20 August 2011 Socked In

Mike & Shannon discovered what a good Seguin Fog looks like this morning.  The horn tripped on between 0430 and 0530 this morning, heralding the solid wall of grey I crawled out of bed to see an hour later.  It was thick enough that I was doubtful my father would be able to get out to the island to pick up the Dudley clan.  I should never doubt my intrepid dad and the Lovely Linda however; we had to scurry when his voice came booming over the radio that he was passing Pond Island heading our way.

Fortunately we had already eaten breakfast at this point, and I think we only delayed him about five minutes while we finished getting everything down the hill.  We chatted with Dad, said our goodbyes to Mike & Shannon, and they headed off into the fog, while Amy & I went back to the top to clean up & prepare for the next round, which began when Ethan brought out a tour group a few short hours later.  While the visitors were all duly impressed with the tower and the Fresnel Lens, but that was all they could see.  The fog persisted through their entire visit, denying even a view of the Whistle House at times.

Ethan’s crew departed at their accustomed time, leaving us, and Judy & Chuck Reeves, with the island to ourselves.  Judy (who is our office manager) and her husband are making use of the guest quarters tonight; we had only one other visitor tonight, Capt Ralph Ferguson & his wife.  Captain Ferguson & I graduated from Maine Maritime 40 years apart from each other, he in 1965 and I in 2005, and had a good time chatting and looking at the light.  The Fergusons got to enjoy the view from the tower, as the fog had finally lifted around 1500.  After the Fergusons left, we invited Chuck & Judy over for dinner.  I made a batch of sourdough pizza, while Judy provided the beer & the dessert.

The evening has come to a peaceful conclusion.  I am writing this while Amy finishes the dishes, and Judy & Chuck are stargazing.  The fog has not rolled back in, and while the setting sun silhouetted a beautifully formed anvil cloud, the gentle SE’ly breeze and steady barometer is not indicating any treacherous weather approaching.  The forecast is calling for a cold front to disrupt the streak of good weather tomorrow, but I am thinking it may hold off until the evening.  We’ll see.