Summer Island hoping begins on Cuttyhunk

Summer Island hoping begins on Cuttyhunk - the catch up continues...

With only about five weeks until our planned trip to the West Coast, we decided to hide out in a few as yet un-visited and nearby towns and islands.  First off, we did head to Wickford for a few nights to take in their annual Art Festival.  The streets were so packed with art displays that we could hardly see the historic village.  However, we did locate a tasty lobster shack on the water to sustain us.   

stimulation overload?

refreshments from locals

moon rise in Wickford HBR

We found Jamestown island a charming stop as well – even though we will always think of Frankie when we revisit this quaint and quiet spot opposite Newport’s glitz and bustle. Jamestown, however, is connected by bridges to the rest of Rhode Island and we wanted a more remote island experience.

So, our next stop was Cuttyhunk – at the end of the Elizabeth Islands dangling off the end of Cape Cod. While it is visible across Buzzards Bay from the mainland, it can only be reached by boat or plane.  For a small island, it is splattered with tightly packed “cottages” most only for summer (seasonal) occupancy.  We were told the year-round population was less than 60 although we did see a small school. There is a tiny grocery and a couple eateries only open during the summer.

Fishing is and has been a major draw. The historic Fishing Club has hosted the likes of Teddy Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.  We feasted on a breakfast there that President Taft himself would have enjoyed.  However, the weather was socked in with fog so the spectacular view of Vineyard Sound was obscured. 

 We did return for a free concert at the Avalon Inn that evening and caught the view before the sun set.  There are few cars or trucks on the island – another reason we enjoyed walking there, but most residents do run around in golf carts – the concert parking lot probably included most of the carts on the island. The Zydeco music was a real treat making us a little homesick for our home base on the Gulf of Mexico.

Cuttyhunk offers two main choices for anchoring.  Inside the POND on a mooring or dock or outside in the less protected cove off Buzzards Bay. We chose to anchor outside of Gosnold (the town on Cuttyhunk) since it was free and the weather was exceptionally calm. (The tiny anchoring area inside was also full.) It also turns out to be an excellent way to meet other cruisers.  Chatting up other boaters who he saw going off with fishing gear, Steve went out with Joe – of MOJO – Molly and Joe’s sailboat.  This young couple are on the adventure of a lifetime, but Joe graciously took Steve along on an evening of fishing which netted us a delicious Black Sea Bass dinner.  It was a special treat to meet fellow cruisers the ages of our own kids.  So many of the wonderful folks we meet are retired, but we truly respect these youngsters for taking the time off in their prime to live on a sailboat.  Even if they only can manage a few years, before returning to money making jobs, they are not afraid to live their dreams in the present. They planned, budgeted and networked and have made it happen. Hats off to them and many thanks for the fish!