Farewell to Montauk

As I left you in my last post, Kristin and Mac were enroute to us. They arrived safely and we had five fun-filled days with them. We went swimming, fishing, sight-seeing and Greg even took Mac biking around the town of Montauk, much to his delight.

The fishing trip was fun for both Mac and Greg however they arrived back empty handed as the fish (a 19 inch fluke amongst others) they caught were too small to keep (according to the regulations spouted by the guides). Too bad - everyone was looking forward to having a fush fry that evening! Overall, a fun time was had by all and we experienced a bit of regret that they couldn't stay longer!

However, any sadness was relieved the next day as we attended a potluck dock party hosted by our summer neighbours. This is an annual event for these dock residents - Eddie & Eileen (35+ years), Frank & Doreen (25 years), Rich and Wendy (20+ years), Joe & Irene (20+ years), and many others. Stories of adventures in past years were shared. Many have been bringing their kids for years, some who worked in the marina as a summer job. One 'kid' (now fully grown) stated that Bernie Madoff paid for their college education via the tips offered when staying at the marina (cash, not advice). When the call came, all the dockhands went running with a bag of ice in hopes of being the lucky recipient of a reputed $500 tip by times!! Turns out, this marina has seen many 'famous' faces over the years as the fishing reputation is phenomenal. It was a fun evening with a roasted pig, salads, desserts and live music. Our neighbours were gracious in their including us in this fun event.

The next day saw us on our bikes heading to Amagansett. We travelled the back roads and saw some interesting sites, the most interesting was the Victor d'Amico Art Barge (https://damico-art.org). Affiliated with MOMA, this site gives aspiring artists a place to attend workshops and work on their own creations. Really interesting - and a great spot by the water for inspiration.

From here we eventually made it to Amagansett - another beautiful town on the ocean. We had lunch at a roadside farmer's market, then continued through the town, to the beach (some photos below from a museum we passed). As it was a fair distance for us to cycle (we completed 55 km this day), we did not stay long as our tushes were getting sore. However, certainly worth the trek!

After a day not biking, our next foray found us on a ferry to Block Island where we took our bikes and went exploring for the day. What a beautiful place - in Rhode Island. Little did we realize we had crossed state lines! Block Island is a historical venue with white settlements dating back to 1661 (some photos from our voyage to the island).

Upon leaving the ferry we headed to New Shoreham, the primary town of Block Island on our way to the Southeast Lighthouse (https://southeastlighthouse.org). I believe this is the most beautiful lighthouse in New England (and there are MANY lighthouses). What a view from its grounds - and the building was lovely - see for yourself!

Of course a selfie was required!

From here we traversed the island - every road is a back road. The island appears to be the home of farmers and fishermen - restful and bucolic as we passed through. We returned to New Shoreham and had lunch at the Surf Hotel, an old yet majestic hotel set above the harbour. It is one of three such hotels in the town - you can really let your imagination run wild with visions of young families coming to stay for a week at the beach, with roomy verandas to catch the air and listen to the seabirds (at least that is what I would have done!). Some photos below - the Surf is in the middle.

We also explored the route to the North Lighthouse - not as accessible as the Southeast Lighthouse, but a commanding presence all the same. Along the way, we passed markers highlighting some of the historical aspects of the island.

We returned to Montauk tired but happy to have made the trip.

A few other highlights for us while on Montauk were the swans. My friends in Bedford will appreciate the joy watching swans can bring. Greg is all set to resurrect the movement to procure swans for the Parkers Cove neighbours once again!

The family of five swans were found at Duryea's - a historical fishing family business on Montauk. A photo below, and as seen from the Montauk Manor.

We took in the seafood restaurant festival one weekend in the Montauk town square, sponsored by the Long Island Aquarium. Great food and interesting small town vibe.

On one of our many bike treks, we came upon the landing site of the Amistad (https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/amistad). We had seen the Amistad in the harbour and still remember the story and movie.

And what else does one do when you are in the beach mecca of New England? You go to the beach - we were prepared! Gin Beach was a favorite! It was also close to a lovely restaurant to end the day!

Some final photos from a beautiful summer sojourn. After a lovely dinner sponsored by Safe Harbor Marinas and Mount Gay rum, we said goodbye on September 16. On to the next phase of this journey.

Andiamo!! On to Greenport!