If you feel time is flying by, it is, especially this month. With Monday the first day of the month, Columbus Day observed is the second Monday, which makes Columbus Day weekend beginning tomorrow, Friday, October 5. Thus the Southport Yacht Club's Board of Directors' meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 6, although stay turned to your e-mail for a possible change in time. Club members and guests are invited to the annual pot luck supper Saturday evening at 6 p.m. Bring your favorite dish and libation.

With the early observance of Columbus Day I checked in with the tourist businesses on the island that usually close after that holiday to see what their plans were. Since our leaves are only beginning to turn, the "leaf peepers" may arrive a week or two hence and need food and a place to stay.

The Lobster Shop is already closed. Ship Ahoy and Gray's Campground are both closing on October 9, although at Gray's a few apartments will remain available. This coming weekend will also be the last of the season for Robinson's dining facilities. Lawnmere is the next to close, their last day being October 11. Newagen will close on October 14 and Ocean Gate on October 15. All Saints by-the-Sea will shutter up after a wedding on October 13. Sweet Dreams Bakery will remain open until Christmas at the usual hours of 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 7 a.m. until noon on Saturdays. Our Island Store, of course, remains open year-round although watch for notice of 4 p.m. closings on Sundays.

Ernestine Johnson will be celebrating her 90th birthday at St. Andrews Village on Saturday, October 13. She would love to hear from friends and neighbors. You can send cards to St. Andrews Village Gregory Wing, 145 Emery Lane, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.

It's time to report on the repaired and recuperating. The McWhans are back in their Pratts Island Road home where Denis is recovering from surgery. Bobbie is nursing Logan Wallingford back to health from an undetermined virus that laid him low. Donald Duncan thought that surgery to bring him back to good health might be today. Bill Curwen is home in Boston after a hospital stay that cut short his Southport time.

It's not too late to get your clock repaired by Gene Hauser on Pratts Island. Although an expert repairman, Gene does this work as a hobby, so that all money earned is donated to the local food pantry. Call Gene at 633-6167 to find a time to bring your clocks to him.

We said goodbye and wished Godspeed to the Esterly family, and an early Happy Birthday to Meris, as the three of them prepare to set off to southwest New Mexico to begin their new adventure as owners of Geronimo Trail Ranch, a small dude ranch 50 miles from the nearest gas station. They still need to find a home for their 13-year-old Calico, Callie. The cat is an outdoor cat by day and inside at night. She is affectionate and sweet tempered, and been a Southport pet all of her life. Anyone interested in owning this well cared for cat may contact Diana, Harry or Meris at 633-7884.

For those of you either already settled in your winter homes or contemplating closing the cottage and making your way home, I offer the following portion of a letter written about his trip home by George Burgess Magrath in about 1888 when he was 18 years old. John Moses recovered the letter among stored effects and shared it with me with the suggestion that I share it with you. If you dread your trip home down the Interstates through heavy traffic, consider this alternative.

"I shall now endeavor to tell you the events which have happened since I parted company with you that wet September morning. You have probably heard all about our experiences in boarding the old 'Struggle': how, after rowing around for an hour and a half, we finally went clear up to the Harbor, and got aboard the steamer just as she was about to start. I think it was fortunate that we did get aboard at Boothbay, for the fog shut down so thick that it would have been uncomfortable business elsewhere.

As we steamed out by Squirrel (Island) we looked at your house, but could not distinguish whether anyone was looking at us or not. When we got out by the Cape it shut in thicker than ever, and we at once slowed down to one bell. We took the outer course, going outside of Seguin (Island), which could be heard but not seen. About this time the passengers began to look pale and to go below. And the way the old tub did roll was a caution! I was down in the engine-room until we passed Sequin, and when I started to go up on deck, I had to hold on to the railing with all my might to keep myself from being pitched overboard. It was almost impossible to stand-up on deck, and it seemed as if the chandelier in the saloon would go to pieces, it was slathing so hard. I at once put on rubber coat and boots, and rolling myself up on a deck settee made

myself very comfortable. I at first thought that I should be sick, but the rolling did not seem to disturb my interior as it did the day we went out fishing and I got along without any difficulty. The first thing we made after leaving the Cuckold's buoy was Half Way Rock.

When we first saw it through the dense fog we were heading directly for it, and it appeared to be but a very little distance from us. We had been going at half speed ever since we had heard the bell at Half Way, and our course was immediately changed a little, so that we passed a few hundred yards outside the Rock. We now continued on our way, feeling our way slowly among the islands. Once we passed a large excursion steamer filled with people. She was heading directly for us, and was but a short distance away when sighted. We had been exchanging signals, however so that it was known that there was a steamer in the vicinity. The next point we made was the Breakwater, after rounding which we were soon at the dock alongside the Tremont. This was at five o'clock, so that we had been nearly five hours between Boothbay and Portland. After we had gone aboard the Boston boat and I had got mother established in her state room I went up town to make a few purchases. GBM"