Enjoying The Last Days On The Island

It is always the same before we are hitting the long, long highway to the south: Our thoughts are circling around the plethora of "must-dos" and "don't forgets", and both of us have different tasks through the days prior to departure. And today I tackled what always is one of the biggest tasks, which is removing the 4 rows of passenger seats from our 1t. Chev van and replace these with a huge box where we are gonna store all the weighty items without which we cannot go.

But before I got to that I had a rather unusual thing to tend to. Our terrible RV-couch was to be replaced with my very own couch variety - built from scratch. 

The couch which came with the trailer was a dysfunctional heavy monster which usually started hopping through the trailer when going down the road. Not only is the new couch much lighter but also more comfortable and it can be made into a bed bigger than what the old one was.

This summer we have been blessed with a seemingly never ending flood of tomatoes from our greenhouse. 

And today the last fruits were harvested - another 5lbs. Many of them still green, but they will ripen inside. Last night we had frost on the island and that usually spells the end of garden harvests, mind you our busy tomato plants still had blossoms! Over the summer months we have supplied neighbours and friends with both tomatoes and cucumbers. 

Dixie, I am sure, has long since noticed our hectic activities, running back and forth like some scared rabbits. (oh boy, they did that last year too)

Our van has been checked out and got a new alternator, new brake pads (important) and our gear shifter had gotten a new linkage connecting it to the transmission.

In a few days we are taking indoor plants to a friend who is gonna care for them while we are gone. 

Our friends, (all seniors) are all sad to see us go again. The winter can be lonely...

The weeks prior to October 22 had still been very busy with cruise ships showing up in Eastport, ME (1 mile across the bay from us) and sending passengers into our sightseeing tours. 

But October 21 was the last day the Roosevelt Park was open and the last cruise ships will have to find entertainment for their guests in Eastport.

Waiting for the guests

Besides of our travel preparations, it is now time to take the dog and wander along lonely beaches and trails to enjoy the beautiful fall colours. We really like the weeks of fall when everything seems to enter a period of quiet time. Of course, temperatures mirror the approaching cold time of the year, but that's why we have warm clothes to wear, and Dixie enjoys the cool weather and has recently shown much more gusto during our walks.

Now, I am finding myself checking temperatures in places along our travel route and at our destination in California.

And they are in a pleasant range, which makes me continue counting the days.....