Wow, thanks to Pam Gardiner and Julie O’Brien Merrill, I don’t need to write anything this week! Thomas Hultin sent me fun stuff on kayaking and exploring, but I’ll save that for next week. Will Jordan sent a great story a few weeks ago and that is coming soon too. Thank you to all of them!

First from Pam: The 13th Annual Cabbage Island Swim almost didn’t happen.  You see, I’ve been very busy this summer getting our home in Woolwich ready for my daughter’s wedding this fall, Including growing a 2,400 square-foot (!) flower garden.  So, I was not surprised that when I announced the date of today’s swim just a week ago, only a couple folks hadn’t already completely filled up their summer calendar. I was thrilled when George Messner of Murray Hill (and W. Hartford, CT) told me on the beach of Peaks Island last Saturday (as we were about to start the Peaks to Portland Swim), that he looked forward to joining me for the Cabbage Swim again this year. Thanks to George and veteran participant Jeff Bauer of Tallwood, we were able to keep the annual tradition going, unbroken.   

Sunny, calm conditions didn’t hurt either!  The water temperature at 65 degrees was just below my no-wetsuit cut-off.  But it wasn’t for Jeff, who braved the chilly temp au naturel (well, nearly).  It was delightful to see Jeff’s yellow buoy every time I breathed to my right (George with his wife Lauren kayaking for him was way ahead of us, of course) until we got closer to the island.  I was no longer seeing Jeff’s buoy.  I said to myself, ”Poor Jeff.   I guess he just couldn’t keep up.”  Wrong.  He was out in front of me, presumably motivated to swim hard to keep warm.  We took a lovely few minutes to warm ourselves in the seaweed of Cabbage Island, chatting about our origin stories, Lauren taking a memorial snapshot, and my hubby Craig making sure I’m well hydrated.

On our way back, we made sure to visit Bayville-born Mary Alice to jump off her stern for the last time. Mary Alice, having been birthed years ago by the Merrill boys on the lawn of Lawn Cottage, and well brought-up on the nurturing waters of Linekin Bay, will be leaving the cradle, off to join a new family of her own and to call some distant harbor her new home. Bon voyage, Mary Alice, and thanks for the memories!

This year’s trophy, the “Last-minute, Pinch-Hitter Award,”  goes to Evan Schouten of Bayville (and Newton, MA).  She generously stepped up (with very little notice) to kayak (skillfully) for Jeff. This year the trophy urn was filled not with candy but with Woolwich-grown flowers!  I can confidently say it’ll be candy again next year.  And, if all goes as planned, the invitations for the 14th annual will go out a lot earlier. 

And from Julie: Mary Alice took us for our last hoorah to some favorite anchorages this week in Muscongus Bay. We hope her new owner will love her as much as we have.  Things have quieted down at Lawn Cottage after some wonderful family times in July. Celebration and ‘Bout Time have been put up until next summer!
Wally and Nathaniel will soon be in residence for a week while Wally attends camp at the botanical gardens and Nathaniel works remotely.

The Sewer Rats recently met for several hours on the porch of Lawn Cottage. Thomas Hultin and Craig Collins will try their best to fill David’s shoes. [I hope David remembers to hose them off and that Thomas and Craig can keep David’s sewer humor flowing!] Julie continues to volunteer with the Boothbay Region Historical Society and would like to encourage Bayvillians to check out the museum during open hours, Thursday -Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. There is a matching gift challenge going on presently. Tickets for the fundraiser on Sept. 13 at the historic Leach House on Sawyers Island are available now.

One more thing: we are weeding out nautical books and have a couple of piles to give away. Come by Lawn Cottage to take away some treasures!

Thanks again Pam and Julie for your news! Please join them at thejeffallison@gmail.com