Author: Nichole S.

Thatcher, Finn, and I went on a Whale Watch with Cape Ann Whale Watch a few days ago. It has been a few years since I have been on an official whale watch out of Cape Ann….as opposed to chancing upon them on our own boat or with friends or their boat….and I was so excited to go.  With lots of health and safety Covid protocol in place, we felt like we had the necessary elbow room and were very comfortable and ready for a day on the water.  Cape Ann Whale Watch has lessened the number of passengers they take on each trip, they remind guests frequently that masks must be worn while walking around the boat and while viewing the whales, and they were constantly cleaning and sanitizing during our trip.  We saw six or seven individual humpbacks and were pleasantly surprised that a couple were comfortable enough to come very close to the Hurricane as we sat in neutral being sure to respect the boundaries that are heavily enforced while in the whales’ grounds.   If you have yet to go on a whale watch….and have never been in the company of whales…you are truly missing out.

Summer is not over…..the whales are not gone….be sure to reach out to Cape Ann Whale Watch and book you trip now!

Finn and I explored some coast line along Magnolia the past few days.  It was fun to see what had washed up and discover nooks and crannies along the way.  We are, as we all already know, blessed to live in such a beautiful place….where even ocean debris can be pretty.

Right as Isiasi passed quickly with some very heavy rains, we were waiting for some take-out dinner to be ready.  We drove through Gloucester during the worst of it….as it came on kind of quickly.  By the time we got to Niles Beach, the rain had stopped and the sky was so bright.    We stopped to snap a couple of photos and then saw a very dull rainbow off the back shore and in the distance.

Glass Tech Boat Service is Offering a Boat Cleaning Special! Don’t Miss Out!

What a summer so far – such incredible boating and fishing for sure. Now would be a great time to treat your boat to a thorough on-site cleaning! 
Take advantage of Glass Tech Boat Service’s mid-summer COVID CLEANING SPECIAL!
Take 20% off their on-site cleaning and detailing services.
Proper PPE and disinfecting supplies will be plentiful.
Call to schedule at 978-281-2608

Visit them on Facebook & see some of their latest projects

Learn all about Glass Tech HERE

Glass Tech specializes in the following:

Cosmetic Boat Restoration Experts

Let these before and after pictures speak for their team’s talent when it comes to vessel restoration.

Indoor & Outdoor Boat Storage

GlassTech Boat Specialists has become one of the most trusted boat storage and winterizing facilities on Cape Ann. They offer a full range of storage solutions for your boat including indoor heated winter storage.

Check their boat storage and winterizing pages for more information including packages, rates and policies.

Superior Fiberglass & Gelcoat Repair

GlassTech is highly specialized in the areas of fiberglass and gelcoat boat repair. Everything from small chips and scratches to major structural repairs; they can offer solutions to every situation.

Glass Tech’s services are based on the premise that there are no problems, only solutions.

We had dinner with my dad at Lobsta Land on Sunday after a long day of baseball.  We chose to sit inside because we had been outside all day long….but, the seating under the tent by the water’s edge looked pretty inviting and I look forward to sitting out there soon.  Four-top tables have been situated along the bar to make use of that space and to allow diners to feel comfortable and adequately distant from other patrons.  A service window allows for restaurant staff to pass food and beverages from the inside to their nice outdoor seating efficiently.

We ordered mussels, coconut shrimp, a lobster dinner, calamari, onion rings, and two Sole Meunieres.  Everything truly was delicious.   And….as if an excellent meal with family wasn’t good enough… we had a chance to chat with Corey Grammas and discover that the one and only Jamie Verga is now working at Lobsta Land.

Learn more and check out Lobsta Land’s menu here

Thatcher and I pulled over quickly to enjoy the sunset at Plum Cove Beach.  With no legitimate parking spots available we decided to move along, but I snapped four quick photos first.  This surfer walked across the shot as I did so.  A happy photobomb ….as I think he kind of completes the picture.

Classic beauty & modern simplicity make this the perfect boat to sail alone or with the family.  Large cockpit is safe for younger sailors and comfortable for older.  Centerboard design allows her to explore shallow waters or beach for a picnic.  This boat has not been in the water since 2017.  It is dry docked in Gloucester and does not have a trailer.  Price is $2,000 or best offer.   Call Maryanne at:  508-954-3333

 

Finn went out Tuna Fishing the other day and sadly had no luck.  He did, however, have a six species day.  He was able to catch pogies, cod, haddock, mackerel, mud hake, and….more excitingly…his first shark.   I’m sad that I wasn’t on the boat to watch him fight the shark and to capture more video…but, I’m thankful that Thatcher snapped a couple photos for me.  The blue shark took the tuna bait and was obviously released.  It was fun for Finn to reel in something that big though!   I love how passionate Finn is about his fishing.   He loves his hockey, and baseball, and yes…his xbox (insert eyeroll) but…when given the choice….fishing is ALWAYS top on his list. Every vacation is built around where/when he can fish….and where he can find the best local tackle shop.

We have left Disney World to get back to the hotel and fish on the lake.   We have left the beach in the Bahamas to find fishing line and conch to fish off the docks. We have spent countless hours fishing under bridges in the Florida Keys ….when I would have given a million dollars for a frozen drink at the Square Grouper.  We wake up before sunrise on Martha’s Vineyard to get to Owen Park Beach at the first light of dawn….and we usually end the day on the rocks at Lake Tashmoo well after the sun sets. Trips to NH in the winter involve ice fishing….and even some hockey tournaments leave me looking for hotels near fishing holes.  He doesn’t care what he catches…or what the conditions.  He’s on a mission with a good buddy to catch 100 stripers this season….but, they’ve stalled out at about 35.  I have promised him some more time on the water to score some more!

Finn has even started his own fishing Instagram page.  If you use Instagram you can look for him at finnatic_fishing

More than anything right now he’d like to go fish with the Charlie Moore the Mad Fisherman. to up that Bass count.

This sun-bleached crab and its intricate exoskeleton are oddly beautiful.  Thank you to Paul Horovitz for sharing this photo from a walk through the Annisquam with us.

Remember when they were first built and you couldn’t help but notice them from every angle and every vantage point in town. Now, I barely notice them.   But, every once in a while, you catch them at a certain view and they shock you still.  They look pretty impressive standing strong and tall up behind Gloucester Crossing.

Want to win an awesome raffle basket….AND support Gloucester Little League?  Of course you do!   Look at just some of the great baskets that Gloucester Little League will be raffling off.  With the help of some very motivated members and volunteers, Gloucester Little League was able to pull off an abbreviated season and the players (and their families) are so excited to be back on the field.  With all sorts of important Covid precaution protocols in place, however, the concession stands obviously could not open.  A large portion of the league’s fundraising comes from those concessions.  So, there is no better time to support your local ball players than right now!

Tickets cost $5 for 1 and $20 for 6.  You can either Venmo Melissa Francis; Meagan Marrone or Jennifer Johnson or mail a check to GLL at 30 Webster Street c/o Jeff Francis.

The Facebook Live Raffle will happen on August 6th….so, if you’re writing a check be certain to mail it soon!  

Get them while you can…

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that sunsets in Lanes Cove are amongst the prettiest in the world.

Baseball is back and it has been so fun to watch the kids get back on an assortment of fields around town.  In both Gloucester and Rockport volunteers have been working steadily on fields, in dugouts, and online getting everything ready for these players to, well, Play Ball.   I’d be remiss to start naming people because I would absolutely leave some out, but thank you to Gloucester Little League, the Fishermen teams, and the Rockport folks (who also built really great new dugouts that will be awesome next season!).  Thank you also to all of the coaches and volunteers.  If you’ve been missing the sound of the crack of a bat drive by one of the local fields.  Please do keep in mind that they are being incredibly vigilant about Covid precautions!

I have always loved watching the fishermen tend to their gear, head out to fish, or unload a day’s catch along the working waterfront as day trippers and locals shop, walk, and site see around them. The ebb and flow of our communities are part of what makes them remarkable.

Have you enjoyed lobster from Captain Joe and Sons yet?  Thanks to Paul Horovitz for sending in this photo of their wonderful dinner with lobsters from Capt. Joe and Sons.  Looks like the perfect way to celebrate a summer evening.

Moving is no fun….especially not in July when you’d like to be on the boat or at the beach and especially not when, after months from working from home, I am now back in my office trying to keep “normal” hours.  That having been said, there are upsides.  Our new home is coming together nicely and my super cute whale rug arrived yesterday just in time to put a smile on my face.  We talk often on Gloucestercasts about how I’m a bargain shopper.  This gorgeous rug was just under $50 and will looks perfect in our new living room.   I ordered it online at RugsUSA.

A day on the water with all the toys. Kayaks, Lily Pads, tubes, and unicorns. Check.

You may have heard Joey’s podcast with Hugh Mitchell from BoatGrub….and here he is in action.  We were on the water off the back side of Wingaersheek over the weekend and got a kick out of watching Hugh delivering food to some of the boats near us.

If you missed this episode of Gloucestercast Live you can listen to it here

BoatGrub is the newest addition to the North Shore community catering to restaurants wishing to expand to the waterfront.   

 BoatGrub will deliver food orders to boats, docks, and beachgoers between the hours of 12 noon to 7 pm Friday to Sunday in both the Annisquam & Manchester-by-the-Sea Areas of Operation (AO). The delivery skipper will call to confirm the pick-up location. Make sure to look for the Boston Whaler with the BoatGrub flag. For orders to boats, or your private dock, please specify boat name and location or home dock location when placing the order.  Look for our App and new restaurants coming soon. 

 

 

When sitting on the beach around a fire the other night we noticed two really bright stars right next to each other.  I’m not super knowledgable when it comes to astronomy…and I was curious as to what those stars might be.  I downloaded Sky Venture Lite and started to point my phone towards the sky.  It was pretty interesting and will be fun for the boys this summer.  Below are screenshots taken from the app on my phone above the fire pit.