats.  Ceremonial swords.  Spit and polish.  Shiny brass.  It’s a good place to go if you want a dose of military. 

May 27,2010 Parris Island Chapel, Museum and Lyceum

Thursday was Family Day for the graduating Marine recruits.  There are activities planned for the families that come for the graduation.  One of them was a buffet in the Lyceum.  Now when I was a recruit here in ‘61, the Lyceum was where we learned jujitsu and pugil stick hand to hand combat skills.  It was a very industrial warehouse like building with a large open wooden floor.  Now it is a modern looking banquet hall with large chandeliers, a recreation of Tun Tavern and looks like a great place for a Marine Corps Ball or There were tables for several hundred and only a couple dozen were there. 

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We were on our bikes for this day of base sightseeing and found it very easy to bike here.  There are wide areas for joggers along most of the roads on base.  And there were always Marines using them.  Fitness is a major goal of Marine life.  We biked by my old unit, Headquarters Co, H&S Bn, where I was stationed with the Parris Island Drum and Bugle Corps after finishing Field Music School.  The school is no longer at PI. They train musicians at Yorktown, VA now. The Drum Corps is gone, too.  They have a good band and we heard them Friday morning.  Also missing is the club where I hoisted a few with my drum corps buddies.  The club now is in the old brig and is named the Brig and Brew.  It has an austere look like it was just used as a brig recently.  There’s even a barbed wire lookout tower against one wall.  Met some nice senior NCO’s there later when we went back in for dinner, drink and computer time and karaoke.

Stopped at the chapel right across from the Parade Field near 1st Recruit Bn.  It was built in the mid-80’s.  I asked about the chapel I would have attended when I was there but no one seemed to know anything about it.  It was about a block away and named Depot Chapel and is still there and has a big sign in front….   Anyway, the stained glass windows were donated by various Marine organizations and were good at showing Marine historical events and biblical depictions.  We missed a 2PM talk by the chaplain discussing them.

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Just a couple blocks away is the Marine Corps Museum and it was chock full of Marine Corps and Parris Island history.  There had been a Marine Corps presence at PI since the Civil War.  And it has been training Marines since before WW1.  It was interesting to look at the timelines of when the corps started taking women (WW1) and when it integrated (late 40’s) and other milestones.  I was particularly interested in the Field Music School pictures.  They took 16 year olds in a Field Musics; regular recruits had to be 18. 

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It was good to return and see that the Marines are still GungHo and keeping up traditions.  They still have a bulldog mascot and have ceremonial Colors and parades and teach the Marine Corps Hymn and drill and fitness.  They have added the Crucible, which is a field training exercise that uses the classroom training and incorporates team building scenarios.   And there are still honor graduates that get a stripe and a set of dress blues upon graduation.  And the haircuts are still high and tight!

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May 26, 2010 Hunting Island State Park, SC

While camping at Parris Island RV Park, we did a little sight seeing and swimming.  Hunting Island State Park wasn’t too far away and Lila had been here before, so we spent most of the day at the beach.  The waves were about 2 foot high and I caught a couple for some short body surfing rides.  I was glad I had my water shoes on since there were a few oyster shells scattered around.  Lila had cut her foot on an oyster shell at Elliot’s Beach the day before and I was being a little cautious.  It’s nice to see healthy oyster beds in these waters.  Had seen the same at Jekyll Island a couple years ago.  This beach shows a lot of historic erosion.  The tree roots make interesting driftwood but it’s sad to see the loss of sand.

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It is a wide beach and the sand is soft and easy to walk on.  We walked a long way south and saw lots of nice shells.  Kept a conch and an angel wing.  There was a protected loggerhead turtle nest on the beach and it appeared to have just hatched a few young.

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After a pickup lunch  in the Roadtrek, we headed for the lighthouse that is at the north end of the park.  It is well interpreted and maintained.  Learned about the various families that lived and worked the lighthouse.  There were 3 lighthouse keepers at a time.  The lighthouse keeper and 2 assistant lighthouse keepers worked 4 hours shifts round the clock.  The night shifts dealt with keeping the light lit and the day shifts with maintaining the lighthouse and grounds.  They had a cistern for drinking water.  They kept a garden and small livestock and had to transport the oil for the light from mainland by boat then a short rail line powered by a hand car.  Then had to hand carry the oil up to the light.

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There was a lagoon behind the dune line at the south end of the park that was popular with kayakers and fishermen. 

We left the park and headed back towards the campground but stopped for a great seafood dinner at Frogmore near St Helena Island.  There are some good Gulla restaurants but didn’t seem to be open at dinner time.  How strange.  Maybe after Memorial Day?  They were open for lunch, though. 

It was a fun day and we returned to the campground full and tired. There was a nice sunset and a cool breeze. 

May 24-25, 2010 Roadtrek Road Trip to Parris Island

We left home around 3PM Monday, May 24th after waiting for the UPS delivery of generator parts.  Drove through VA and NC and got into SC before we got off the road for the night.  Had planned to stop at a Cracker Barrel or WalMart but couldn’t find one when we were ready to quit for the night.  Did find a Piggly Wiggly store lot that was empty and seemed to be an alright place to hole up for the night.  They had a $2.99 breakfast the next morning that was a great bargain.  Scrambled eggs, 3 sausage links, grits, and a biscuit and gravy.  Coffee was extra and we both had breakfast for under $7.50. Actually had biscuits left over for the next morning. The weather was great, sunny and mild. 

Arrived at Parris Island and checked in at the MCX ITT office.  The staff were nice and helpful.  The reservations are made at MCAS Beaufort Outdoor Rec and ITT on Mainside at PI hand out the keys.  It was easy to find the RV park.  We actually found the park then went to register, so we knew which site we preferred.  There was one other motorhome at the other end of the park.  So now there were 2 sites occupied out of 18. 

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We were the first camper to use Site 17 since the RV Park opened on May 14th.  The key issued by the ITT office opens the padlocks on the electric box which has 20/30/50 amp service; the water spigot, and the locks on the bathroom and laundry room.  The bathroom is brand new and still shiny clean.  A handicapped toilet stall, urinal and 2 handicapped accessible showers and 2 sinks comprise the men’s room.  I expect the ladies room is similar.  Briefly stuck my head in the laundry room but did not note how many washers and driers or their cost.  There were at least 2 of each machine, maybe 3.

The RV Park is on the road to Elliot’s Beach.  Anyone who has been through boot camp at PI will remember the forced march to Elliot’s Beach as one of the highlights of their training.  But the picnic grounds are out past the RV Park and there is a constant stream of traffic going to and from the playground and picnic area.  It might be that the RV Park is a new entity to the base and is being checked out by the locals, but it seemed the traffic was more than necessary.  It did stop at dark and it was very quiet overnight.  Was able to hear Tattoo and Taps from the Range Battalion off in the distance.

There’s nothing like the sound of small arms fire in the morning!!  Since the RV Park is near the rifle and pistol training ranges and they start very early.  But, they are far enough away that it’s not bothersome. 

After checking out the MCX, Base Museum, Chapel with its beautiful stained glass windows, The Brig and Brew, we drove around base and I got to remember my time there in 1961 through ‘63.  The Field Music School is gone; so it the Drum Corps.  We heard the band at Morning Colors on graduation day Friday morning.  And a nice talk by the Training Regiment Commander about how the Corps is honored to be entrusted with the recruits.  We didn’t stay for the graduation ceremony but did hear the band sound adjutant’s call and watch the recruits march onto the parade ground to become Marines. 

It was a great visit. When we left on Friday morning, there were about 6 sites in use.   Next year, Camp Lejeune.  (We visited Quantico Marine Base on Memorial Day before coming home.)