Day trip around Cape Ann

/ one2travelfar / Leave a comment

P8140049.JPG

We took advantage of beautiful weather this weekend and took a boat ride around “Cape” Ann, which is actually an island. It began with the Manchester lighthouse. This tower is not really a lighthouse but part of a big house. Rumor has it that the interior walls are carpeted so the acoustics are better when the owner relaxes in the tower with his music and cocktail.

Cape Ann Island P8140051.JPG

I think this s Graves Island off the coast of Magnolia Harbor

P8140052.JPG

This house is the only occupant of a beautiful peninsula, Crow Island (not really an island).

P8140053.JPG

We encountered schooners and pirate ships along the way. I think we were even fired upon.

P8140059.JPG

We explored a Lane’s Cove with boats tied to a stone pier.

P8140062.JPG

Then we returned to our summer home. Sailboats were out in full force because the wind picked up during the day.

P8140071.JPG P8140072.JPG P8140075.JPG P8140077.JPG

P8140084.JPG

We had a luscious strawberry shortcake for dessert and went to bed. I tried in vain to see the Perseid meteor shower this month but it has been either cloudy or there is too much ambient light here, with the lighthouse’s rotating red and white light, flashing green and red channel buoys and the glow of Boston in the background.

P8140086.JPG

Time for a knitting post

/ one2travelfar / 5 Comments

I’ve been writing about the beautiful sunsets, lobster fisherman, meals prepared.  Now it’s time to get down to knitting.  I’ve been busy since we arrived on the island but without electricity, there are only a few things to do at night.

I had the itch to make some baby clothes and made Mexicali, Mexicali sweater and hatwhich Liz plans to give to a friend, and a february type baby sweater CIMG0009.jpgfrom handspun alpaca for a former work colleague.

Now I am working on a trio of children’s sweaters for my friend Anne, who has a trio of beautiful daughters.  The first is an aran sweater designed by me in a yarn i bought for myself but then decided I would never wear. CIMG0136.jpg The second is picture knitting in a pullover.  CIMG0006.jpgi used the castle pattern from Barbara Walker’s second treasure and wool bam boo yarn, which I really liked.  The third, which is still just an idea in my head, will be a top down raglan with a slip stitch pattern from Barbara Walker.

So one left before Labor Day. Then I have to start working on a quilt for Chelsea’s new apartment.

Floaters

/ one2travelfar / Leave a comment



Floaters

Originally uploaded by One2KnitFar

We went ashore today to do the usual errands-laundry, buy propane, download Dexter episodes and specifically to buy coffee filters, among other things.
i asked the checkout lady to keep the arugala’s plastic packaging. She was a little concerned because the salad bag had holes in it. So what ended in the water when we came ashore? The coffee filters and arugala of course.

— Sent from my Palm Pre

The fog rolled in

/ one2travelfar / Leave a comment

P8050007.JPG

The other day, at sunset, a fog bank rolled by. I could actually see the wave of fog pass Great Misery Island. Eventually, it drifted over us as well.

P8050012.JPG

Today, while we had lunch by the lighthouse, one of the seagulls we’ve watched grow up, was testing its wings. It was persistent and managed to get off the ground. We are not huge fans of seagulls, but we have seen this one since it was an egg and I even change my running route when the adults are around and try to attack me to protect it.

Our resident seagull takes flight

Boat traffic

/ one2travelfar / Leave a comment

There has been lots of activity around the island and harbor.  Yesterday, at 5:45, I was awakened by a ship’s horn, blowing every minute.   I got up and went outside with my camera.  Another 300+ foot coal ship was coming into Salem for the power plant.  The morning was foggy and I heard its horn for fifteen minutes before I caught a glance of the boat.

It obliterated the local lobster boats who didn’t seem to mind its presence.

It was followed by a large motor yacht,  dwarfed in size.

We spent the day emptying the oil house of 30+ years of debris, animal nests, very nasty.  We brought the bags of trash onto the beach and were greeted by the landing craft and strapping young men this morning.

We offloaded 30 years of trash and then brought new gear onto the island.  Ikea furniture for the house and lots of construction materials for the assistant keeper’s house.

We emptied the goodies,  loaded the trash and sent the boat on its way.

The Salem Maritime festival was taking place today so after all the loot was stored, we went ashore and played tourist.

A large boat anchored off of Great Misery Island and we went to get a close look and found a young bloke in the rigging.  Apparently, I never got a good picture of it.

We were happy to see the Louis Story (sp) careened on the beach.  It’s a small, beauriful pinkey boat that we have seen sailing and at its mooring.  Maybe we’ll get a chance to sail aboard her.

We finished the day with a tour of the Friendship and ice cream from Captain Dusty’s.  A good time was had by all.

The boat we saw

/ one2travelfar / Leave a comment



The boat we saw

Originally uploaded by One2KnitFar

We went ashore today to deliver Ikea furniture to the contractor who is working with us on the island. He will bring it here on a landing craft with young strapping men to carry it ashore. YEAH! Not me.
Fog settled down on us but we were prepared with chart, compass, gps, horn and bright orange life preservers. We remained outside the channel and heard a large motor boat. We blew the horn and hailed them on the radio. We both conveyed our positions and the Norwegian Queen passed us with our and their horns blasting. It was eerie because we never saw each other and its horn faded as it moved away.
Then the fog lifted and we saw this shack being towed out of the harbor. I wonder if they were planning to scuttle the shack under cover of fog. We got back to the island and enjoyed a thunderstorm from indoors. Loki didn’t enjoy it.

— Sent from my Palm Pre

 Norwegian Queen