Weeks 3 and 4

Andy's perspective of the last two weeks

Well after our little adventure in Stonington - Yes Yankee Marine did the honorable thing and paid for our repair bill and towing, we headed out to Merchants Row. We ended up spending 2 wonderful days on McGathery Island. The Islands are all ringed with Granite boulders both natural and as dumped scrap waste from the Granite Quarry in Stonington. McGathery and Wreck Islands were wonderful to explore - the weather was crystal clear and the kids and parents went boulder hoping and swimming and enjoying the warmth and sunshine. By nightfall the first day two Friendship sloops came in to anchor. The first one was 35 years old and built by the man at the helm. He cruised with his family on this small sloop (25 ft) at times with 4 kids. The second one was almost 100 years old and skippered by the Commodore of the Friendship Sloop Society. It ended up that they were heading to Southwest harbor for a Friendship Sloop Regatta - we actually got to the harbor just as they were reaching across - all 15 sloops in their full sailed glory.

We nexted broad reached across to Swan's Island and Ran with a 25 knot wind down the length of Swans. We ducked into Mackrel Cove to wait out the wind and by evening had a chance to explore the local Ferry landing. We ended up eating in someones home / breakfast diner - where they sat us in their dining room and we got to listen to stories from the father (3 tours in Nam, Bay of Pigs and Lebanon) as well as the sisters.

We then sailed up to Southwest Harbor and on the way through the Bass Harbor Gut motored right past a whale that was less than 2 boat lengths from us when it surfaced.

We just spent the last week on Mount Desert Island. We were up in Somesville on the Somes sound for the last 5 days. We climbed Acadia mountain on a crystal clear day and could see Camden and the Islands on all sides, as well as a wonderful view up the entire sound. What an amazing moment.

We have had some dense fog (couldnt see the lobster pot in front of us) and some clear amazing vistas.

Jake is doing a great job learning sax and I have had more time to play then in many years. Jake is now able to play three songs and when I play - we are no longer pelted with seaweed from the other boats.

We came down the sound this morning in smoke like fog that became a dense cover. GPS was my only navigation - at times you feel like you are turned around and all your senses say that you are in the wrong direction. You just girdle your loins and stare at the GPS screen and believe in the gods of navigational electronics.

Well, it is Chris turn and I could continue all day if given the opportunity - we are having the time we had hoped for. Some monumental highs and some soul scaring lows - but we are together and a strong crew and family.

All the best - Captn Crusty

Chris's turn: I too, could go on for along time on the rich and varied expriences. Each day seems to hold both a treasure and a challenge. We are truly enjoying the family time . Eli is now doing well and is a really good hiker. He hiked up to the top of Acadia mountain (see picture) and we found blueberries on top. He was singing "Blueberries for Sal" all the way down. Jake is avidly reading the Hobbit and Rachel is CEO of the sea glass jewlery business they have started. It is wonderful to see them work as a team.

We have met more wonderful people on all types of boats. Hello to the Morris's on the large and beautiful Interlude and the kind crew of the 80 ft motor yacht "Perfect Timing"/ The banana bread was a delicous breakfast!

We learned the truth of the wise saying that " Cruising is the opportunity to fix your boat in different beautiful places". Our windlass broke just as we dropped anchor in magnificent Somesville at the head of Somes Sound fjord at Mt Desert. We had many wonderful days of hiking, kayaking, swimming, shopping, crabbing as we waited for a metric bolt to be shipped in. What a great place for this to happen. The funny part ( now) is when the part came in and Andy was repairing it way up in the V berth and dropped ANOTHER precious metric bolt ( and a wrench )down into the anchor locker which went down UNDERthe holding tank and into the hull. Team Schoenberg went into action flushing water through and fishing in the bilge.Many many nuts and bolts came through , including wrench from previous owner. The jokes abounded about what else was in there ( doorway to Narnia, prevous owners, etc) and at last the precious metric nut and OUR wrench was retrieved and the repair was completed( and the hole plugged). It was great to see the teamwork in adversity.

(( Side note, we did not actually have to go INTO the holding tank- but under it. In fact Jake was stepping on it and I said" Be careful, if that tank cracks we will be in a pile of poop". Jake found that very humorous indeed.))

Another moment was when we had been hiking and ended up waiting an hour and a half in the cold rain for the shuttle. Though it was not fun, we made up songs, Eli built boat out of wood and sticks and leaves ( later floated it) and we made the best of it. ( Though all were glad to get back to the boat and have soup).My time is up so I will leave you with some images:

Eli AND Jake swimming happily and joyfully in and out of the cold water on the beautiful granite shoresof an island, Rachel singing as she hikes along, or drawing pictures of sunsets, beautiful sunsets, Jake climbing up a mountain like a mountain goat full of energy and pure joy. The kids or I kayaking, or spending hours on the beach colecting shells or crabs, even in a light rain.. Eli's own sea glass collection which he will take out and show us every day.Oh, and Andy and I take time every day to hold hands.

All is well until the chocolate chips run out! All the best to all of you. Our thoughts are with you. Chris