...this morning, and even scarier, yesterday morning. Yesterday, shortly after reveille,

it was busy on the Lane. Everyone was up—sniffing—with smoke definitely in the air. Neighbor Al called the fire department, and almost immediately the siren sounded. I grabbed my bike heading down towards the Woods' place, and as I was getting close, a jeep, containing a volunteer firefighter, came roaring up behind. The two of us got down to Woods' beach and stood sniffing and staring into the fog...but nothing, no fire or flame. Apparently other firefighters scrambled too—to Maple Point and out to the Grandor/West Bay side of things. But nothing, nowhere. Turns out the smoke was/is coming from the big fire north-east of here, up on the French River and near Killarney.

We had clouds and pretend rain most of the day today, and there is hope that the afflicted area got real rain. Still, it's scary, and everyone here is glad of the fire department's rapid response. We are hoping for no smoke tomorrow, and some real rain later in the week, but we remain cognizant of the fact that breaking the back of a drought is not easy.

The barkentine above, a training ship for young people, smashed into the dock this morning, breaking the big iron casting around the bowsprit that tensions the dolphin striker. Took a big chunk out of the dock too. Maybe a little more training is in order, for someone?