Now it’s the Gleeson’s turn

Michael arrives on Monday afternoon with Tigran and Viken for the day. We were all so excited to once again have cousins to play with. We took the launch out to NH to play with the dinghy, swim and jump off the boat in the Great Salt Pond - Uncle Michael proved to be the best motivator and guardian of the swimmers. Nandad instructed Tigran on all the mechanics of the boat and he happily soaked it all up. Despite a slow puncture Nana gives Tigran a tutorial on the eclectic engine however we almost sank so we had to call the launch to take us back to Champlin’s.

After saying our goodbyes to Michael and gang a very happy bunch walked to Paynes  for dinner and as we continue our adventures into town for Aldo’s a beautiful sunset in the background.Tomorrow Tuesday we will cruise home to Newport after three wonderful, packed weeks of cruising on New Horizon feeling full of gratitude that we could share with all the family. 

The Nevins arrive

Finally the Nevins catch the fast ferry from Newport after missing the ferry at Point Judith - no parking available! The gang joined together at Scotch Beach for the afternoon. Another wonderful day perfect for boogie boards, jumping waves and simply soaking up the warm breeze. We all gather at the Oars to eat and play corn hole.

The adults were able to have their own table ( very happy about that ) while the children also had theirs - the advantage of seven children and six adults. 

Sunday Ceire and Dave celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary at the best spot on the island Aldo’s. Dana and the boys left on the plane early this morning while Sinead and Emma join us at Champlin’s to use the pool and attempt lots of water sports before taking the car ferry back to Point Judith. It’s been a wonderful week on Block.

Ollie has managed the kayak and has successfully rowed out to New Horizon. Emma, Avie and Ailish attempt paddle boarding which proves to be quite challenging. The wind, current, boats, fast ferry etc prove to be quite the obstacle course. 

What a week on Block

This is the view from the pretty red stone farm house ( 1830 ) where the Arsenault’s are staying. The great salt pond in the background full of boaters here to soak up the fun on Block. Not a bad picture of the family either ! 

What a week we have had between the house and the boat, biking, walking, the beaches, the park, the ice creams, kayaking, sunsets ( especially Dory’s Cove ) and most delicious food. Of course we had to have the evening on the hill at the Spring House with the kids tumbling down while the adults enjoy wonderful cocktails. Scott Baer provided great sounds on the lawn. We were also lucky to snag a table for dinner - what a life. 

We now await the arrival of the Nevins for a few days so still lots more to enjoy.

The Arsenault’s Arrive on BI

Waiting patiently at the airport heading to Block Island. Saturday 15th the Arsenault’s arrive leaving from Westerly State Airport. Emma is the copilot so lots of excitement on the ride. They arrive safely without any weather problems - just as well they were not traveling on Sunday as the winds were high with thunder and lightening and heavy rains ! However Dana was the hero taking the car over fully loaded on a very choppy ferry and very unpleasant ride.

After a few instructions Emma has become our dinghy Captain transporting us to the beach, the dinghy dock and Champlin’s Marina - Mom does look a little stressed - just kiddin but we did get wet! Of course our first stop was a ride over to dinghy beach where we cross the street to ride the waves at Scotch Beach. 

Next was Aldo’s for dinner and vacation has to start with some delicious ice- cream. A successful night onboard New Horizon while Sinead awaits checking into The Red Stone Farm house for the week.

Sunday morning we hail Aldo’s Bakery to come to NH and everyone has some sort of deliciousness for breakfast. We managed a ride over to Champlin’s to have some fun on the lawn and Sinead was able to check into the house before the absolute heavens began to fall. We all took a taxi to the Poor People’s Pub for some wonderful food while poor Dana was traveling on the nightmare ride on the ferry. 

When Nana and Nandad arrived back to the boat the rains were so strong the life jackets exploded ! You can see the sailboat in the background drying out all their cushions. 

New Horizon on Block Island

Does life get any better! Our first night on BI on a private mooring so we will need to scout in the morning. Nana and Nandad welcome their long time friends MJ and Dave onboard. We also met another long term friend Ellie and Richard so we joined company and went to Eli’s for dinner.

Thursday morning very early start for our buddy Dave whose job it was to watch the mooring field for boats leaving so NH can pick up an orange ball. By 10 am there was no activity in the mooring field so Nana called the Harbormaster who came to our assistance and reserved a green ball for us 76 which could handle our weight and size. We were ever so grateful and now can secure our position until we are ready to leave. We are excited to spend the week on the Great Salt Pond while our daughter Sinead and her family rent a house nearby. 

The picture above is before our dinner at the SpringHouse where we ate Al fresco overlooking the wind farm. The atmosphere is just high energy with Adirondack chairs scattered all over the extensive lawns, with little feet running and rolling down the hills and a violin playing in the background. The food is simply delicious and the chef uses a lot of fresh produce from the garden out back. 

The picture below is MJ and Nana heading into Champlin’s for the practical side of boating - laundry ! A very wet dinghy ride over to Andy’s Way after a wonderful lunch at the BeachHead. 

Champlin’s was bought over by TPG three years ago and now the property is a high end resort. They renovated 44 guest rooms and continue to have three dockside bars , two restaurants and of course live music. The movie theater unfortunately is no longer in operation and the playground is now a covered function area. The pool area has been extended and you can purchase a daily pass to use the facilities. 

Friday July 14th a stormy rainy day. We were still able to get off the boat and have a wonderful lunch at the Oars before MJ and Dave returned to Franklin. 

Menemsha

New Horizon is on a slip in the Menemsha Basin and what a great spot. Here is the place to be if you enjoy fresh fish cooked at the dockside. The beach is also right there providing an excellent spot to relax and enjoy the surf. While taking a short stroll along the path Nana came across a very unusual sign. Generally the signs warn you about the angry dog however this one warns you about the angry turkey! 

You also know you are in the basin by the wonderful sculpture of the spear fisherman.

Monday is a very rainy day and the perfect day as it turns out for Nandad to have his ear seen to. For several days now it has been painful and he has not been able to hear properly !,,, very frustrating. We made an appointment at the Vineyard Medical Care and took two buses from the basin. Of course we were early for our appointment so we had to wait for an hour in a very small intimate waiting room. The building appears to be a very old home converted into a medical centre. A very busy centre with a steady flow of patients and lots of magazines to read so not a bad place to be while it poured rain outside. After Nandad was seen we take another bus to the Apothecary to pick up his medicine. Another hour wait however this time there are very comfortable rocking chairs, tea and the newspaper - so Nana thinks this happens quite a bit on the island! While Nana waited Nanadad took another bus to Oaks Bluff and we both met up again at the bus depot to return to the basin. The perfect rainy day to get to know the Vineyard Transportation System and very much appreciated the medical attention provided. Hopefully Nandads double ear infection will clear up soon with the medication. We left the boat basin at 1pm and returned at 7pm.

Tuesday July 11th is a perfect beach day with plenty of sun and wind. Our intention was to take the little bike ferry across the basin and ride the three miles  to Gay Head Light. However Nandad volunteered to take the bus again to the grocery and stock up before leaving for Block Island in the morning. Nana was happy to do her yoga and hit the beach. We had the most perfect sunset right over Cuttyhunk to end a wonderful day. 

Lagoon Pond Vineyard Haven

The above picture is the entrance into Vineyard Haven one of the four harbors on Martha’s Vineyard. NH left Stage Harbor in the fog with visibility about one mile. A very calm crossing and as we enter the harbor the fog has lifted. Our cruise took about two and a half hours. NH passed under the Lagoon Pond Bridge with a clearing of 18 feet to drop anchor in the east side of the pond. There is a small Marina that provides moorings on the western side which was Prime Marina and is now Safe Harbor.

We take a dingy ride over to Safe Harbor and a short walk for lunch at Fish - very nice lunch with nice outdoor seating. We attempted to eat at the Black Dog but they close from 12 to 1pm  and Nana and Nandad were hungry! Downtown as usual was very busy so we picked up a few groceries and returned to the boat for a quite lazy afternoon. While enjoying to lake activities a fisherman in his kayak right off our port side caught a huge bass. It difficult to see but it’s the large silver thing cross his lap. A happy catch and release.

Tomorrow Monday NH heads for Mememsha Basin where we have reserved a slip for two nights.

Chatham

A picture perfect setting from our mooring ball. The fog continues to roll in and out leaving us with minimal visibility which is not an issue given NH is on a mooring. A very relaxing morning watching the activity in the harbor. Despite the fog the Boston whalers are cruising back and forth taking people to the beach. The seals are frolicking with the plentiful fish and the Osprey zoom down for their occasional catch. The terns are also very happy so Mother Nature’s sounds surround us in this very peaceful harbor.

If you look closely at the stern of the dingy ( yes Nana and Nandad are actually using their dinghy) you will see the seal on his back. They make the most amazing nostril sound when they come to the surface and they make a dive every so often for the school of fish. 

In the afternoon we pop back into Chatham and admire the whale art on display in the park. Local artists donate the whales which are auctioned at the end of the season. A similar project to the Cats at the Catskills in NY. A wonderful stroll to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church for 4 pm Mass. The houses with the white picket fences, arbors, and plentiful perennials along their edges are just beautiful. We have a cocktail and appetizers at The Squire outside garden and then take the dinghy back to NH once again in the fog! 

Tomorrow Sunday NH might cruise across to Vineyard Haven making our way eventually to Block Island. 

NH in Stage Harbor

A lovely cruise across to Stage Harbor and so pretty to see the sailboats heading out. A narrow entrance leaving Harding Beach to port cruising past the Stage Harbor Lighthouse. The long stretch of Monomoy Island to our starboard. The sand is always shifting in this area which means the Captain and crew are always on alert. 

After several attempts the harbor master answered our call on channel 66 and we are escorted to our mooring - the luck of the Irish. Most of the boats in the harbor are less than 40 feet with the exception of a few fishing boats which we were told fish daily for dogfish that is sent to England for fish & chips! 

That is the local seal popping up to say hallo! The fog continues to roll in and out. We take the dingy over to Mill Pond under the Chatham Highway Bridge so we can stroll downtown. This area has many creeks, coves, small beaches and a very nice dingy ride up the Oyster Pond River. NH will spend two nights at Stage Harbor.

Hyannis

Nana and Nandad cruise from Edgartown to Hyannis on July 4th in pea fog. Unable to secure a mooring at HYC we took a slip at Hyannis Marina. Although NH will be on a slip Nana and Nandad will be staying overnight with Aideen and family at Brewster. The Marina certainly has all facilities including two restaurants TugBoats and Trader Ed’s Cabana and pool. The picture above is the sunset at the beach where Aideen is staying - it is a very short walk from the house they are renting. Unfortunately the baseball game was called after three pitches due to extreme thunder and lightening. The local fireworks display did take place at the beach which was a lot of fun. 

Wednesday : Nana and Nandad return to NH to take her to the mooring at the yacht club. Hyannis Yacht Club is one of our favorite places to stay. It is just inside Lewis Bay, right beside the beach with an excellent restaurant called the Captains Table. We spent the day with the Doneski’s, Arsenault’s, and Nevins. What a day at the beach - an amazing wiffle ball game and great BBQ - thank you Aideen and Chris for a great gathering. 

Thursday : The Nevins slept onboard NH and after a hearty breakfast of pancakes they were on their way to rejoin the Doneski’s and Arsenault’s once again for a fun day at the beach. Nana and Nandad decided to have a lazy day at HYC and made reservations for dinner at the Captains Table.

Ollie and Ronan spent many hours building on the beach. Their result was quite impressive following inspection by Maeve.

The finished project

Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard

No room at the Inn so Nana and Nandad drop the anchor in the outside harbor for a very choppy evening. Nana was not able to eat her dinner due to the constant movement! Early Sunday morning we secure a mooring so NH ( and Nana ) are very happy to be swaying smoothly in the mooring field. We have a surprise visit from Julie and Don and a lovely evening with shared cocktails and dinner - the best of boating world.

Edgartown is such a beautiful downtown with so many wonderful restaurants, boutiques and homes that are so pretty with picture perfect window boxes, perennials, and an abundance of flowers. Nana and Nandad ride their bikes to the Airport for lunch ( where we once again meet Julie and Don ) and then proceed along South Beach and Katama Bay. If you have a four wheeler you can purchase a seasonal pass and drive onto the beach. You can now walk from South Beach to Chappaquiddick which was originally an island but is now merged with the barrier beach. Katama Bay is a naturalists delight home to Osprey, terns, gulls etc.At night you can hear the Katydids, crickets, tree frogs and cicadas.

The Edgartown Yacht Club is reciprocal with Newport Yacht Club so we enjoy the wonderful view from the outdoor deck and also a very delicious dinner. Monday night delights us with the full moon, fog continuing to roll in with some thunder or maybe it’s fireworks! 

Guess who we met on our way to dinner! 

Don’t we all tidy up well at night! 



We will leave this beautiful spot and head over to Hyannis tomorrow July 4th to meet up with our daughter Aideen and family .

Nandad was trying to persuade Nana to go for a ride !

Dining at the yacht club.

Difficult to capture the beauty of the full moon.

Cuttyhunk

Nana and Nandad are starting a three week cruise which will take them from Cuttyhunk to Martha’s Vineyard, to Hyannis and ultimately to Block Island. 

On anchor at Cuttyhunk can be a little choppy with the wake of boats coming in and out of the harbor. It is still worth it as there is nothing like listening to the surf of the ocean while watching the sunset and all the anchor lights pop on after sunset. Friday is our first escape day and what a perfect calm night to anchor. Saturday morning we take the dinghy into town and take the short walk up to the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club ( founded in 1894) for breakfast which is simply delicious. While strolling back to the dingy dock Nana passed by the take a rock/give a rock creative spot ( boaters paint a rock and leave it ) and has decided that she will start an area in her Zen garden for creative memory rocks. 

Cuttyhunk has been a favorite spot for many years. It is 2 miles long and less than 0.5 miles wide. Mostly walkers and golf carts on the island with maybe perhaps 50 official residents. 

The Nevins on NH

On our last day together before Mom and Dad return from Greece Ailish, Avie, and Ollie enjoy a relaxing day in Newport on NH. 

After a short cruise to Mackerel Cove Nana and Nandad took everybody in the dinghy to Fort Adams beach for a swim. 

Ailish found a very large horseshoe crab buried deep in the sand.