On Wednesday we arrived in Camden at 4 pm, after a ride that included an hour of souvenir shopping in Portland—a fun town the students liked exploring.
We boarded the ship, met the crew, dropped our bags and went for a hike to stretch our legs. The hike up Mt. Batty near the harbor is short but steep and ended with beautiful views of Camden Harbor. That evening we had our first of a series of wonderful meals (two home-baked desserts a day). The first evening was spaghetti with meatballs or vegetarian meatballs, marinara or pesto, broccoli, salad, garlic bread and apple crisp. The next morning we were awakened by the captain’s serenade, singing sea shanties and playing the guitar. It was a lovely way to start the day!
Morning call was at 6:30. After breakfast students had an hour and a half of chores–washing the boat surfaces, polishing brass, helping in the galley and cleaning cabins. The cabins were inspected each day and students were a little surprised at their first day’s ratings. We were not used to the standards of orderliness expected on a ship, where everything is always in its place.
The second day was much better, and the students received accolades from the crew for the improvement. Breakfast was at 8:00, and was big. There was always cereal and fresh fruit salad, along with a hot dish–homemade muffins and eggs, hearty oatmeal, or blueberry pancakes. After breakfast, we set sail for the day, which required all hands and students on deck to actually “set the sails.” Hauling yards of canvas and a heavy beam up to the top of a mast is a big job–and there are several sails on the Mary Day, a two-masted schooner with a bowsprit to which sails also attach. It is a beautiful and intricate process, and we all admired the crew who worked so smoothly together, directing us, to make it happen.
Once we were underway, students were divided into “watch groups” for lessons. One group studied navigation, learning the basics of navigation using both the ship’s instruments and traditional means of fixing location. A second group learned about sails, ropes, and knot-tying, including a fancy knot with which everyone made bracelets. The third group was divided between helping the cooks in the galley and, one at a time, helping the captain at the helm. Each student had a chunk of time steering the ship, really navigating between islands and rock–some in rougher waters. Some students really took to this! After two watch groups we had lunch, then another 90-minute lesson. In the afternoon there was a pause to anchor, and furl sails, with all students participating again.
Once at anchor, we had time exploring ashore, then dinner and evening activities. These included an evening of poetry and singing by Captain Barry. The students also recited the poem they have been learning, “Sea Fever,” much to his delight. A second evening was spent rowing around a peaceful cove in the ship’s rowboats. Several students took a swim in the chilly waters, and several more slept out on the ship’s deck the last night. The first day we sailed to Pickering Cove, and explored a small island in the evening, playing on the rocks.
The second day we anchored in Pulpit Harbor, named for the massive pulpit-shaped rock at its entrance. Samuel Champlain also explored this harbor 400 years ago, and his naturalist described ospreys nesting on the rock. An osprey nest is still there! That afternoon we went ashore and visited “Miss Rumphius’s house,” the home of “the Lupine Lady” on whom a famous children’s book is based. Izora recounted the whole story to those who did not know it, and we saw both the house and ubiquitous lupines Miss Rumphius sowed over the island.
The last day we set sail once more, did some journaling and “sentimental brass polishing” (invited by the crew; several students were really eager to do some last polishing of the beautiful Mary Day), then a closing circle with the captain and crew. Everyone offered something they were proud to have done and something they appreciated. Food was high on many people’s list, along with the crew, the beauty of the water and land, and the ship herself.
We had two beautiful days onboard and one day of rain, stronger winds, and slightly rougher seas. Some students were mildly seasick but made it through; others really enjoyed the speed and wildness and seemed to come even more alive! The ship was at an angle in the wind for several hours; the muffins that day all came out at a dramatic tilt. Happily, the rainy day cleared in the late afternoon and we had a beautiful evening and spectacular sunset.
That was the day students rowed around Pulpit Harbor, and it was a memorable last night. What stood out for me was the students’ enjoyment of each other, and their ability to work hard while having fun. I loved seeing them learning so much and becoming more competent with the ropes and sails in just a few days. I am so glad to have had this time with them.
Best wishes,
Abigail Diehl-Noble, Class Teacher