July 23, Wednesday – Decisions

For the last two weeks the house batteries have not been holding their charge. During my almost five months on the road I have not been charging up the batteries with the onboard generator, but running it done to 0% then getting a site with power. At the start of the trip I could go four days without recharging. When the indicator showed zero, I would get a site with power and charging the batteries over the night or being on the road charging the house batteries as I moved down the ribbon of asphalt. I’m re-thinking this practice of deep discharges then recharge through shore power. I decided this morning to replace the two-unit house batteries; they were “new” in February. I’ll try to recharge each day with new set.
But now back on the bus. I wanted to have lunch in Northeast Harbor, which is across the month of Somes Sound (the only carved fjord in the lower 48) from Southwest Harbor. Northeast Harbor was different than the other harbors that I’ve seen along the Mid Coast / Down East area: there was a large marina accompanying the normal moored fleet in the harbor. This could be done because the depth at the shoreline was great enough to accommodate deep keel boats.
It was again a long day of exploring but I’m getting a feel of the land and the people who come here.

I’ve been reflecting on my trip and have come up with the following: My trip is like a digital wristwatch – the face magnifies the now: 11:56 a.m. No reference to what went before or what’s to come. By trip is day-to-day, I hardly look at a calendar. I know what I’m going to do today; have a suggestion of what I might do tomorrow and only a vague idea what might happen the day after tomorrow. It’s 11:56 a.m. and that’s all I know.
Wristwatches that are analogs give a much broader view of life. When you look at the face, the hands show you what time it is but it is in reference to eleven other numbers and many, many minutes. There is comfort and security with an analog watch. There are anchors in the morning, at noon and in the afternoon. The hands will help you find your way home. My numbers drop into view one at a time like Coke cans out of a vending machine. Now is where it is at; tomorrow will come tomorrow.

PS: I wear an analog wristwatch