Evanston: commuter
Evanston: commuter
I rode the Metra to Winthrop Harbor yesterday to work on GANNET.
The ride takes an hour, about the same as driving, with a ten minute walk to and from home and marina to the respective stations.
Because of Illinois politics, at present as a senior citizen I ride free. That is due to end sometime this summer, but even a round trip cost of slightly less than $9 will still be cheaper than driving; and so long as I don’t have anything too heavy or bulky to carry is much more pleasant. I read instead of listening to music on my iTouch, and finished DILLINGER IN HOLLYWOOD on the way back.
There are only a few commuter trains that go as far as Winthrop Harbor. I can go up at 7:00 a.m., which I did yesterday, or 1:00 p.m. And return at 3:00 p.m., which I did yesterday, or 6:00 p.m. Neither train was crowded.
North of Evanston are some of Chicago’s wealthiest suburbs. Spanish was the most commonly spoken language on the morning train as Latino servants were riding to work.
The walk from the Winthrop Harbor platform is through a nature reserve of scattered trees, high grass and marsh. The road leads only to the marina and Skipper Bud’s and there were few cars on a weekday, even one as beautiful as yesterday. The reserve is filled with birds, and the pleasant quiet was broken only by their calls.
On GANNET after I completed sanding the interior wood and went on deck to do the tiller, two small birds angrily fluttered above my head. I recalled seeing them sitting on the pulpit on the weekend. Small bits of weed and grass scattered on the deck and cockpit sole caused me to look up speculatively at the mainsail cover. I stood and there in the fold of the mainsail was a nest. Fortunately no eggs. I told the birds that I was sorry, but this was not on and undid their labors. To prevent a Sisyphean resumption, I tied the end of the mainsail cover tight with string. I was still sanding the tiller when one of the birds returned with a piece of weed in his or her beak, headed for the tiller cover and diverted at the last second when he or she saw that there was no way in.
It really was an excellent place for a nest, completely hidden from predators and protected from the elements. If not from a sailor who might want to raise his mainsail again some day.
Two liters of Deks Olje and a gallon of white paint for the interior are due to be delivered this afternoon.
Tomorrow I oil.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011