Last Days

 
Our last couple of days went by quickly. While we were anchored at Hadley Harbor, we went to a cool aquarium at Woods Hole. After that we sailed back to Cuttyhunk because the weather wasn't going to be nice anymore. We didn't even get off the boat at Cuttyhunk the second time. Instead, we sailed back to Newport. It was very windy. I can't wait to go back to school and see my friends!

Caitlin at the Woods Hole Aquarium

Checking out the business side of the Woods Hole Aquarium

Helping dad wash off the anchor our first time in Cuttyhunk

Reading in a tent I made on my parents' bed

There were lots of strange houseboats moored at Woods Hole

Swinging in the Bosun's Chair!

Check out Caitlin's favorite pastime!

Day 8

Current Location:

Latitude:41.51043 
Longitude:-70.70630 

Click the link below to see where I am located. 
http://fms.ws/9p60C/41.51043N/70.70630W 

If the above link does not work, try this link: 
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=41.51043,-70.70630&ll=41.51043,-70.70630&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1 

Today I got to swing in the bosun's chair for over an hour. And I went really far out over the water. It was really windy. I screamed. It was really fun.

We sailed to Hadley's Harbor (near Woods Hole). It was super windy and bouncy and the water splashed over the hatches (opening windows on the top of the boat). And we sailed fast.  

I explored in the dinghy and I went outside with bare feet in the woods. I went on two trails. One was short and I didn't finish the second one. At the end of the second one was a lake and a big, grassy field. The grass was soft against my feet.

The weather is supposed to be rainy for a few days, so we have to plan our trip back to Newport soon.

Coming into Hadley Harbor

There's LOTS of current through Woods Hole

On a mooring in Hadley Harbor

Day 7

We explored Martha's Vineyard today. We rode the bus all around the island. We started in Vineyard Haven where we are anchored and went to Edgartown, on the eastern side of the island. We walked around town, and then we took the bus to Aquinnah and the Gay Head cliffs. There is a lighthouse there and we climbed to the top. We even got to go in the light room. The light was on and it was hot and we could see out of all the windows. One level down we could go on the balcony and it was really windy out there. From the top of the lighthouse we could see Cuttyhunk and even the Newport Bridge!

We learned that the Wampanoag people have been living on the eastern side of Martha's Vineyard for at least 10, 000 years. They call the island Noepe.

Caitlin at the top of the Gay Head Lighthouse

Caitlin and Juliana checking out the map while on the bus exploring Martha's Vinyard

In the lightroom. It was hot!

More lighthouse info

Day 6

Current Location:
Latitude: 41.46405
Longitude: -70.59348

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/9nQS7/41.46405N/70.59348W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=41.46405,-70.59348&ll=41.46405,-70.59348&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1 

Today we went sailing. It was really pretty. I read a lot of the Magic Tree House books. We left Cuttyhunk and sailed to Martha's Vineyard. We are anchored off Vineyard Haven. I mostly played and read inside today, and I helped my grandma bake bread. I also liked to look for things with my binoculars. I saw people on the beach. I also helped look for channel markers and buoys. These red and green buoys tell boats where it is safe and deep enough to go.

The ferry boats come often into Vineyard Haven. They look like big, giant ships. They go right by our boat. We saw cars going on the ferry too.

Tomorrow we explore the island some more and go on a bus. We're going to check out the beaches and museums. I hope to see some bikes and go to the Native American museum. Maybe there will be a playground.

Caitlin

The chart on the computer showing our route between two islands this morning. The tide was switching, so there was lots of current and steep waves.

Sailing in Vineyard Sound

My grandma at the helm. I am checking stuff out with my binoculars.

Day 5 - Cuttyhunk Island

We did not sail today. I played with some other kids from another boat, and we went fishing. We explored a beach.

Cuttyhunk island is really cool. We found a one-room schoolhouse. There are only two kids who go there, and they are sibling- a brother and a sister. We also saw a little library and a little store and a fog bell. We hiked up the hill to the highest point, and we saw a really pretty view and butterflies.

Tomorrow we might go to Martha's Vineyard. We can see it from Cuttyhunk. We can also see the very top of the Newport bridge from the top of the hill on the island.

At the Cuttyhunk Elementary School - a really cool, one-room schoolhouse

Fishing with some new friends off of the jetty

Caitlin swinging in the bosun's chair- something she loves to do for fun on the boat. 

Hiking up to the top of Cuttyhunk

Our boat, Lyra, anchored at Cuttyhunk

The school at Cuttyhunk-- only two kids go here!

Day 4 - Sailing Again!

Current Location:
Latitude: 41.42700
Longitude: -70.92395
Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/9lmC9/41.42700N/70.92395W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=41.42700,-70.92395&ll=41.42700,-70.92395&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
 
This morning, the weather was foggy. We left Block Island around breakfast time. It was wet outside, but not windy. And it was cold. We used our radar to help us navigate. It showed us where other boats were. My sister and I painted and watched movies for a little while. We motored toward Cuttyhunk island (we can't sail if it's not windy), then it turned sunny and a little windy, so we sailed the rest of the way. We used our mizzen staysail (it looks like a spinnaker set off of our mizzen mast [the smaller one]) and it's red, white, and blue.

We anchored in the Cuttyhunk harbor near another boat with kids. I'm looking forward to playing with them on the beach tomorrow. Cuttyhunk looks pretty. There are lots of stars out tonight. And it's clear.

Cuttyhunk on the horizon!

The navigation station on our boat, Lyra. This is where we have our VHF radio, which we use to talk to other boats, our GPS, which helps us know where we are, and our computer.

Our radar, which helps us find our way when we can't see very well like at night or when it's foggy.

Caitlin looking at the radar with her dad.

Day 3 - Not Sailing Today

Today, we tried to rent bikes to ride around the island, but no one had any kids' bikes. I was sad. So we walked around town instead. And we got peanut butter and chocolate fudge. Yum! The man at the candy store talked to us about living on Block Island. We saw two ferries come in. One was a trimaran. A trimaran has three hulls.

My mom, my sister, and me went to the beach. I found a hidden stream in the long grass. There weren't as many horseshoe crab shells there today. Tomorrow we are planning to go to Cuttyhunk. Hopefully the wind will be right!

Caitlin checking out the incoming fast ferry

Going for a walk around Block Island

A sunset dinghy ride back from the beach

Day 2

Latitude:41.19233

Longitude:-71.57785

Click the link below to see where I am located.

http://fms.ws/9kWHO/41.19233N/71.57785W

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http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=41.19233,-71.57785&ll=41.19233,-71.57785&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Today was a very bumpy ride. We made yummy bread, some in the shape of cupcakes. One had a heart on top and it was my mom. This morning, we explored Dutch Island and found a friend for my pet snail, Goldie, and I named him Splashy.

We were not able to go to Cuttyhunk today because the wind was not right, so we went to Block Island instead. We saw a tug boat pulling a huge barge. A barge is a big platform full of cranes and stuff. This barge had coal aboard. It took about 5 hours for us to get to Block Island, and we're anchored in Great Salt Pond near a beach.

My sister and I and my dad went to a beach and made funny tracks in the sand. We did races with the horseshoe crab shells in the tide pools. Lots of minnows were in the tide pools too. We found a lot of treasures and seaweed. I found a really small clam shell. The texture was cool and bumpy.

Tomorrow we plan to ride bikes around the island.

Caitlin

Hiking on Dutch Island. In 1636, the Dutch West India Company had a trading post here. Now there is just a cool lighthouse.

Caitlin finding Splashy the snail.

Mom skipping rocks on the beach at Dutch Island.

Under sail with grandma.

Finding horseshoe crabs

Walking down the beach with Juliana on Block Island.

Exploring the tide pool.

Day 1

Current location: 
Latitude:41.50632
Longitude:-71.38919

Click the link below to see where I am located. 
http://fms.ws/9j3_a/41.50632N/71.38919W 

If the above link does not work, try this link: 
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=41.50632,-71.38919&ll=41.50632,-71.38919&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1 

Today was a fabulous day. Today had big waves. The water was pretty blue. I wore my harness and played with my sister. The harness keeps me from falling in the water. I went inside and read for a while. Then I came back up outside and looked around at the sea. It was beautiful. I like sailing. I love going on the foredeck (which is the front of the boat).

We are anchored at Dutch Island for the night, which is in the West Passage of Narragansett Bay. Tomorrow will be another great day-- I can't wait. We are going to Cuttyhunk island. And it should take about 5 hours to sail there.

Caitlin

Sailing away from Newport!

Caitlin in her harness (and taking lots of pictures!)

Grandma and Dad

My sister, Juliana, looking at the chart (a map for the water)

Mom and Juliana

mom and the sunset