Shadflies…

…somewhat prevalent on Heliotrope this morning as we set out on a breezy morning sail out past Gooseberry and around the bay. Beautiful weather, made better by yesterday’s rain.

Above, bull thistle, one of many mid-summer weeds/flowers in bloom. Below chicory and Queen Anne’s lace. Others not pictured, tansy, and even goldenrod.

The Place For Insects

Great numbers and great variety.

Those annoying to humans (but appreciated by insectivores) are mostly gone at this point in the summer. This includes black flies, mosquitoes, and deer flies. Now, it’s mostly what I would call the good guys—dragonflies and butterflies. And pollen/nectar bees.

So far, however, and this is odd, almost no shadflies. Gulls are working the shoreline, but no big eruption. Hope they’re okay.

Keep To The Lee

Blowing like stink, from the west. No boats on the bay, except…

…us padding along the boulders, among the catspaws—and the sail-training barkentine sailing erratically and then heeling steeply but going slow as it came down towards the marina. We sat at the end of the pier and watched, with binos, for nearly an hour.

Enough wind to give us a (brief) power failure.

High winds giving us high water, too.

Lively Sail…

…on the Windrider. Hefty NW wind, and steep chop at the marina. Spray flying as we beat over to the calmer west side of the bay. Sleigh ride back to the slip. No other sailing vessels on the water.

Last night’s Dutch Baby

This morning’s cappuccino

And, above, a fascinating find. Athelstan Spilhaus was a friend of Brainard Wheeler, and I remember Dad speaking of him occasionally. Even thought of naming a child Athelstan, which may not have been the best idea.