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.
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.
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.
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.
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