The Seven Webs

Smugglers Harbor, Valcour Island
N 44 37.08 W 073 24.52

Tuesday, August 7
Today we toured the island on foot some more. It's amazing how much of the forest floor is covered by luxurious, soft, green moss. We also had fun watching a flock of Grebes fishing. Grebes appear to be a species of duck. The patrol the shallows near the shore and when the spot a small fish they swim very rapidly, overtake the fish and scoop it up. Then the other Grebes harass the one with the fish trying to steal it, until it is swallowed.

Tonight we sat on the fore deck to watch the spider show around dusk. We have string strung net-like between our lifelines. It forms a series of triangles leading up to the pulpit. There was a big spider weaving a web in the bow pulpit, and we saw no less than 6 smaller spiders all spinning webs in six consecutive triangles leading away from the bow. From where we sat, we could see the spiders very clearly silhouetted against the evening sky. It was very instructive to see them spinning. Their
movements seem to be random but after watching for a while their patterns of spinning become apparent. It brings back memory of sailing in New York. Every sailboat we've ever had was populated by lots of spiders in the summer. Apparently it is a very hospitable place for them. In recent days, every time I pick up a line, I find a spider hiding out in the folds of the knots.

Tonight we expect heavy rains. The spiders will have to scramble to find good hiding places to wait it out.