You never know where you may learn something. Something important. History. Statistics. Some new food you want to try. U.S. Coast Guard facts.

A Tucson morning walk is the perfect time to gather information by phone. No wasted steps. This morning I was trying to find out if one of my hometown mailboats in Southwest Harbor, Maine, could ferry people from behind our house on Shore Road to the Causeway Club near Somes Sound.

I called Capt. Bunker of the long-time toting-folks-by-boat Beal and Bunker ferry service.

“How many passengers?” he asked.

“Well, I’m not sure yet,” I replied.

“I’ll tell you why I’m asking,” he said. “Our biggest boat used to carry 40 people. But the new Coast Guard regulations made us change that to 36. Seems like people weigh more now.”

Really. Capt. Bunker speaks the truth.