Maine Solstice Plus One EBS, Boothbay Harbor

[rbgarr]

unless Steve and Mary have posted plans for a rendezvous chez Talismaison (Portland) for January.

Saturday January 17th or 24th at our house. Either day is fine with us, but we'll decide by this Saturday. Afternoon meeting, BYOB and snacks (nothing too fancy), 12:30 to 3pm+

Bring boat porn/photos and gossip about Forum members not in attendance. Please drive safely and have a 'designated' if necessary.

Mapquest this to help you figure times:

126 Western Avenue
West Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04575

N.B. Remember that the Camden 'Curtis Island row' is Saturday, January 10 (11th is the snow day).

[StevenBauer]

We're in Dave. Either day works for us. We were going to do a Sunday brunch but that could be the next one. :) Maybe Vinny could show us his boat after. ;)


Steven

[rbgarr]

Good. Great to have you here again. Please bring young ones if they are interested as we may have good skating or sledding if the ice or snow are good. Plenty of board games if not.

A monthly EBS may be just the ticket to get us all through the winter, eh?

[Chris Coose]

Too bad.
I'll be in Vermont with a different crew that weekend.

[rbgarr]

Next time then.

[Vinny&Shawn]

We are good for either of those days, let us know which one you pick. And we would be glad to go to the docks for a visit to Acacia. Sounds like a plan. Vinny and Shawn

[Bill R]

I've pencilled in the dates. I can be a designated driver from just north of Portland (Gray) if anyone in the area wants a ride.

[Clinton B Chase]

I can do it, either weekend!

[rbgarr]

That's good Clint. Please bring your wife and any children you have lying around or can snatch up. We'll be celebrating with a baby-toss for distance and accuracy event. There will be prizes.

On second thought... don't bring your wife. And don't tell her about that last bit either. ;)

[Glen Longino]

"We'll be celebrating with a baby-toss for distance and accuracy event."

At first glance I thought aw hell it's too far to Maine from Texas, but if you're havin' a baby toss how can I refuse?
I'll bring four quarts of tequila and three large boxes of babies!
Can't hardly wait!!!!:D

[JimConlin]

...We'll be celebrating with a baby-toss for distance and accuracy event....

That tops midget bowling.

[WX]

Remember you blokes, we're expecting photos.:D

[Hwyl]

I'll be back (I hope) by those dates. I'll come incognito. Margaret would never let me in if she recognised me)

[rbgarr]

That's great Gareth, and please bring your daughter along if she's at all inclined.

[FSS172]

Dave - Have you chosen a date yet or have I missed it?

[rbgarr]

We'll decide tomorrow night. It depends on a family event here and which weekend of the two it will be.

[Willin']

We're in. Having never had children, I can't make any claims to baby tossing skill, but, hell, I'll have a go!

[rbgarr]

That's okay, but there's no practice allowed, since there's only one toss per baby. Too much crying otherwise. No sense of humor, some babies.

[Hughman]

save me a seat. :)

[rbgarr]

How about a throne, oh wise and wondrous leader... sir?

[rbgarr]

The MS+1BEBSE (Best Elbow Bending Symposium Ever... at least on the Midcoast here) will be Saturday, January 24th, 12:30 to 3+PM.

Someone else will have to take photos to post. Our photo software/download has been pouting.

Address, etc. is in the first post!

[Hughman]

How about a throne, oh wise and wondrous leader... sir?

I've got one of those. I feel sure you wouldn't want to visit while I'm on it....

[Clinton B Chase]

If you guys can toss my 40-pound toddler, I'll buy all the beer!

[Hughman]

If you guys can toss my 40-pound toddler, I'll buy all the beer!

Jeez, Clint! if you buy the beer, we'll toss *your* raggly butt! :p

[rbgarr]

Raggly Butt.

I smell sitcom... or a name for a rock band.

[Hwyl]

That's great Gareth, and please bring your daughter along if she's at all inclined.


I'm not sure about inclined, but | know she's lean.

I'll slope off now.

[rbgarr]

A suggestion has been made to include a row/paddle option at the EBS.

I'll see about throwing Jamie's 11' rowboat "Hawkeye" overboard. She's in a shed behind some snow banks at the moment. I could have her tied up at the float at the town ramp on Townsend Gut, a very pleasant, protected stretch unless the wind is howling out of the NW and the weather is really snotty. There are lobsterboats and sometimes tugs tied up west across the Gut to ogle. I'd hesitate to take a small boat over to Boothbay Harbor proper where Acacia is. Launching would be dicey and there aren't public docks except for the town's, which is pretty much lobsterman country in winter and they probably prefer it that way. The Gut ramp is about a quarter mile away from our house with parking if it's been plowed out, which I could/will do if necessary.

If anyone wants to bring kayaks or their own boat....

People could then go out as they wished and poke along the shore and under the swing bridge nearby. Bring PFDs however, if you think you'll do it, and boots that will safely get you up and down the ramp to the float. The tide is high at 9:30 AM or so and low as 4 PM approaches. It'll be a row at your own risk deal, of course. No safety boat available. There's also a bar/pub looking out over the Gut across from the float at Robinson's Wharf....

Let me know what you think as the day approaches.

[Hawkeye's winter name is "Eye's Blink" by the way. ;) ]

[rbgarr]

As of now the weather prediction is for mid 20s, partly cloudy to chance of light snow, 8-12 knots from the northwest, i.e., 'brisk'.

I'll have Hawkeye at the dock for the bravest souls (see above for what you'll need to bring) and it looks like there may be enough snow for sledding but no skating. Bring snow tubes if you want them. We don't have any and they work well here. Maybe we'll have a fire on the shore as well as in the fireplace. Marshmallows?

Reminder: BYOB and a designated driver if you are an imbiber.

[Chris Coose]

Crazy Maine.
I google mapped the 7 miles (or less as the crow flies) between S. Bristol and your address. One hour and 4 minutes.

50-50 as of Weds. AM

[rbgarr]

Two guys where I work live on Westport and Georgetown Islands respectively. Less than four miles to work as the crow flies, almost an hour and a half by car. Peninsula life, eh?

[rbgarr]

Bump.

NOTE! 12:30 to 3PM EBS.

Watch out for the very slippery hill and driveway when you get here. Park near the dark blue Suburban with the license plate that reads DAYBRK on it. I'll try to sand the parking area. You can also park across the street in the long driveway next to the row of trees.

We are at 126 Western Ave.

Tan house, white trim, green porch: come right in, take off your shoes and yell for attention. Everyone will be sure to ignore you.

[JimConlin]

Two guys where I work live on Westport and Georgetown Islands respectively. Less than four miles to work as the crow flies, almost an hour and a half by car. Peninsula life, eh?
How many months per year do they commute by water?

[rbgarr]

They don't ever do that, which mystifies me. The boss has offered the yard's workboat to them also (not a slouch boat, either) so that's not the problem.
Perhaps it's the "I gotta have my pick'em up truck with me all the time or I'm lost" habit.

[JimConlin]

I'm mystified, too. That's a very nice stretch of water. If the boat offered any protection at all it'd be preferred 90% of the year.

[StevenBauer]

I dusted off the fin boat, I hope it's not too windy. See you in the morning.


Steven

[rbgarr]

We won't be here in the morning Steve! We've got other things on until noon at least. I'll PM you.

[Chris Coose]

Got offered an overnighter in Boston on the Charles for tonight. I intended to spend Friday night in S. Bristol and come by on the return to Portland but I made a qucik trip of it yesterday. Probably see you all next at the boat show.

[JimConlin]

Can't make it. The honey-do list keeps growing.
Greetings to all,
Jim

[Clinton B Chase]

My honey is sick, so I am home bound with energetic 4-year-old...bending elbows but in many other directions, sometimes the wrong on. Have fun.

Clint

[rbgarr]

Thanks to the dozen of you that stopped by. Jim Drake from Pennsylvania gets the farthest away prize and extra credit for bringing and launching his Nutshell. I hope you'll get to post your photos, Jim. Vinny left his notebook, so let us know your address by PM and we'll send it along. Or stop by when you're here to check Acacia now that you know where we are. Too bad the wind was so brisk and we couldn't enjoy the outdoors more but "the view had to do". You all brought (and left) great foods for us to fatten up on... like I need it.

After the warning about the slippery driveway I was the one who got stuck as we left for the "Luke Marine Museum"!!

[elf]

sure looking forward to the photos, now. Don't stall!

[Bill R]

Thank. you and your lovely wife for your hospitality. It was a wonderful afternoon.

[Hughman]

Many thanks to hosts Dave and Margaret! It was a real pleasure to meet new friends, and reacquaint with old ones. :):):)

[StevenBauer]

Thanks so much, Dave, sorry we had to cut out early. Jim and I got to go out for a quick row, what a cool area. We launched from a small public ramp near the swing bridge to Southport Island:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r241/bauerdad/2009%20pics/01-24-09_1230.jpg


Jim's Nutshell looked pretty small next to this tug:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r241/bauerdad/2009%20pics/01-24-09_1204.jpg


The only boats in the water besides us and the tug were some lobster boats:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r241/bauerdad/2009%20pics/01-24-09_1205.jpg


Then under this bridge:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r241/bauerdad/2009%20pics/01-24-09_1210.jpg


and into this cove:


http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r241/bauerdad/2009%20pics/01-24-09_1213.jpg


Heading back toward the bridge we saw this very cool old abandoned marine railway:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r241/bauerdad/2009%20pics/01-24-09_1224.jpg

[StevenBauer]

We warmed up back at Dave's with some great food and friends:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r241/bauerdad/2009%20pics/01-24-09_1423.jpg


Sorry for the cell phone pics. Jim had a real camera so his pics should be better. :)


Steven

[Hwyl]

Arghh, I thought it was today.

[Willin']

Thanks again Dave and Margaret for the kind hospitality. The view from your lovely home must be seen to be believed. Simply mesmerizing!

A great visit with wonderful food consumed and a few cold ones quaffed. A highlight, among the many, was the too brief peak into the Paul Luke museum. Frozen drool is so unbecoming!;)

Perhaps an EBS and rowabout on Fiddler's Reach in Phippsburg is in order when the weather warms and the days lengthen a bit.

Great to see you all (although I was hoping to see that Welsh dwarf around, among others).:D

Mark and Cheryl

[Vinny&Shawn]

Thanks to Dave and Margaret as a good time was had by all! We all enjoyed food, beverage and conversation.Shawn and I would like to host a meeting for Feb.. We will post time and directions soon and hope we can get you to come out. Vinny and Shawn

[rbgarr]

Perhaps an EBS and rowabout on Fiddler's Reach in Phippsburg is in order when the weather warms and the days lengthen a bit.

Great to see you all (although I was hoping to see that Welsh dwarf around, among others).:D

Mark and Cheryl

That would be fun. Pick a day with high tide in the afternoon and the stripers running hard!:D

[elf]

waiting for pics...

[FSS172]

waiting for pics...
Yes, sorry for the delay. Just got back to PA yesterday and brought the camera to the office today intending to upload the pix and post 'em but I forgot the damn USB cord... arghhh. Hopefully this evening... Jim

[FSS172]

As Steven said, he and I went for a brisk little outing on Townsend Gut as a warmup to the main event. The ramp is at the red 'R'.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/amnesty172/Boothbay%20EBS/Gut.jpg

At the ramp. Dave graciously provided the boat that Steven's in here, patiently waiting for me to stop fiddling with the camera and get in my boat already... This photo doesn't quite convey how gusty the wind actually was. That's the bridge to Southport in the background.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/amnesty172/Boothbay%20EBS/ebs9.jpg

Steven preparing to take the hawse from the Seguin

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/amnesty172/Boothbay%20EBS/ebs10.jpg

The upper (south) end of Decker's Cove, at 'C' on the chart, beautiful in it's mantel of snow and ice.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/amnesty172/Boothbay%20EBS/ebs11.jpg

Back at Dave and Margaret's, at 'D' on the chart, here's Steven taking in the spectacular view of Boothbay from the deck

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/amnesty172/Boothbay%20EBS/ebs1.jpg

and the view past McKown and Spruce points to the outer islands and open water beyond. I'm guessing that's Tumbler Is. at center.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/amnesty172/Boothbay%20EBS/ebs2.jpg

[FSS172]

Just inside the deck pictured above, warm fellowship and elbow bending in full swing. From left, Ginger, Hugh, Dave, Cheryl, Vinnie

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/amnesty172/Boothbay%20EBS/ebs3.jpg

More elbows getting bent in the adjoining kitchen; from left: Mark, Margaret, Steven and Mary

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/amnesty172/Boothbay%20EBS/ebs4.jpg

A little later Bill joined the party and showed us how elbow bending is really done. Notice the casual relaxed stance and the light thumb and two-finger grip on the bottle....

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/amnesty172/Boothbay%20EBS/ebs6.jpg

While Steven and Mary's daughters Holly (left) and Celie (right) took refuge with a puzzle in the living room.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/amnesty172/Boothbay%20EBS/ebs8.jpg

Before long Margaret's fabulous 7 layer bean dip was all but history

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/amnesty172/Boothbay%20EBS/ebs5.jpg

Followed soon by Mary's killer chocolate cake

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/amnesty172/Boothbay%20EBS/ebs7.jpg

Which was when the batteries in my camera died... so, unfortunately no pics of the field trip to the Luke museum or of twilight at Ocean Point. But all in all a truly memorable day. Thank you so much to Dave and Margaret and to everyone who made me feel so welcomed.
Jim

[StevenBauer]

Nice pics, Jim. And very gracious of you not to mention my collision with the lobster boat seconds after that picture of me by Seguin was taken. :eek::D
I've got to get up to Paul Luke's, I've been wanting to do that forever.



Steven

[Vinny&Shawn]

Jim,
Nice way to recap the day,glad you were there to enjoy the company and the water.
Dave and Margaret thanks for mailing the notebook,Shawn enjoyed the printing of the address.I most likely will be up soon after this storm today! Vinnie

[rbgarr]

Thanks Jim. I hadn't made the connection when you were here that you're FSS172! In my (1979) Friendship Sloop Days Annual it say that you built #172. Did you design her also, and have you owned her continuously? Since when?
I wish I'd known so we could have had a good chin wag about the sloops in general and yours in particular. Your Nutshell is a fine looking one and among the best I've seen certainly. That canvas rub rail is tough to get on so it looks smooth like yours.

Thanks for the nice big photos and you got all the details of places, names and islands right!

[elf]

I like the facial adornment, Dave.

[rbgarr]

Gotta keep up with Hugh and Vinny and Mark and Bill!

Actually, Margaret lost my 'razor' in the snow a few months ago when she was hanging wreaths and things outside: I used to hammer my beard in and bite it off on the inside. No longer, obviously.

Wait.. it is longer, isn't it? ;)

[rbgarr]

Although we didn't get out in the snow this time here's a video of my future son-in-law taken sledding at Christmas.

Maybe you have to be a Facebook(er?) to see it? http://tinyurl.com/b7ke97