There's A Summer Place

  They man their boats early in the
morning, often sailing off into a
fog you can actually see rolling in
from the sea.
   They look a lot like the guys
you've see on History channel's
'Deadliest Catch.'
   But the men we saw on the boats
in the waters around Vinalhaven
Maine are "Lobstermen!"
    Vinalhaven is an island 12 miles
off the coast which boasts Maine's
largest Lobster boat fleet.
    We spent a couple of days there
last week as part of our road trip
through New England.
    Around here kids take to
fishing like most kids take to
video games.
  In fact the first lobster we saw
caught was captured by two young
boys, around 9 or so, who set their
trap right off the town dock!
  I was impressed with both the
size of their catch and their ability
to handle the crustacean without
loss of fingers on either hand!
  Heck it's tough enough to
hold them properly when they're
the main course on your menu!
  Thank goodness for bibs!
  There are 1200 year round
residents here and several
thousand tourists or 'Summer
people' who spend a month or
so around June or July.
  Things are 'different' on
Vinalhaven.  I guess they have
to be when you're a dozen miles
away from the rest of
'civilization.'
  You might want to consider
that when you get to thinking
about 'getting away from it all.'
   For instance, there's one car
repair shop on the whole
island.
   It's not associated with the one
place where you can buy gas...IF
you can get there before the
owner closes for the day around
3 or so.
   There's also a motel. And it's
good to know just where it's
located. You see getting off the
island requires getting in line early
to catch one of about six Ferry
boats sailing to the mainland.
  People who miss the ferry are
called 'overnighters.'
  And don't count on calling
home if you missed the boat.
  We found one spot on the
entire island where your cell
phone might work...occasionally.
  The 'benefits' of living on or
visiting Vinalhaven include
peace, quiet, tranquility, and
some of the best sunsets you've
ever seen!
  There are concerts nearly
every weekend where the town
band entertains.
  There's a small 'downtown'
where nearly everybody knows
everybody else.
  Everyone waves
when they pass each other driving
along the island roads
  There are two quarries for
swimming. They use bathing
suits in one of them.
  And don't forget the lobsters.
  We saw the boats unloading.
  The guys were tossing lobsters
into crates as fast as farmers
pick apples off their trees!
   Bottom line...you can eat
lobster nearly every day
uninterrupted by constant
calls, and watch the sunset
while swimming with a
friendly neighbor at....well
the choice of quarry is yours!
  Hope you never miss the
boat and that all your NEWS
is good!