While wandering through town, we stopped at the life-saving service heritage museum. A now extinct organization, the life-saving service was created as a federal agency in 1870 in response to the humanitarian cries of Americans wanting something to save those who life was threatened as their ships crashed into the reefs and rocks along the coast. In its heyday, the Life-saving Service manned some 279 stations on both ocean shores and the great lakes. Its end came when, in 1915, it merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the U. S. Coast Guard. The museum displays many of the old artifacts and boats which were used during their independent days, along with the description of harrowing rescues by the men who rowed these frail wooden structures through gale-sized storms to remove would-be lost souls from the clutches of a watery grave. From here we turned our bikes east and headed for the end of the island where we had friends whom we hadn't seen in many years. Mark and Barbi Barnhill, had many years ago, given up their city life for a little peace on the island. Acquiring some 20 acres which had at one time been a thriving winery, they moved into the old farmhouse and opened a bed and breakfast called The Winery. Grape vines abound all around and a winding path leads to a small exclusive beach area which is part of the acreage. The house which was built in 1865, is furnished in a personal décor including a somewhat unusual brass Turkish heater in the middle of the living room. Although Mark was busy in town, Barbi entertained us for the better part of an hour while we caught up on her personal life and the activities of island politics. We could have spent many more hours there but there were other adventures awaiting us at the other end of the Island. On our way back we stopped for a few moments to admire one of the Islands recognized buildings. Inselruhe, built in 1875, was originally the summer home of rear admiral John J. Hunker, who was a prominent figure in American naval history. The home is now a private residence, and is listed in the National Register of Historical places. Our final trip was in search of a geode, normally a rock which, when sliced in half reveals a brightly colored crystal formation which had formed on the inner walls of the hollow center. These are usually small enough to hold in you hand, but the one we were looking for was a little bigger. Actually, it is the biggest geode ever found. Measuring over 30 feet across at its widest point, this ball contains millions of tons of crystalline formations. We met Gerald Bane, the general manager of the Crystal Cave as the geode is known, at the Heineman winery. Crystal Cave is a one of a kind. It is the only geode that I have ever heard of that you can actually walk into. The geode was discovered by workmen at the winery in 1897. It is about 35 feet below the surface, and slightly above the water table for that area. We stayed to share a glass of wine and some cheese and watch the gathering partners as the outside garden began to fill up, and then as the sun began to cast long shadows across the court, we headed back to the boat quite tired but satisfied. It had been quite a fun day.

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