Monomoy Island Excursions, Part 1

I knew there wasn't going to be much in Harwichport, so to make the trip down there worthwhile, I reserved a spot on the 90 minute Monomoy Island Excursion seal tour.  I had no idea what to expect.  I've always been intrigued by Monomoy Island, because you can't get there except by boat.  And no one's allowed on there anyway because it's a wildlife and bird sanctuary.

We left from where the first red 'ramp' is pointed, Saquatucket Harbor, and sailed over to south Chatham and the top part of the island, above the word 'Monomoy'.  Due to last winter's violent storms, this area has shifted and changed so much that it hasn't been re-charted.  Sand was washed away to build new 'islands' and other islands are now under water.

Checked in, got my ticket and went down to the docks to wait.  It was high tide.

2 fighter jets from Otis AFB flew overhead, which is unnerving ever since 9/11.  However I do not believe there was a sinister reason for that day's flight.

That's the boat we took, a high speed catamaran.  I was lucky enough to get a seat right up front in the bow. 

Leaving the harbor.

Headed out into Nantucket Sound

North Monomoy Island.

This is a fish weir.  The fisherman is one of only two in the entire state who is licensed to fish this way and that family has held that license for generations.

I'm still not entirely sure how it works, other than the nets under the water that round up the fish.  Seems to me the whole set up would be difficult to repair after a storm.

This looks like it walked off a Winslow Homer painting.  Not that he ever painted this lighthouse when he was on the Cape, but it still looked Homeresque to me.

At this point the boat was making so many twists and turns around sandbars just under the surface and beaches and channels that I got really confused as to what was part of Monomoy Island and what was still part of the southernmost beaches of Chatham.  That's looking at the Atlantic, which we did cross into both going and coming and it was a wild ride on those waves.

That's definitely Monomoy.

I know that is the Chatham beach because there were people on it.  You can walk there from town, over 2 miles on soft sand, or reach it by boat and/or kayak.

And to think we haven't even gotten to the seals yet!

Harwichport. Or Harwich Port.

Either spelling is accepted.  One gorgeous day near the end of August, I headed out to Harwichport to both check out the town and take the Monomoy Island Excursions 90 minute boat trip to see the seals, North Monomoy Island and the most southern part of Chatham.  Of course I shot over 100 pics on the trip so those will come later!  See map below.

Finding parking was a real pain but I was able to park at this store, called Sativa.  There were so many different rooms...the store seemed to go on forever!  Great stuff.

Augustus Snow House.

This building dates from approximately 1694.

HAHAHA!

Wychmere Harbor.  This is a very exclusive area and I believe this is the only view of it for the public.  All the roads leading in are private.

Trademark shot of my car.

The Clydesdales Come to BBay!

Continuing on with this summer packed with fun events, the famous Budweiser Clydesdales came to Buzzards Bay for a few days at the end of August.  I assumed they came all the way from St. Louis but then I heard they were from New Hampshire.

I actually lucked out big time and walked down there on the Tuesday afternoon when they arrived, and got to see them taken off the trucks.

They were inside munching away, while the stalls were set up under a huge tent in the park.

Oh HAI!

"Here comes the king, here comes the big number one..."  The commercial was playing on a continuous loop in the tent and was stuck in my head all week.   

Bridge reflected in the truck's chrome.

I thought, and had hoped, that this was a murmuration but the birds split up and went in separate directions after I shot this.

Their fuzzy feet are the size of dinner plates.

These are some big horses.

I can't even imagine getting stepped on by those hooves, much less kicked.

10 stalls were set up inside the tent.  We had a run of sunny but cool weather so it was the perfect temp inside. 

Derp.

Here come a few more!

That's Buddy the dalmation.  These dogs were traditionally used to guard the horses when drivers were making their wagon deliveries.  He rides on the wagon seat with the drivers.  Unfortunately, although a couple of hitched demonstrations were given with the wagon, which went down Main Street and also participated in a small parade in Sandwich, I was unable to get downtown for it.

All the horses are male and they all have names.

I went down to see them a few times, even though I missed the hitch.

The last day they were in town, Sheila & Joey came down from Orleans so we got together to visit the horses, and grab some food and ice cream.  

Thank you Budweiser! "When you say Bud, you've said it all!"

In Loving Memory of Tina Downey

My dear friend Tina passed away on August 23rd at age 49.  I can't believe I'm never going to talk to her ever again.  Judging by the outpouring of love on Facebook and the blogosphere, she touched so many lives and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends. 

Tina loved sunflowers.  Today's blogosphere tribute is to feature sunflowers that we've bought or planted. But since I can't keep plants alive and didn't get a chance to purchase an artificial plant, I am featuring the sunflowers I shot in Onset three days after she passed away.  I love you Tina and I will miss you forever.