My View of Life on the Dock
We talk a lot about packing for the beach. Last weekend I called Jeff’s Variety and ordered a few Chicken Caprese Roll-Ups to pack for the beach. They were amazing! So easy and perfect for throwing in the cooler and taking on the go. https://www.jeffsvarietyanddeli.com/
The Sturgeon Moon sits just above Cape Pond Ice in this photo. In the foreground you can see three dimly lit rowing dories (I need to better school myself on the the difference between seine boats, gigs, dories, etc!). To the left is Finn….just home from a striper fishing trip.
What a story. “Book a tuna fishing charter” they said. “it’ll be fun,” they said. Well, they couldn’t have been more right! Three of these guys, hailing from Montana and Idaho, did quite a bit of research to find the PERFECT tuna tournament. They chartered the Molly Jane, with very capable Captains Kurt and Erik Christensen and Stud Mate, Brandon….and just happened to win 1st Place…. With prizes for the boat totaling more than $160,000. Nice idea, Guys! Congratulations on picking the right boat and the right tournament. Huge CONGRATULATIONS to the the Captain and Crew of the Molly Jane.
You can still donate here: https://secure.etransfer.com/eft/flexblockcode/donation1.cfm?d2org=ECCF&d2tool=BBDonation
Essex. Down River. A beautiful, fog-free, day in Essex.
Lion on the move! I caught a glimpse of this lion on the move. Pretty cool. I hope to see it in its forever home on display soon. I have a guess where it might be headed and I’ll have to go by and see later this week.
Back to the mainland late last night after catching a ferry from Martha’s Vineyard back to Wood’s Hole.
GHS Fishermen Street Hockey Tournament! Please be sure to click on this post if viewing on Facebook to learn more. Teams can register to play, sponsors can register to support GHS hockey, and ANYONE can purchase raffle tickets to win some great prizes! There are some really great raffle items to win while supporting our local Gloucester High School Fishermen Hockey Team! Adult teams can register for the Friday, August 4th Tournament to play and Youth teams (all different age groups) can register for the Sunday, August 6th tournament. Lots of fun to be had as well. Learn more by checking out the Gloucester High School Hockey Boosters Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083365021038
These Cayman Jack margaritas with Zero sugar are delicious. You’re welcome. Happy Weekend!
Seeing yellow. A trip down the Annisquam River is always full of photo opportunities no matter what the weather.
Uncle Frank’s Pizza. I picked Thatcher up at work the other day and he was starving. With Finn off with friends, I told Thatch we could order quick take out. He asked if we could get Uncle Frank’s Pizza. I, for some reason, had not heard of it, but was happy to give it a try. Thatch gave it high praise and evidently he and his friends order it quite a bit. Uncle Frank’s Pizza is located in the Commons Plaza at 214 Eastern Avenue on the way from Gloucester into Rockport. We ordered the Four Cheese Pizza, Thatcher’s choice, and it was delicious! He was happy to tell me all of the other things he has tried….and I look forward to ordering it again. Delicious food, really friendly staff, and a super convenient location! Give it a try!
http://unclefranksgloucester.com/
Beautiful non-beach days and lonely lifeguard chairs.
The fog on the Annisquam…. While not conducive to a great beach or a boat day, was at least pretty. So, there’s that.
I got a kick out of this guy wading way out in the cove off of Rocky Neck (I always forget what it’s called). I asked Finn to snap a photo while we were driving by. Catching people in the act of doing what makes Gloucester pretty special is one of my favorite things to do. #becausegloucester.
I am definitely not a birder, but I did get a kick out of watching this scene play out above me last week. Two smaller birds did their best to keep a larger bird away from their nest…and maybe eggs (presumably). I watched for more than 20 minutes as the two smaller birds chased the larger bird around the neighborhood, off branches, and away from their spot. Feisty!
I stopped by Gloucester’s Vietnam Memorial last night. It is truly beautiful. Please visit it if you have not.
Man’s best friend. This sight kind of made my day. While driving down the boulevard and quickly stuck at the bridge, I happened to catch this moment between a person and their precious dog. I hope this photo finds this person! They are obviously lucky to have each other.
Several friends and I had dinner on the deck at Mile Marker One last night. We shared a few appetizers (which I forgot to photograph) that were delicious….specifically the SRIRACHA HONEY CAULIFLOWER BITES, CRISP & SPICY BROCCOLI, and the TAHINI HUMMUS, WHIPPED FETA & GREEN OLIVE TAPENADE. For dinner we also chose to share a few different entrees so we sampled the SEAFOOD-STUFFED PINEAPPLE, LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE, STEAK TIPS, FRESH BURRATA, CLASSIC CAESAR, and FISH & CHIPS. The Painkillers and Watermelon Coolers were perfect as well! Check out the menu here: https://capeannmarina.com/dining/menus/
While exploring the Corkscrew Swamp in Florida last week I learned about the rare Ghost Orchid and was lucky enough to see one thanks to park naturalists who had discovered one high in a tree and had a telescope pointed for visitors to observe it. There are only 2,000 in the world. The ghost orchid I photographed had just bloomed that day, however, there is a “Super Ghost Orchid” in the swamp that has drawn attention around the world. Unfortunately, that particular orchid did not bloom for the first time this year until just a few days after our visit. You can learn more about that Ghost Orchid at the website below.
https://corkscrew.audubon.org/visit/corkscrews-ghost-orchid
“The ghost orchid is aptly named for a few reasons. Its white flowers have a vaguely spectral appearance, and they seem to hover in the forest due to an illusion created by the leafless plant. This effect also makes the rare orchid even harder to find, especially outside the brief, unpredictable window when it blooms in summer.
Unfortunately, the ghost orchid is also at risk of living up to its name in another way. It’s an endangered species, limited to scattered populations in Cuba, the Bahamas, and Florida, where it exists in just three southwestern counties.
It inhabits remote swamp forests and small wooded islands, yet still faces an array of threats from humans, namely poaching, climate change, loss of pollinators, and loss of habitat.
The species has long enchanted anyone lucky enough to see it, and we’re still learning its secrets—including new research that challenges what we thought we knew about its pollinators.”
I flew home on Saturday afternoon from a trip to Florida and I was REALLY hoping that we’d head North enough while looping back towards Logan to look down and see Fiesta. It would have been such a fun photo to snap. Unfortunately, we made the turn over Beverly instead and didn’t quite make it to the skies over Gloucester. But, this photo of Beverly, the Bev/Salem Bridge, and Salem is cool nonetheless….not as cool as a shot of Fiesta would have been, but cool enough.
I love this photo of Finn and a fish he caught pond fishing the other day. His buddy, Ryan Tarr took it and it couldn’t be more perfect. Nice fish, Finn….and awesome photo, Ryan!
Good Morning Gloucester 