July 27 - Still Raining in Nantucket

If I hear the weather forecast say, "rain, heavy at times" one more time, I think I'll scream. We awoke to the continued pitter patter of rain on the hatch above once again, but it seems to be trailing off for now. The weather voice says that it will rain again before the system drifts ever so slowly out of our region this afternoon. This annoying damp cool weather will be replaced with damp warm weather, bringing dense fog -- or so they say.

We made a reservation in Hyannis, a port we've not seen, and decided to take a slip so we can explore the town, expecting that even if the winds abate, we still may have some weather challenges ahead. Actually, we made the plans before we knew the weather would be questionable, but it makes the decision all the smarter.

The short term plan is, once again, to read a bit and wait out the rain. Although the rain usually wins, with us just pushing forth, we're catching up on the planned summer reading which had been going slowly because of the good sailing. On average, I think we're still ahead. We plan to concentrate on galleries today, bringing a feast of local seafood and produce back for dinner.

We go ashore just as a downpour ends. We hope that this will be it for the day, as the forecast is for clearing in the afternoon. We arrive on shore and walk up to Arno's for a late breakfast. Everyone around town is either dressed in full foul weather gear, rain gear, or carrying oversized umbrellas. As we finish eating, the sky opens up with rain that fills the storm drains, and starts running down main street like a river. This goes on for almost an hour. After than, we strike out, in lighter rain to do the galleries we missed the other day.

It's a pity that so much of the work we see is so expensive; it is probably worth what is being asked, but is far too much for us to deal with. For example, a large chunk of optical glass cast in the shape of a portion of a lobster buoy, cut, polished and with perfect spherical sections hollowed out is novel and intriguing. However, at several thousand dollars, it is not something you will see in our house.

While in a shop looking at yet another pair of sunglasses, an amazing transformation takes place. We go outside and there is no rain, and the air is warm and very humid. The front appears to have passed, and things are now very warm. Over the next hour, the sky not only brightens, but becomes blue, with relatively few clouds. We celebrate by sitting down and having a glass of wine, some clams and oysters, and enjoy the sun baking us.

With this good luck, we talk about simply staying in town for dinner, and head off for a lobster place we've liked in the past. The wait to get in is at least an hour, so we go back to our original plan. Marion goes to the A&P for corn and some other necessaries while I go over to the Straight Wharf Fish Market.

They aren't pleased about our late order, it being a half hour before closing, but we get them to steam a couple of pound and three quarter lobsters for us, and we add a pint of chowder to the order for good measure. As we walk towards the shop to pick up the order, the sky is becoming fully overcast, it is cooler, and we feel a few sprinkles. The light on the horizon has been compressed into a narrow band between the land, and an ever darkening sky. Now the question seems to be, "will me make it back to the boat before the sky opens up again?"

As we approach the boat, things look less like rain, but we can see a thick fog rolling in. It does clear a bit, doesn't rain, but the great weather we had for a few moments is certainly gone. While sitting in the sun, we even talked about staying a bit and taking doing the exploration on the water we planned. Now, we're just hoping tomorrow brings weather good enough to make it over to Hyannis. We'll finish Nantucket another time.

The two mysteries of the night solved, perhaps. There has been a continual clicking or bubbling or something going on. It sounded like a vibration in the mast, but no. Perhaps it was something in the water system; no. The sound seemed to be coming from no place in particular, but was there, especially in the evening when things were quiet. Putting an ear to the grate over the bilge, the sound appears to be coming from there! There seems to be some sort of resonance which takes the sound of engines or propellers from the area, and replays them through the cavity in the bilge of the boat! If you listen closely, you can hear the sound change as boats outside come closer or go further, or as they change their engine speed. We thought the boat was haunted.

Second mystery. The little engine that wouldn't. We had trouble getting the engine started this evening again. With trusty wrench in hand, I believe that we are getting air into the fuel system. After bleeding the system, seeing a few bubbles, we get things started (with the last gasp of the batteries). Now the new mystery is, "where is it coming from?" One thing at a time, I say. We'll go to bed and think about this in the morning.