Memories fade but the scars still linger....

Greetings.

(Okay, BIG BONUS Blogger Bucks for whomever can name the band to whose song lyrics the title of this post can be attributed. Hint: think 80's, think duo, think bad 80's man-hair, don't think WHAM!, think far more angsty... Submissions can be sent to mamuks' email address.)

Anyways, back to the business of the post, and the point of the post title. Mamuks knows that August is now a long, long time ago, but even if her memories of our glorious three weeks spent out on The Island are kind of sketchy, she still has some vague tan-lines, a bucket of rocks, and tonnnnnnnnnes of photos to prove that yes, she did actually take a vacation!

Indeed, Mudzuks and Vecais loaded up the van, threw in Mamuks and VDz for good measure, and headed "down east" for 3 weeks of quality sun, sea and salty air time. Although the islanders all reported a miserable summer of cold and rain, we brought with us the best weather of the season - and even dipped our bodies into the frigid waters of the Fundy on a couple of occasions to prove it!

Here's what else we got up to:

On the ferry over: Land ho!

Preparing for our first adventure up to ol' Swallowtail:

Vecais hoping for a chance to blow the foghorn:


Three tired piggies.
Close vision:
("When the wind blows..." - that's your second clue to the 80's band lyrics question - same band, different song.)
And indeed, the blowing wind, the burning sun, the strange existence of a concrete heli pad on the desolate undulations of Swallowtail Point, all conspired to inspire some strange interpretive dance moves from the lot of us:




On the way home, just stopping for a chat.


The Birder and the Burgeoning Birder down at Castalia Marsh:


As usual, both Mudzuks and Vecais were drawn to the tidal ponds...

... but the sloshing of the incoming tide gave Vecais a bit more than he bargained for!



Both Vecais and Mudzuks also took the opportunity to learn to ride a new kind of bike -- good riddance to trikes and training wheels!


Our first tentative dip into the fantastically freezing Fundy (Mamuks can think of another couple of f-words that might accompany a description of that experience.) And Vecais, per usual, was a lot less tentative than the rest of us!


Next attempt was made at Anchorage Beach, where the "warm" incoming tide allowed for full-body submersion. Wowsa!

Red Point board walk:
Vecais is convinced he is half-boy, half-cat. Seriously.

Vecais finally succumbs to the sun, sand and salty air:

Loving, sweet, dear brother and sister, taking a rest across from the ferry terminal.

On our "secret beach," looking for treasures...
The formidable four, on a regular jaunt around Net Point:

Upon the wide open sands of Seal Cove:






Once again on the Red Point boardwalk: Monkey see, monkey do.

And monkeys like to climb trees too!

Excursion to Saint John, hanging with Delilah:

Mudzuks gets up close to H&A's 15 minutes of fame:

Whale Cove:



This is what Mamuks and VDz saw one morning when they looked out the breakfast window. (I do believe there was an earlier reference to monkeys...)

Stanley Beach:

And the best beach of all, down at Deep Cove:




Vecais, in his best leisure suit, decides he will drive us home.

After the hoardes descended, Mamuks slips away for some "adult time" hiking on the west coast with the new arrivals:

Getting ready for the big bonfire:

And having had just about enough of the same:

Tante S. giving Mudzuks her first lesson in necropsy:


Apparently, Mudzuks is a quick learner, showing them how it' done once they got to the bird (killed by gunshot, in case you were wondering).

And on the night before we all leave, Zack finally works up the courage to busta move on Mudzuks. (The old "yawn trick" works every time).