Gay Island Oyster Farm

Barrett - Gay Island Oyster man

"The Big Oyster" is what foodwriter and prolific historian Mark Kurlansky called New York City in his terrific book about what the Times reviewer called "the mollusk that made Manhattan".   New York is no longer the big oyster but up here on the Mid-Coast of Maine despite the cold water the oyster farming trade thrives.


Wednesday at high tide I took the boat through Pleasant Pt. Gut and headed south about a half mile to the Gay Island Oyster farm, where I was served by the oysterman.  Barrett keeps his seed stock in the Meduncook River a mile and a half north - near our house.  (That's a flooded dock at the new moon on the Meduncook.  People call it the Friendship River too.)


If Barrett's not there you just pull your oysters from the crate at the corner of the float and put $1.00/each in the little black can  at the bottom of the ramp.

When is an oyster like a whale?

When Bowsprite looks at one: 

She has good advice on opening oysters too.

Issuma: Labrador Skiff

What strikes me about this Labrador rowing skiff is its strength and its simplicity.  It could be made with a circular saw and a sabre saw.  There isn't a single beveled edge.  The oarlocks are thole pins.  Simple - and effective.

Image: Richard Hudson - Issuma

Image: Wooden Boat Forum - Thorne

Georges Highland Path

At the bottom of every valley is a river.  The St. George River highlands are part of the 40 mile network of marked trails maintained by the all-volunteer Georges River Land Trust.  Marilyn, Gary and I hiked a bit of the Georges Highland Path in Thomaston.  Slide show HERE

Issuma: Hopedale, Labrador

Hopedale public landing

The mast was repaired (shortened 5cm), rigging modified.  Yann's well-timed vacation ended and he returned to France.  Richard and crew pushed north up the coast, now in Hopedale.  Two more ferry stops Nuantish and Nain before the wild.  Newfoundland Labrador ferry schedules here are tentative: ice may compel change at any time of year,  but especially summer when a lot of ice floats south.

M/V Northern Ranger

Current position HERE

SummerWind sails home to Thomaston

Summerwind, the magnificently restored schooner flagship of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY sailed up the St. George River today to Thomaston to visit Lyman Morse, the yard where she was built in 1929.


Nancy and I were headed down river from Maple Juice Cove to George's Harbor when we spotted her passing Caldwell Island.  We caught up with her again as she approached Thomaston for the courtesy call.  She leaves tomorrow for Castine where she will join the Castine Yacht Club Classic Yacht Celebration.

SummerWind, St. George River

Slideshow HERE

Issuma: The Repair

Yann's joining the crew was obviously a good idea, but HERE is the evidence: his repair of the damaged mast. Cut off 5 cm, shorten stays, good to go. 


Now Richard and crew have left Cartwright and are back to exploring the Labrador Sea and coast.  Below are a Cartwright ferry and a "bergy bit" - a chunk of glacier.

Stone's Point 2010

Ulysses, Jesse, Pascale, Olivia, Taisy, Georgia, Tasha, George, Marilyn, Sanaa, Muffy, Nancy, Whiskey, James, Annabel, Michael.    Image by John

George & Georgia

Dramatis personae:
George & Marilyn
Susan
Jesse, Pascale and Ulysses
Tasha, Michael, Annabel, Georgia
Muffy & Sanaa
Taisy
Crew: John
Canines: James, Whiskey, O' B
Cameo: Russ, Ellen, Henry, Jessica
Locations: Stones Point, St. George River, Cushing, Maine;Cushing Rd., Friendship, ME
July 23 - 31, 2010 Slideshow HERE

Mid-Coast Gothic

Pemaquid Oysters

Ulysses

Issuma: crack...disaster averted

On a  beautiful day on the Labrador Sea a loud crack was heard: one wire stay snapped, a second - Dynex synthetic rope rigging - stretched.  The mainmast popped out of its step on the deck.  Jury rigging brought them to safe harbor 60 miles away. Damage above, details HERE in the July 26, 2010 post.

Issuma: some jobs you have to do yourself

That's what my father said about being the skipper on a sub-chaser.  Richard drew the same conclusion when a line snagged under the boat.  Here he dives with wetsuit and regulator in the Labrador Sea - source of the Labrador currents - the cold, rich waters that sustain us.