Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Saluting Summer's End on Cape Ann

Yesterday, a spectacular late summer day, I finished my workday on Cape Ann, Massachusetts.  Considering that the following day's work would begin again on Cape Ann, it just didn't make sense to battle traffic on Rt. 128/95.  Instead, I dropped in at Cape Ann Camp Site, pitched my tent, drank in a gulp of salt air, and launched my boat at Long Wharf Landing.  This had me afloat in the Jones River on a nice high tide of 10' plus and meant there wasn't quite as much sand for small sandpipers like this little guy...
Also a fair amount of previously captive trash had been set afloat.

After paddling over to the Annisquam River, I was able to pass under Rt. 127 and enter Goose Cove for my first visit...
Usually, the tide is too busy running into or out of this cove to allow entry.  Slack water found it to be a peaceful place...

After returning to the Annisquam, I paddled to its mouth at Wigwam Point where Annisquam Harbor Light stands guard (opening photo).  Majestically entering the river from Ipswich Bay was the two-masted schooner Ardelle...
It truly was a splendid day and I decided to head over to Lanes Cove and enter the granite gateway for my first ever visit to the small harbor...
Inside things were found to be serene...
Following a short break for leg stretching, I relaunched and prepared to enter the open sea...
I noticed the American flag flying with a tattered Jolly Roger beneath it, and tried to get a photo of the smiling skull.  My first attempt failed, but, surprisingly, captured this ominous raven above the mast...

A moment later, the smile appeared...
Soon I was paddling back towards Annisquam Harbor Light and entering the river while the tide was rapidly heading the other way.  Rather than taking the first exit to the Jones River, I paddled past Pearce Island and took the second one allowing me to see the osprey nest that had been occupied earlier this summer.

Back at Long Wharf Landing my day's catch posed hullside...

There were 11 recyclable containers (6 redeemable) and 11 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags and styrofoam items.  But wait, there's more...
Yes, one more Hooksett disk or "Merrimack Wafer" bringing my trash count YTD to 5624 and my Merrimack Wafer count to 1021 to date.

Before retiring to my tent, a fine meal of Lobsta Land's haddock chowder with Virgilio's bread was savored!  A warm thank you to the Summer of 2012! 


2 comments:

suep said...

well guess what, I was over at Cape Ann all last week !
in fact we had arrived on Monday, my pal Rick set up at Cape Ann Campground (up in the woods), and we went to Wingaersheek Beach after lunch ... just in time to see the Ardelle arrive at the river's mouth !
sorry we did not run into you -- it sure was a glorious day to be out enjoying the Cape

Al said...

Sue, That is quite a coincidence. Especially that Rick was camped there the same night as I and that you guys also watched the Ardelle. On my return into the Annisquam, I went ashore briefly at the end of Wingaersheek furthest from the ocean side. It sure was a spectacular day! Sorry I missed you guys. Glad you had good weather for week on Cape Ann.