July 29 -- Lay Day in Bass Harbor.

Foggy all day except in the afternoon. Here's Alfie on Morris Yacht's' dock in the late afternoon, with a boat moored nearby in the mist; she's pointing to it with her tail. We made arrangements for Acadia Sails, the sailmaker on MDI, located in SW Harbor, to replace the zipper of the Stack pack; but they do not pick up. No problem! For a fee, Morris Yachts will deliver. It appears that Morris is closing this facility and merging its operations into those of its other three facilities on MDI. Acadia  Sails asked me to remove the battens and the stack pack stiffeners. Morris let us come onto their floating dock (and stay until after dinner). They helped me get the sail from boat to dock, load it into a cart, rolled it up the ramp, loaded it into their van and drove it and me to the sailmaker where we unloaded it and attached it to the sailmaker's block and tackle so it could be hoisted up into their second story loft. I picked the zipper and the job should be done by Friday. Here is Ilene's boom without its mainsail cap.

As I said, yesterday, Morris makes beautiful Yachts.Notice the "M" superimposed over the "Y" in her cove stripe.  below the aft raised deck salon window.
 

Meanwhile, Lene made arrangements for us to come back in to the dock at SW Harbor, briefly, on Friday afternoon, to get the sail from the loft back onto the boat so I can remount it. Lene also watched over the refilling of our fuel tanks, 20 gallons at 2229.7 engine hours (so 41.7 engine hours since last refill.) Lene also refilled the water tanks and began a laundry. Lene likes doing laundry; it appears to be cathartic for her soul. Have I now washed our linen in public?

In the afternoon, she elected to remain aboard with the kitties while I explored the vicinity. I caught a free shuttle bus

to near the Bass Light








after taking this picture
of the inner Harbor -- lobsterboat heaven.

Getting off the bus and walking with me were Ruth, Emily and Joe, on a tour of all the New England states from their English town near Wales.

Nice folks. 

The light house does not flash, but occults, i.e., it is on four seconds then off for one, and it is red.  

It overlooks the Bass passage which is marked at each end by a red and while buoy. "BE" (Bass East) is at its east end, and "BW" at the other end,

marking the channel through the shallows which is overlooked by the light.













The rocks here are really pink, with white spots.

I visited  Ravenswood, owned and operated by an older couple who are seeking to retire and sell off. They have a wide variety of older stuff for sale, books, ship models, their own art,

toys, sporting equipment, tools and I’m sure I’ve forgotten at least some categories. They have cats and loved my photos of our dynamic duo.

The museum

is set up like an old country store. I was able to buy postcards (note cards that I cut down to size) here, from Emily, the volunteer docent. The museum has a large assortment of things on display including memorabilia about the Knights of Labor, an early attempt at unionization among Maine miners and a rowboat that a couple who lived alone on nearby Placentia Island for 40 years in mid 20th century rowed the few miles to Bass harbor for provisions and books.

After a shower ashore we had dinner
















 at the Main-ly Delights:

 lobster rolls and something they call the Oh Boy Dough Boy (a piece of bread dough, formed into a six inch diameter disk, deep fried, lightly sugared and them topped with ice cream, whipped cream and raspberries).

Back to the boat, move it back to our mooring, hoisted and secured the dink and we are set to go to the Swan Island area tomorrow.