Cuttyhunk Getaway

A week ago we left for a 5-day boat trip to Cuttyhunk. I love it there. So does Mike and the boys. The island is small, with a winter population of around 50 yet approximately 400 summer residents. There's only one tiny grocery store, one gift shop, a one room schoolhouse (last I heard there were 3 students), an ice cream shop, a Bed and Breakfast, one Pizza joint, and little more.

The trip over was more than a little bumpy - with 4 - 6' swells the entire trip. Not pleasant. However, all is forgotten once we navigate into the channel and moor the boat in the pond.. Mooring fees are reasonable - $30 - $40 a night, depending on location, and a change of pace from anchoring.  As it usually is on a holiday weekend, the pond was full of boats - both sail and; power, many rafted up together. 

The first few days/nights it was just the four of us and we did very little. 

Skip & Harry swam.

Harry got bored with swimming and just chilled on the deck

but Skip continued to swim.

 They jumped off the boat, 

and even when Harry had had enough, Skip swam some more.

 We took the dinghy ashore and got ice cream

and we played lots of card and board games.

We did a little reading,

and  marveled at the sunset each evening after dinner.

Our second night, we feasted on steamers and lobster.

 

Steamers and quahogs are a summer staple for us but the lobster was a treat for all. Well almost all of us enjoyed it.

Whenever he got the chance, Skip swam.

and more often than not, Harry chose to hang out and relax, taking in all the sights and sounds a holiday weekend brings.

The boys found time to practice their kayaking skills,

and Mike and I were happy to meet up with some boating friends we hadn't seen in a few years. It was nice to catch up on each others' lives and look back at the boating memories we shared.

No time on Cuttyhunk is complete unless you and hail  the Floating Harbor Raw Bar and feast on their local favorites. The Raw Bar is a boat that offers some of the best chowder - ever, along with a variety of other tempting dishes including oysters on the half shell. (Not for me, but many seafood lovers rave over them.)  We also spent a few hours at Shipwreck Beach (a,k.a. Barge's Beach). 

They love the surf there compared to the tamer alternative, Channel Beach, and had so much fun playing in the waves. 

Harry tired of the water quickly and diverted his efforts towards the sand. He created his only little salt water pool, complete with seaweed, working happily & diligently until it met with his approval. Only then did he take a break and sit, listening to the sound of the waves.

All the while, Skip remained in the water, enjoying time with his friend Lily, who seems to enjoy it as much as Skip does.

On Sunday Levi took the Ferry over and we all returned to Shipwreck beach for the afternoon.  Once again Skip & Harry raced to the water.

Harry wasn't much in the mood for the water, so Skip enjoyed hanging out with his big brother.

And Harry, well, he again played in the sand, filling and refilling buckets with seaweed, water and sand.

He seems to love the sand as much as Skip loves the water, so the beach is a perfect fit for all of us!

July 4th was Levi's 30th birthday, and Devin and Matt also took the ferry over to spend the day.  Their brought their dog, Manny, who assisted Sabaka in patrolling the pond.

We spent the morning kayaking,

 

followed by the summer's first water balloon fight,

and finally some silly, and not so silly picture taking.

A few hours back at Shipwreck beach and then it was back to the boat for some birthday cupcakes.

All too soon, Devin & Matt left on the ferry, 

and everyone decided to nap before dinner.

 

Everyone except me, that is.  I had the honor of hanging wet towels and bathing suits, rinsing of sand toys, and then, getting dinner started. 

 Once dinner was served, eaten, and cleaned up, we surprised the boys with a visit to the Ferry Dock. Since 2009, Skip has talked about jumping off the dock, like the teens & tween locals do each time the ferry leaves.  He almost did last summer, but then decided he wasn't quite ready. This year both boys said they wanted to jump, and jump they did. 

Harry was first,

followed by Skip

and then both boys jumped together.

It was another 30 minutes of non-stop jumping before  we finally returned to the boat for dinner.  We all enjoyed the Island's firework display, and the boys even got to a few boxes of sparklers to share. 

With the morning came the reality that our Cuttyhunk trip was over, and it was back to reality.  Nobody wanted to leave, but knew that we'd be back again , hopefully before the summer's end. We waved goodbye to the island, enjoyed a very smooth ride back, and saw some pretty neat sights along the way.

 Back on our mooring in Fairhaven, we decided to enjoy the beautiful weather a little longer, and swam off the back of the boat for a good part of the afternoon.

More jumping,

  more swimming,

 and just before we were gonna head back to the marina and call it a day, I decided to take a quick swim, clothes and all. Quite refreshing.

  Skip, shirt sums up this families view of Cuttyhunk best: