[TO NARRATIVES AND PHOTOS LIST]
August 31, 1999
Page Two
Mast, halyard block and Chatto Island. I need one of these blocks with a becket on the other end.
I am trying to keep traditional gear on Silver Heels. Someone put two stainless steel and plastic
blocks with cam cleats on the running backstays. It doesn't look right. Stainless steel, plastic and chrome don't belong on
an old coastal schooner. Bronze, teak, leather, varnish and three strand rope belong. Using stainless steel and plastic running
gear on this boat is not unlike placing today's molded plastic car bumpers on your restored '32 Chevy.
A very close reader may note, however, that we plan to use a GPS for navigation on the trip south.
The boat's cell phone wouldn't work in Center Harbor where we were moored. All phone contacts
were made from this pay phone in front of this U.S. Post Office in Brooklin. Ellen commented that now
this was my 'office.' I remembered that I once had an office. When I came in in the morning for work, staff would say
"Good morning Dr. Vick. How are you?" I felt somewhat important as this went on for 35 years.
I am now relegated to this pay phone.
We were passing by the post office one day, and there was a stranger using the pay phone.
Ellen commented, "Oh look, someone else is in your OFFICE!"