THIS IS THE TALE OF 5 INTREPID ROWERS WHO WENT ROWING ON SUNDAY SEPT 5TH: Frank, Loretta, Gail, Shelia and Stan

Windy but mangeable seas, but other than that a beautiful day
We rowed as a group to Salem Harbor saw "Friendship", under partial sail, on its way to Gloucester Harbor (ed note: for the Schooner Festival), and the "Fame" under full sail doing a sight sighting trip. Never saw that view of the "Friendship" before:very majestic and certainly a beautiful vessel. If I had a camera, which I don't have enough courage to carry on these trips, it would have made and impressive picture.
The "Fame", a "Chebacco" fishing schooner, was sailing out of Salem Harbor, my guess a sight seeing trip, because it turned to avoid us and continued in the channel towards Marblehead. Also about this time the Salem Ferry left for Boston: quite an interesting array of vessels.
But I digress:on the adventure of the intrepid five
At about Salem Harbor the wind picked up and seas became interesting. So discretion being the better part of valor we turned back to Marblehead. Things were proceeding fine: seas were active, wind was up but we were making good headway. When we turned to go around what I think is Peaches Point, and that is when the wind shifted to our side and backs and proceeded to blow is all out to sea! So again we collected ourselves turned and preceeded toward Browns Island. About this time I lost track of Gail and Frank, I think that they headed towards the main inlet to Browns Island while Shelia, Loretta and I headed towards the inlet closest to Salem.
Shelia was blown furthest off course and rowed hard agains the wind and sea, making slow but steady headway. About this time another strong gust of wind came up and turned her slighty, caught the bill of her cap, and blew her hat off her head! It was quite a sight watching her try to rescue her favorite baseball cap, but alas it was not ti be. After trying for several moments to retreive the cap from its watery imprisonment, the capricious nature of the wind and tide won out and the cap, with her signature rear-view bike mirror, "now sleeps with the fishes" (ref: Godfather part 1) or lobsters as the case may be.
Loretta was partially in the harbor while I stayed out: we both cheered Shelia on to her safe harbor. We watched and waited while the wiond, her haur and the spray was flying all over the place. Gee I wish I had a camera! Inexorably she closed the distance and we all proceeded across the inlet to the dock. Whe we arrived at the dock we saw that Frank and Gail had safely embarked on dry land. We all congratulated ourselves on a well earned accomplishment.
Unfortunately, this may be our last row this year:with the fast approaching Jewish Holidays, her mother visiting for two weeks (I actually get along with her), a 60th birthday party for her brother in Bar Harbor and possible follow on treatments for Sheila's Thyroid cancer make it difficult to find time over the next few weeks. Plus the end of the rowing season is approaching.
One last thought. As Sheila and I were leaving the boat yard we looked back at the dock and noticed that an entire flock of water fowl, possibly Herons, had alighted on the water by the dock. There were at least 2 dozen. They were swimming around bobbing and feeding. again, I needed a camera!!
We both thought that that was an appropriate ending to a very interesting day and, for us a season.
(posted by the captn' as requested by stan...)