Getting situated down home

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     Its hard to believe that we have been here only 2 weeks.  It seems we have done so much, so I will try and give you a quick update.


Seaview Campground                                                                                  
                                                                                
     First we had difficulties with the batteries, they just wouldn't hold a charge for 24 hours.  When first installed the 8D (read huge 150lb truck size batteries) would allow me to anchor out for 2 days without running the generator to recharge them.  This was all important for someone who wants to listen to their stereo all day, keep the beer in both refrigerators cold and make and enjoy coffee in the mornings without the sound of a generator drowning out the morning bird songs. Now I had to run the generator every morning as the voltage was dropping below 11 volts overnight.
     Marshall Lucas, a very practical and mechanically adept person pointed out the obvious and said, "Just change them out.  Put in all new batteries. We can get them from Nappa and have it done in a day!"  Well, it would solve one problem...I had 3 gel cell batteries (which by the way weigh 30 lbs more than the wet cell!)  Apparently it is a no no to have gel and wet cells in the same system and may be part of the reason we were having problems now. The other reason was likely that the batteries were 5 to 7 years old.  Given that I could buy 4 wet cells for the price of one gel cell ($760.00) we sent for the wet cells and with a great deal of exertion we dove in to the challenge. (let me see....150 to 180 lbs lifted at least 8 batteries X 10 times each....I figure 1300 lbs we lifted that day! At least that's what I'm going to tell the grandchildren...along with when I was a child I didn't get a car ride to school... I had to walk to school in the wind and snow... uphill.... both ways!) Marshall and I both took 2 days to recover but I say, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!" so I guess we are a little bit stronger, ugh!
     Why didn't I just plug the boat in to power?  This is true down east Maine.  There are no full service marinas, but there are some very resourceful people and Basil Pottle is one of them. Basil owns and operates Seaview Campground in Eastport, Maine.  "No problem Ralph, I've got a dock and we will just run you some water and power right to your boat." he said.  It took a few days but he was true to his word and now I don't have to visit the boat daily to charge the batteries and my beer stays cold. 
     Basil is a true "down homer" and really deserves to have a whole book written about him.  He has been a fisherman/lobsterman most of his life and has successfully built a campground and, along with his son, is in the process of completing what will be the largest lobster pound on the coast of Maine.  Energetic, resourceful, a reputation for treating people fairly and a hard worker, Basil can be found each evening in the kitchen preparing superb down east seafood, served well and fairly priced.


                                                                               Basil                                                                           

     Frank has been a fixture of the Seaview scene. His home is Fort Lauderdale in the winter and has helped Basil with the cooking, building and bar tendering ever since his first visit 14 years ago.  Friendly, informative, helpful and makes a cocktail that is worth the price. Together they organize weekend "all you can eat buffets, parties with  either a band or DJ, Luaus, and dances.  It is a fun place to be.
     
                                                                                
                                                                              Frank 

      It's rustic, scenic, and I can only describe the air as something you have to experience to appreciate.  If there is a healing power to the smell of sea air, this is the place you will heal. The air has a refreshing, clean, cool scent that is totally different from anything we experienced in our 3,300 miles of cruising.  Temperatures in the 80's and 90's during the day felt cool with the constant ocean breeze and no air conditioning required with temps in the 60's at night.



                                                                                     
                                                                        
                                                   Seaview Campground Sunset   

 A slight morning chill demanded a wrap with a blanket as we sat with  steaming cups of hot coffee watching the morning mist rise from the calm sea water.  Peaceful, serene views of Deer Island, Eastport and Campobello reminded me of the reasons I call this home.
     For you cruisers following this blog, I hesitate to tell you to head this way because I enjoy the solitude, the remoteness, and the feeling that I have this mostly to myself...but I would feel selfish and remiss in not advising you stalwart cruisers to come on....come enjoy the scenery and and pure down home friendliness of the Saint Croix River Valley and Passamaquoddy Bay.