Author: Nichole S.

Disappearing Lighthouse. My son, Thatcher, is named after Thacher’s Island and its twin lighthouses. Click this link to watch a short video I took showing how one lighthouse disappears behind the other to give sailors, navigators, and fishermen true north or true south as they find their way up the coastline. The history of Thacher’s Island is pretty cool if you ever have time to read up on it. I’ve provided a couple of links where you can learn more. One historical tidbit that I always find interesting is that Thacher Island and its lighthouses have been credited with saving many lives…including notably, President Woodrow Wilson.

http://www.newenglandlighthouses.net/thacher-island-twin-lights-history.html

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/thacher-island

Take me out to the ballgame. While the Red Sox might be fighting for last place in the American League, you still can’t go wrong spending the night at Fenway Park. I was super lucky that someone offered me four pretty amazing seats behind home plate for last night’s game and we enjoyed a really fun night at the ballpark. Some of you might know that Fenway Park is one of my favorite places in the world!

Heading out. I love passing Dog Bar Breakwater and Eastern Point Light.

Some more fog for you.

Bluefin Blowout Check Presentation. $423,000 more donated to help #endalz! That brings the total raised since 2016 to more than $1.7 million!! Last night organizers, sponsors, captains/crews, and friends gathered as Warren Waugh and Cidalia Schwartz announced how much money was raised during this year’s Bluefin Blowout. The staggering amount equaled $423,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association. THANK YOU to everyone!!!!

Just a few more schooners….. while Gloucester pages have been full of beautiful Schooner Festival photos… and just maybe you’ve seen enough, it seems silly to not share mine.

Thank you, Cape Ann Whale Watch! My older son, Thatcher, has had the awesome opportunity to work as a deckhand all summer on the Hurricane II. Watching whales, cruising the coastline, and heading to Stellwagen Bank, Jeffreys Ledge, or towards Provincetown with some great fellow crew members and the one and only Captain Johnny isn’t a bad gig for a 16 year-old who loves being on the water! I’m super thankful that he was able to secure that job and appreciate Jim Douglass and Nick Danikas so much for having faith in him. I’ve been dying to get on the water with him this summer and finally had the opportunity yesterday. Here are some of my whale photos, etc. It isn’t too late to book tickets to go see the whales. Trips will continue running until the end of October! Head to seethewhales.com to learn more and book your tickets! Be sure to check out Cape Ann Whale Watch on Facebook to see the photos taken by their naturalists and team members….as they’re way better than mine! Not only can you see their great photos, but their posts are incredibly informative and give you wonderful insight to what is happening with the whale population in the waters off Cape Ann.

End of summer blues. We celebrated a friend’s birthday at the marina by having some drinks on their boat and taking a cruise down the river. Yesterday I posted the other end of the river….today, this.

We went for a beautiful evening cruise the other night. The light at the end of the Annisquam was beautiful.

Taking Flight. This home along the Annisquam River has a beautiful sculpture of a bird taking flight from its dock. Can you see it?

Room with a view. Love passing this isolated little houseboat off of Dilly Island towards the end of Essex River.

Honeycomb in Hamilton! We always talk about the many wonderful options for grabbing beach/boat food in Gloucester, but last Saturday we went on a boat ride with my sister…leaving from her slip in Essex. My mother went to Honeycomb in Hamilton and grabbed some unbelievably delicious breakfast sandwiches for us to eat on the boat. If you’re in that area and looking for a bite stop by! 248 Bay Road, Hamilton Ma

Photo bombed. This seagull had places to be and didn’t want to wait as I tried to take a photo of the lighthouse. He does have the right of way, I suppose.

Heading Out. My son, Finn, sent me this photo super early this morning as he was headed out to fish.

The 2nd Annual Blackburn Brew Fest is happening on Saturday, September 16th from 1-5 at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. I attended last year and can tell you that it is a great time! All information can be found at this link: https://www.blackburnbrewfest.com/

Purchase tickets in advance for $50 or at the door for $60.

We were lucky to have a visit from the Famous Polly Five Toes while sailing on the Lannon the other night. Polly doesn’t visit Captain Heath on every trip, but usually comes a few times each week.

Resting Place

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

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