Meadow and pond

I took these photos last month while walking. The path seemed to lead nowhere but was still inviting. The tranquility of the pond soothes and compels contemplation.

More from the Mary Day

Lobster Bake 

and Sunset

Aqua Camping

We were warned.  Expect camping-like conditions--without the bugs.  To get to our berth, we had to climb down a ladder, backwards.  We had  'head to head' beds so there was no upper and lower situation.  This was a good thing.  We were directly under the deck so we heard people walking to the head (toilet for you landlubbers) on our side of the ship and we heard the crew up at 4 or 5 am to swab and otherwise clean and prepare for the next day.  There was a space about 3 x 2 feet in front of the bunks next to the door.  We had a small sink with cold water for some of our washing needs.  Along side the bunks were shelves for sundries as well as a shelf/step under the bunk to store duffles.  Compact.  Bunks were comfortable enough but after a couple of nights my back started to protest.  My poor bunk mate, every time I moved or shifted position, my bunk squeaked and squawked.  Loudly.  I found myself working on a musical composition attuned to my movements in the bunk.  Still a bit discordant...

Home from the Sea

Four days on the Schooner Mary Day, Sept 4-8, was a fun, lighthouse filled adventure. We had a lighthouse expert with us who enlightened us about all manner of things 'lighthouse'. Sailing around Penobscot Bay, we saw many from the sea and some from land. The most thrilling was Goose Rocks light. This lighthouse rises directly from the water, the only access being by boat. We dropped anchor and almost all of he passengers and crew ferried to the lighthouse and climbed up two ladders to get to the main entrance. Once there, we clambered up through 4 floors of living space on the lighthouse. Meanwhile, the people who had rented the lighthouse for the weekend came aboard the schooner. Big smiles on everyone's faces, especially our lighthouse expert.

Home, At Last

After 39 hours of travel time including 3 flights and two layovers, we made it to Boston. We arrived to newly fallen snow and slippery roads so stayed with friends in town. Doug admitted that his reflexes might not be so good after our long travel ordeal. We have one bag unaccounted for. It made it to Dallas but not to Boston.

Finally got home, unpacked, did some laundry, picked up the piles of mail. Tried to stay awake even after getting 7 or 8 hours of sleep last night.

Just found out the missing bag will be delivered tonight!

In Norita Airport

We are 15 hours in transit and counting. The first leg is behind us and we are 2/3rds through our 12 hour layover in Tokyo. We spent the first 5 hours in a day room where we were able to sleep in a real bed and take a reviving shower. How civilized.

We have an 11 hour flight to Dallas-Fort Worth and a 4 hour flight to Boston to go. It's amazing how the fog of air travel takes over to the exclusion of all else. It's like being in a cocoon.

Hanoi street scene taken from a cafe. Were we really there yesterday?

Sunday

We leave today. At midnight. The group has dispersed to go to museums, do last minute shopping and rest.

I went to the history museum. They had an extensive collection and it was worth the trip. The crane standing on a turtle is a national symbol representing an origins myth.

More shopping. Actually the shop came to me in the form of street vendor. Two t-shirts later...

Now I wait and write and read until our farewell dinner this evening.