beach

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Into the Groove

The shrimp boats sure catch a lot of seagulls! We are two miles to Cape Lookout

The shrimp boats sure catch a lot of seagulls! We are two miles to Cape Lookout

Warm day, clear water, long stretches of shell covered beach dotted with dunes, dinghy in to the beach and step into water; sounds much like the Bahamas to me. Ignore the very deep water (we dropped the hook in 26ft), the lack of rocks and coral (both in and above the water) and you could easily be convinced that your wish to “just get there!” had miraculously occurred. We joined a handful of other cruising boats who appeared content to admire the shore from the comfort of their vessel.

Looking out toward the Atlantic at Cape Lookout

Looking out toward the Atlantic at Cape Lookout

Armed with my usual tools of the beach combing and photo-taking pursuits, we headed ashore with plenty of beach exposed near low tide. How many is a bazillion?  Ok now double that. A veritable shelf of shells lined the beach on the inside (bight side); the ocean side even more.  No trip to North Carolina’s Outer Banks should skip Cape Lookout; sitting at the end of the line so to speak. Part of one of world’s last natural barrier islands, Cape Lookout offers something for everyone; from PWC-ers to hikers and cruisers. Small boats spent much of the day net fishing close to shore. They looked successful.

Sand, shells toes on the beach- life is good!

Sand, shells, toes on the beach- life is good!

For one day we’d be in the groove of sun, sand and beach; zooming over flat calm waters in Bunting, our only concern being how could we see the most in one day?

The lighthouse and Ass't keepers house which is now a museum

The lighthouse and Ass’t keepers house which is now a museum

The lighthouse area contains a boardwalk through the dunes and out to the beach

The lighthouse area contains a boardwalk through the dunes and out to the beach

Bunting rests on a small sandbar while we (me!) beachcomb

Bunting rests on a small sandbar while we (me!) beachcomb

 

The day ended with a gorgeous sunset

The day ended with a gorgeous sunset

 

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Block Island Wrap-up

I always take an extreme amount of pictures; this is generally accompanied by a statement to the effect how great for amateur photographers (and those of us not even in that league yet) that digital rules the world now… and you don’t need a camera the size of a breadbox to snap a great picture, or even one with a special zoom lens. Why, our iPhone 5 takes incredible pictures and uses its flash more intelligently than my Sony Cyber-Shot, so you don’t even need a camera anymore.

Here’s a bunch of pictures of other Block Island sights, sites and sightings!  As lazy as we were, we still managed to walk around every day, either over toward Old Harbor or around New Harbor, or places in between.

The Mystic Whaler spent a night and in the morning sailed off to Sag Harbor

The Mystic Whaler spent a night and in the morning sailed off to Sag Harbor

Red Gate Farm across the road from the Boat Basin in New Harbor

Red Gate Farm across the road from the Boat Basin in New Harbor

The island cemetery offers a lovely view

The island cemetery offers a lovely view

Doris Payne passed away in 2004 but her Killer creations live on- 50yrs this year

Doris Payne passed away in 2004 but her Killer creations live on- 50yrs this year

Many families have lived on Block for generations and names such as Ball, Payne, Littlefield, Dodge and Champlin are well known across the island and you will assuredly run into one of these names as you shop and sightsee around.  It was only a matter of time before this popular name combination occurred.

When a Dodge marries a Ball; is the result fun and games? Labor Day weekend 1989: our recently purchased 21′ Larsen, Lady L  was ready for a long trip- but was I? We anchored near shore, with a stern anchor to keep us from swinging into any of our too close neighbors, near the house with the green roof- the location we’d give to the launch operator so he could find us in the harbor.  We didn’t even own an inflatable dinghy back then.  You know, in the good old days 🙂   In the middle of the night, the boat in front of us woke us up because he thought we were dragging; no, the wind changed direction- we didn’t swing but he did. I’m sure we appreciated his concern.

The House with the Green Roof readies for a Saturday wedding

The House with the Green Roof readies for a Saturday wedding

Crescent Beach- a lonnnnggggg curve of beach comprised of several beaches

Crescent Beach- a lonnnnggggg curve of beach comprised of several beaches

Some donut humor- sign in window at Killer Donuts

Some donut humor- sign in window at Killer Donuts

 

Celebrated my birthday two days early at Harry's of Mt Holly, VT fame

Celebrated my birthday two days early at Harry’s of Mt Holly, VT fame

Sunday arrived and with it a potential motor-sail back to Deep River, no rain in sight and the waves of Block Island Sound a benign one foot at most. We departed at 11am in order to catch a favorable current through The Race and west through LIS. That would get us back during mariners’ twilight, a delayed darkness occurrence I am thankful for.

A mile south of Essex we came upon several boats anchored on the river’s edge near marsh grass heaven Goose Island. RiverQuest arrived too as did the small sailing schooner the Mary E.  Took a minute to figure out what they were there for- and I am not telling. Stay tuned as Ortolan prepares to hang out with feathered friends later this week.