#Boat Bluff Lighthouse

[davidstanleytravel]

Boat Bluff Lighthouse (1907) at the south end of Sarah Island on the Inside Passage shipping route is the halfway point between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada.

[yulton]

In the wee hours before dawn, before the morning bells rang, Yulton sat down for breakfast. His wife had prepared a wonderful meal for the family. A stack of flatcakes, perfectly browned Apples fresh from the garden, baked, and drizzled with honey and cinnamon. A carafe of chilled milk sat beside a kettle of tea. Yulton took a moment to appreciate the fine meal the lady of the house had prepared as he finished setting the table. He knew the food wouldn’t last long, not once the children were awake. That’s why he needed to get his share now.

Once he finished breakfast, Yulton gave his wife a loving kiss before departing for a day’s work. He brought with him all the things he needed, and set off towards Lion’s Arch. It was a short trek across Broadhollow Bluffs. The dirt road was well traveled, though very few people were up at this time of day. He waved politely as he passed by the farmers in their fields, before finally approaching the stone bridge that led into the city.

The guards offered greetings, used to seeing Yulton during his travels. Once through the northern gates, he walked through the empty trader’s forum and took the time to appreciate the beautiful artistry of the city’s design. It was a magnificent display of craftsmanship. An elegant combination of glass and painted metal. Tall canopies and structures made to resemble the creatures of the sea. It was a marvel, but to tell the truth; he did feel it was a bit gaudy.

At last he arrived at Sanctum Harbor where he began to prepare for departure. He climbed aboard his rowboat, a plain vessel without much adornment. The wood was stained and worn with age. He looked over the boat and sighed, realizing he’d been neglecting it. The oars themselves were beginning to dry rot, and the linen wraps he’d affixed as padding were coming loose. It had been ages since he’d taken it ashore for a good cleaning; and even longer since it’d received a fresh coat of oil.

Casting off from the pier, Yulton took his place on the gunwale, and began to row. The boat rose and fell with the gentle waves of the marina. He found the current and began to fall in line, tracing the way out to sea. Along the way he passed a towering spire of stone, a colossal lighthouse known as Phoenix’s Roost. The lamp burned brightly, casting its blue rays across the waters as he left the harbor. Soon after he was out in open water and the surf began to pick up. Yet he calmly continued to row.

After a short time he glanced over his shoulder, the rocky landmass of Claw Island was ahead. Its shadowy form was barely visible. And yet a beacon of light gleamed from its rugged shores. The Lion’s Torch, another instrumental landmark for navigating the famed Sea of Sorrows. It was hard to believe just eleven years ago Claw Island and Lion’s Arch itself had been a battleground. The free-city had been the first casualty in the war against the Elder Dragon Mordremoth. The destruction had been terrible. It was an awful thing to have witnessed, and Yulton longed to forget it. He sighed and continued onwards.

The Asura slowed his pace, and for a moment decided to pull the oars into the ship. He then lifted a metal canteen from the floorboard of the boat and began to drink as he considered his course. He looked off towards the East, watching as rays of sunshine peeked over the horizon. The clouds were colored in deep pastels and for a moment he longed to be home.

By now the children were surely awake and devouring the wonderful meal his wife prepared. Yulton loved being a father, he loved his wife and children; and given the choice would’ve stayed home. But they needed dinner, and he was intent on getting them the best.

[sims2ccfindsbyck]

I love Art. And the sims 2. And my sims love Art too. Well, some of them…

So for all the sims 2 players: Here are some tiny pictures 281x450 pixels to paint as custom paintings. Links lead to the museums and much larger images if you’d prefer to crop and resize them yourself, otherwise just save the pictures directly.

For all the non sims players… better go directly to the museums pages. These images here are tiny :)

Creator

Schaub, Paul

Providing institution

Kooperationinitiative Museen Baselland

Ruin by the Sea

1881

Arnold Böcklin

(Swiss, 1827–1901)

Oil on fabric

Framed: 132.1 x 102.9 x 8.3 cm (52 x 40 1/2 x 3 1/4 in.); Unframed: 111 x 82 cm (43 11/16 x 32 5/16 in.)

A Windmill on a Polder Waterway, Known as ‘In the Month of July’, Paul Joseph Constantin Gabriël, c. 1889

oil on canvas, h 102cm × w 66cm × d 14cm More details

Still Life with Flowers, Eelke Jelles Eelkema, 1815 - 1839

oil on canvas, h 71.5cm × w 52.5cm More details

Lighthouse in Breaking Waves, Hendrik Willem Mesdag, c. 1900 - c. 1907

oil on panel, h 52cm × w 40cm More details

Bluff-Bowed Scheveningen Boats at Anchor, Hendrik Willem Mesdag, 1860 - 1889

oil on canvas, h 115.5cm × w 80cm × d 11.5cm More details

Visserspink aan het strand, Jacob Maris, 1847 - 1899

brush, h 385mm × w 289mm More details

Kalme zee, Hendrik Willem Mesdag, 1860 - 1900

oil on canvas, h 123.4cm × w 97.5cm × t 3.2cm × d 8cm More details

Feeding Chickens, Jacob Maris, 1866

oil on canvas, h 33cm × w 21cm × d 7.8cm More details

Muzieklezende vrouw, Han van Meegeren, 1935 - 1940

oil on canvas, h 58.5cm × w 57cm × t 0.2cm More details

[aidenjame]

Exploring Ontario by Water A Local’s Guide to Smart and Scenic Boat Rentals

Ontario is blessed with some of the most stunning freshwater landscapes in North America. From the massive expanse of Lake Ontario to the quiet beauty of smaller inland lakes, there’s no shortage of natural beauty to explore. But one of the best—and often overlooked—ways to experience it all is by water.

If you're looking to truly immerse yourself in Ontario's outdoor culture, boat rentals Ontario is a practical, flexible, and surprisingly affordable option that opens up a world of possibilities.

Why Renting a Boat in Ontario Just Makes Sense

Whether you’re a local looking for a weekend escape or a visitor hoping to see Ontario’s lakes from a new perspective, boat rentals offer an ideal solution. Here’s why:

1. Access the Unreachable

Many of Ontario’s best-kept secrets can’t be reached by car or even hiking trails. From hidden beaches to tucked-away fishing spots, renting a boat gives you the freedom to explore parts of the province that most tourists never see.

2. Cost-Effective Fun

Owning a boat comes with major responsibilities—maintenance, storage, insurance, and more. Rentals allow you to enjoy all the perks of boating without the long-term costs or hassle. You pay for the day (or the weekend), enjoy the water, and walk away without a care.

3. Tailored to Your Experience Level

Worried about not being a seasoned boater? Don’t be. Most rental companies offer thorough safety briefings and simple, easy-to-operate models. From pontoon boats perfect for family outings to sporty bowriders for thrill-seekers, there’s something for every level of experience.

Top Spots to Explore by Boat in Ontario

1. Lake Ontario

As one of the five Great Lakes, Lake Ontario offers a truly unique boating experience. You can cruise past Toronto’s skyline, explore the Scarborough Bluffs by water, or find your own quiet cove to anchor and swim. There are also charming lakeside towns like Cobourg and Port Hope that are best enjoyed from the deck of a boat.

2. Muskoka Lakes

While technically not part of Lake Ontario, Muskoka’s lakes (like Rosseau, Joseph, and Muskoka) are a dream for boaters. Known for their cottage country vibe and crystal-clear water, they’re perfect for slower, scenic cruising.

3. Thousand Islands

Located along the eastern edge of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, this region offers incredible boating. Explore over 1,800 islands, some of which have castles, lighthouses, and hiking trails accessible only by water.

Tips for a Smooth and Safe Boating Experience

Plan Your Route: Know your destination, especially on large lakes. Bring maps or download offline navigation apps.

Watch the Weather: Conditions can change quickly, especially on larger bodies of water like Lake Ontario. Always check the forecast before heading out.

Safety First: Life jackets for everyone on board are non-negotiable. Also, make sure someone on land knows your expected return time.

Where to Find Quality Boat Rentals in Ontario

When searching for reliable and well-maintained boats, local knowledge makes all the difference. Muskoka Boat Rentals offers a range of boats suited for Lake Ontario and surrounding waters, with flexible rental terms and personalized customer service.

Whether you want a relaxed family cruise, a fishing weekend, or an adventure-filled afternoon exploring the shoreline, boat rentals Ontario can turn an ordinary day into something unforgettable.

Final Thoughts

There’s no better way to see Ontario’s lakes than from the water. The open sky above, the shoreline slipping by, the freedom to explore at your own pace—these are the things that make boating such a rewarding experience. And the best part? You don’t need to own a boat to enjoy it.

So this season, skip the crowded beaches and take to the water. You’ll see a whole new side of Ontario—one that’s just waiting to be discovered.

[aussiediscoverer]

From Bush Trails to Coastal Hideaways: Australia's Best-Kept Secrets

Australia is a land known for its iconic landmarks, Sydney Opera House, Uluru, and the Great Barrier Reef, but much of its real charm lies beyond the brochure. It's in the quiet bush trails that wind through eucalyptus forests, the secluded beaches with no footprints in the sand, and the off-grid villages that offer more authenticity than any five-star resort ever could.

From rugged hinterlands to remote coastlines, Australia's best-kept secrets are often the ones you must seek out, and once you find them, they're the kind of places that stay with you long after you've returned home. If you're ready to step off the beaten path, here's a journey through some of the country's most hidden natural and cultural treasures.

1. The Grampians' Forgotten Tracks, Victoria

The Grampians National Park, or Gariwerd, is well known for its jagged sandstone ridges and panoramic lookouts. But beyond the popular trails of The Pinnacle and MacKenzie Falls lie paths less travelled routes that lead to ancient Aboriginal rock art, hidden waterfalls, and breathtaking solitude.

Hollow Mountain and Gulgurn Manja Shelter

In the northern part of the park, Hollow Mountain offers an adventurous scramble and dramatic views, but its real treasure lies at its base, the Gulgurn Manja rock art site. Here, ochre-painted handprints left by the Jardwadjali people echo a presence that predates European arrival by thousands of years. Few tourists venture this way, making it one of the Grampians' quietest and most meaningful stops.

2. Shoalhaven's Secret Beaches, New South Wales

Three hours south of Sydney, the Shoalhaven region is packed with spectacular beaches, but not all are found on maps or road signs. Beyond the bustle of Jervis Bay lie tucked-away coves, accessible only by foot or boat, where you can swim in turquoise waters without sharing the view.

Steamers Beach and Murrays Beach

Steamers Beach, reached via a bushwalk through Booderee National Park, is a secluded haven framed by cliffs and pounding surf. Just nearby, Murrays Beach offers a completely different scene, calm, crystal-clear waters ideal for snorkelling and picnicking under paperbark trees. What they share in common is that sense of discovery that turns a simple day at the beach into something unforgettable.

3. Lamington National Park's Hidden Rainforest Trails, Queensland

Most travellers to Queensland head straight for the coast—but inland, the Gondwana Rainforests of Lamington National Park hide some of the oldest and most ecologically significant forests in the world.

Box Forest Circuit and Elabana Falls

Skip the crowd-favourite Tree Top Walk and opt for the Box Forest Circuit, a lush, mossy trail flanked by ancient Antarctic beech trees. Here you'll discover Elabana Falls, a fairytale cascade nestled deep in the rainforest. The trail is moderately challenging but rewards those who persist with a waterfall you're likely to have all to yourself.

4. Bruny Island's Untouched Corners, Tasmania

Bruny Island, just off the coast of southern Tasmania, is famous for its dramatic cliffs, gourmet food, and penguin colonies. But most visitors never venture far from the main sights. For those willing to explore further, Bruny offers remote beauty, raw nature, and a connection to Tasmania's wild soul.

Cape Queen Elizabeth Track

This lesser-known walk takes you through coastal heath, bushland, and along secluded beaches to a natural rock arch that's best viewed at low tide. Along the way, you'll likely see white wallabies, wedge-tailed eagles, and maybe not another soul.

Bruny's wild south, where the lighthouse stands solitary against the roaring Southern Ocean, is a reminder of the island's untamed heart. No souvenir matches the feeling of standing on that bluff, wind in your face, sea birds wheeling overhead.

5. The Undiscovered Gems of the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

Often overlooked in favour of South Australia's wine regions, the Eyre Peninsula offers a wilder, saltier kind of experience, one that combines epic coastline, marine encounters, and windswept beaches you've never heard of.

Whalers Way and Greenly Beach

Whalers Way, just outside Port Lincoln, is a privately accessed stretch of rugged coastline marked by cliffs, blowholes, and deep blue waters that crash against ancient rocks. Nearby, Greenly Beach, accessible via a short track off a dirt road, is a serene stretch of white sand, popular with local surfers and dolphins alike.

Pack a picnic and don't expect a signal. The beauty here is raw, the silence restorative.

6. The Deep Stillness of the Flinders Ranges, South Australia

While the Flinders Ranges are increasingly known for their dramatic peaks and geological wonders, much of the terrain remains blissfully underexplored. Here, the land tells stories in ripples of ochre and shadow.

Brachina Gorge Geological Trail

This self-driving trail takes you through 500 million years of Earth's history via multi-coloured rock layers and dry riverbeds. It's also a prime spot for seeing yellow-footed rock wallabies, rare marsupials that blend so seamlessly into the landscape that spotting one feels like uncovering a secret.

The nearby Aboriginal site of Sacred Canyon, where rock engravings lie quietly in stone, adds a layer of cultural significance to the region's natural grandeur.

7. The Coastal Magic of the Great Ocean Walk, Victoria

Everyone drives the Great Ocean Road. Few walk it. The Great Ocean Walk offers a completely different perspective, one of solitude, intimacy with the landscape, and access to areas unreachable by car.

Johanna Beach to the Aire River

This stretch of the walk is particularly enchanting. You'll move from wild beaches to cliff-top views to rainforest gullies, hearing only the crash of the surf and the wind in the trees. Wallabies bound across the path, wedge-tailed eagles circle overhead, and the Southern Ocean churns endlessly below.

It's more than a walk. It's an immersion in the rhythm of nature, of breath, of movement.

8. The Peaceful Lakes of East Gippsland, Victoria

East Gippsland is where forest meets water in quiet harmony. The lakes, rivers, and coastal inlets here provide some of the most serene paddling and camping experiences in the country, without the crowds.

Lake Tyers and Gippsland Lakes

Lake Tyers, especially around Nowa Nowa, offers tranquil water ideal for kayaking, birdwatching, and reconnecting with nature. The area is steeped in Aboriginal history, and ongoing efforts by the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust are restoring cultural connection and ecological balance.

For a peaceful retreat, pitch a tent at a waterside bush campsite and wake to the sound of water lapping at the shore.

9. The Untold Beauty of Cape York, Queensland

Cape York is often seen as a destination for off-road adventurers and hardcore 4WDers. But beneath its tough terrain lies immense natural beauty and cultural richness.

Fruit Bat Falls and Eliot Falls

Hidden along the Old Telegraph Track, these waterfalls are turquoise swimming holes surrounded by jungle. They offer cool relief in the heat and an otherworldly setting that feels far removed from anything else in Queensland.

Cape York is also home to remote Indigenous communities, ancient rock art sites, and songlines that crisscross the land. Guided tours with Traditional Owners can offer powerful insights into this often misunderstood region.

10. Western Australia's Best-Kept Coastal Secrets

WA's coastline stretches for thousands of kilometres, but much of it remains untouched by mass tourism. That means endless beaches, coral reefs, and coastal cliffs just waiting to be discovered.

Esperance's Hidden Beaches

Everyone knows about Lucky Bay's kangaroo-populated shores. Still, the lesser-known beaches in Cape Le Grand National Park, like Hellfire Bay and Thistle Cove, are equally stunning and far less visited. Powder-white sand, turquoise water, and granite headlands create a setting that's almost too perfect to be real.

Camp nearby and fall asleep to the sound of waves and wake to the world painted in pastel dawn.

Conclusion: Seek and You Shall Find

The real beauty of Australia doesn't always shout; it often whispers. It's found in the rustle of leaves on a lonely trail, in the shimmer of untouched sand at sunrise, in the cool stillness of a forest waterfall, or the wind-blasted edge of a cliff where no one else stands.

To discover Australia's best-kept secrets, you don't need luxury or elaborate plans. You need curiosity, patience, and a willingness to go where the crowds don't. These are the places that shape stories, invite silence, and offer connection not just to land, but to self.

From bush trails that carry ancient footprints to coastal hideaways that offer peace and perspective, Australia's hidden gems are waiting, not for the camera, not for the crowds, but for those ready to explore a little differently.

[usavisaappointmentuk]

Top Islands in America for All Types of Travelers

When island vacations come to mind, your mind may automatically drift to the South Pacific or the Caribbean. However, did you know that there are some seriously stunning islands right here in the United States? Each with their own charm, culture, and adventure. Are you in the mood for white-sand beaches, wild terrain, quaint villages, or outdoor pursuits? Whatever your island mood, the U.S. has island vacations as great as those found anywhere overseas.

Here's a handpicked selection of the best islands in the United States worth a place on your travel wish list.

1. Maui, Hawaii

Ideal for: Nature enthusiasts, surfers, honeymooners

Maui is every dreamer's paradise if what they are looking for is rich landscapes, volcanic scenery, and golden shores. It's also where you find the renowned Road to Hana, a stunning drive that makes its way along rainforests, waterfalls, and seaside cliffs. Or you can catch the sunrise in Haleakalā National Park, snorkel at Molokini Crater, or simply enjoy the Wailea or Kaanapali beaches.

Maui’s laid-back luxury, combined with outdoor activities and incredible natural beauty, makes it one of the most beloved islands in the USA.

2. Key West, Florida

Best for: Culture lovers, water sports, history buffs

The southernmost point of the continental U.S., Key West is more than just a beach town — it’s a lively island with a rich history and quirky charm. You’ll find everything from Hemingway’s house to beautiful coral reefs perfect for snorkeling and diving.

Don’t miss a sunset celebration at Mallory Square, and be sure to enjoy some key lime pie while taking in the colorful atmosphere of Duval Street.

3. Mackinac Island, Michigan

Ideal for: History buffs, bikers, couples

Located on Lake Huron, Mackinac Island is a step back in time. No cars are allowed on the island, so everyone travels by bicycle, horse-drawn carriage, or on foot. Visit Fort Mackinac, walk the Victorian-era architecture, and treat yourself to the island's world-famous fudge.

In summer, the island erupts into flower bloom, turning it into a serene and relaxing haven for tourists looking for tranquility and ease.

4. San Juan Islands, Washington

Best for: Nature lovers, kayaking, green tourism

Situated off the coast of Washington state, the San Juan Islands are nature lovers' paradise. The islands provide kayaking, whale watching (particularly orcas), and trekking through evergreen woods and rugged coastlines.

Friday Harbor on San Juan Island is a favorite center, with charm shops and dining. If sustainability and off-the-grid adventures suit your style, this is your island retreat.

5. Kauai, Hawaii

Ideal for: Thrill-seekers, nature photographers, hike enthusiasts

The "Garden Isle," Kauai is the oldest and most verdant of the Hawaiian islands. It's renowned for the Na Pali Coast, a breathtaking chain of sea cliffs to behold from boat, helicopter, or a strenuous hike.

It also features spectacular waterfalls, including Wailua Falls, and serene beaches like Hanalei Bay. It's the ideal destination to disconnect and bond with nature.

6. Block Island, Rhode Island

Best for: East Coast beach vacations, families, relaxing getaways

Accessible only by ferry from mainland Rhode Island, Block Island is a relaxed New England destination. You'll enjoy green rolling hills, stunning cliffs, and more than 17 miles of beaches.

Ride bikes throughout the island, see the Southeast Lighthouse's historic landmark, or discover the Mohegan Bluffs for stunning vistas. It's a secret getaway that's ideal for a quick weekend trip.

7. Amelia Island, Florida

Best for: Golfers, beach enthusiasts, family holidays

Amelia Island, northeast Florida, boasts luxury resorts, stunning beaches, and Southern hospitality. There's also Fernandina Beach, a charming Victorian-themed town with a lively downtown area.

Amelia Island has something for everyone: kayaking, golfing, or spa time, with a luxurious yet low-key vacation experience.

8. Ocracoke Island, North Carolina

Best for: Isolation, wildlife, beachcombers

A part of North Carolina's Outer Banks, Ocracoke Island is accessed only by ferry, private boat, or a small plane — which contributes to its remote charm. This is where you retreat from the crowds.

With empty beaches, wild ponies, and a charming small village ambiance, Ocracoke is best for a quiet retreat. The sunsets here are simply magical as well.

9. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Best for: Family vacations, cycling, resort getaways

Hilton Head combines luxury with family friendliness. With more than 12 miles of beaches, championship golf courses, and an extensive network of bike paths, it's heaven for relaxation and recreation.

From kayaking in salt marshes to feasting on seafood, Hilton Head provides a well-balanced coast experience.

10. Big Island (Hawaiʻi Island), Hawaii Best for: Volcanoes, diversity, adventure

And finally, Hawaiʻi Island, or the Big Island, is the largest in the Hawaiian chain and boasts the most varied landscapes — black sand beaches, snow-capped mountains, and volcanoes.

You have to see Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and so must you see the Mauna Kea Observatory. The variety of the island allows you to surf in the morning and spend the evening gazing at a mountaintop.

Final Thoughts

From volcanic scenery in Hawaii to Michigan's historic  charm, the greatest islands in the United States have something for all types of travelers. Adventure, peace, nature, or culture: no matter what you're looking for, you don't have to go overseas to find your ideal island getaway.

If you are in the UK and organizing your American island holiday, don't forget to arrange your USA visa appointment from London in advance to prevent delays. With some planning, your dream holiday to the beautiful islands of the United States can become a reality sooner than you imagine.

So, grab your bags, get your visa, and head to one of these amazing island paradises — because paradise could be nearer than you imagine.

[mbsposts]

Sunday, July 14, 2024 Day 14

End Mileage 42729 4:15 PM EDT Start Mileage 42561 9:00 AM EDT Miles 168

Gas 26.70 Camp 57.00 Ice 3.50 Ice Cream 7.36 Total 94.56

The day began late. The campground was quiet until 8AM. Headed north to the northern end of Pictured Rocks Lakeshore. Stopped at a beach area on the lake shore where I posed. Hiked the 3.5 miles round trip trail to Au Sable Lighthouse. The trail was full of sand flies, I wore long pants and a tee shirt over my arms. Being covered I still got bit. Plus it was a warm day, so lots of sweat. At the light house I noticed that the life boat was high on a bluff. I was informed that there was once a wharf where the boat would have been. Continued to Grand Marais, MI. A little village in the middle of nowhere. Headed south on Mi 72 to Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Stopped at a BP gas station at an intersection in a very isolated area. At Seney took the dirt road through the refuge. Marshes and some birdlife and some pose stops. Continued on US 2 stopping at rest areas and Lake Michigan access beach areas. Very scenic vistas of Lake Michigan. A strong SW wind was blowing cooling thing and making waves on the shoreline rocks. Got a campsite near St. Ignace. My site was at the end of a lane. Very private. All and all – cool by the lakes, warmer inland – a good day.

[cllnsllvn]

Bluff

It's easy to have a nice quiet day in a nice quiet town. The place I'm staying includes continental breakfast, so I lounged in bed for a little while before heading down to have some toast and tea. Then, I headed to the cafe next door to have more treats - a coffee and a cinnamon scroll. The cafe shares space with the real estate office, which I think is funny.

After my coffee and a treat, I headed over to the Bluff Maritime Museum - a little museum with a variety of information about the maritime history of Bluff. Everything from the Dog Island Lighthouse to the HMS New Zealand to the tug boats in the harbour. I won't lie, it was all a bit overstimulating and so much of it had very small font (god, how old am I), so I didn't enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed other small museums, but that's on me. Here are a few cool things in the museum.

I took that last picture because I thought it was cool that Lyttleton was so highly represented in the audience numbers for the HMS New Zealand world cruise! After the museum, I headed to find lunch forgetting, again, that restaurants are often closed Mondays. I found a food truck that was blessedly open and got myself a delicious smash burger. Before heading back to chill for a bit. Bluff has a pretty good street art scene - lots of murals to look at as you walk the streets!

Later in the afternoon, I headed out to the Greenpoint Ship Graveyard - a place where several decommissioned boats have been sunk. It was a short walk, and most of the boats weren't that visible - I suspect the tide was too high. I started having lots of existential thoughts about how we deal with manmade waste, thinking about how these vessels weren't taken apart and recycled, merely sunk into the water. It's a precursor to our current state where landfills are overrun, there is garbage everywhere, plastic is in our foods, and we have irreversibly changed animal habitats all around the world. Weird thoughts to have on a nature walk.

Finally, I headed out to Omaui Beach to sit and enjoy the waves with my book. I watched the clouds roll in (rain expected tomorrow) before heading back for a quiet evening.

[exploringthenorth]

Kayak Rental in Minnesota: Paddle Through the Land of 10,000 Lakes

Minnesota is a kayaker’s dream. Known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," the state offers an endless array of paddling opportunities, from calm lakes perfect for beginners to challenging river rapids for seasoned adventurers. Whether you’re looking for a serene escape or a thrilling water adventure, renting a kayak in Minnesota is the perfect way to experience the state's stunning waterways.

Why Kayak in Minnesota?

Minnesota’s diverse landscape makes it one of the best places in the Midwest for kayaking. The state’s lakes, rivers, and streams wind through forests, rolling hills, and even dramatic rock formations. Wildlife abounds, with eagles soaring overhead and loons calling out across the water. Kayaking provides an up-close view of Minnesota’s natural beauty that few other activities can match.

Top Kayaking Destinations in Minnesota

Here are some of the top spots for kayaking in Minnesota, each offering unique experiences for paddlers of all skill levels:

1. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW)

The Boundary Waters is Minnesota's crown jewel for paddling. Stretching across 1 million acres of pristine wilderness, the BWCAW offers endless opportunities for adventure. Kayak rentals are available in nearby towns like Ely and Grand Marais, and multi-day trips are popular here, allowing you to explore the remote lakes and rivers, camp under the stars, and experience complete solitude.

2. Lake Superior

For a more challenging kayaking experience, Lake Superior offers breathtaking views of the North Shore’s cliffs, sea caves, and lighthouses. Outfitters in Duluth, Two Harbors, and Grand Marais offer kayak rentals and guided tours along the lake’s shoreline. The lake’s vast waters provide the perfect backdrop for exploring hidden beaches and scenic coves, though its powerful waves make it a better option for more experienced paddlers.

3. Mississippi River

Kayaking the Mississippi River provides a unique perspective on this iconic waterway. In Minnesota, the river offers both peaceful stretches and faster-flowing sections that pass through the Twin Cities. Many outfitters offer kayak rentals for exploring the urban areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul, or for venturing out into quieter, less populated sections of the river further upstream.

4. St. Croix River

Running along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, the St. Croix River is a beautiful destination for paddlers seeking a calm and scenic experience. With clear waters, wooded shorelines, and sandstone bluffs, it’s an ideal spot for both beginners and families. Numerous rental locations along the river make it easy to plan a day trip or a longer adventure.

5. Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park is a water-based park that’s perfect for exploring by kayak. Rent a kayak from local outfitters and paddle through interconnected lakes, inlets, and bays that make up this unique park. You’ll have the chance to spot wildlife like moose, beavers, and otters, and paddle to remote campsites only accessible by boat.

Kayak Rental Options in Minnesota

Minnesota is home to numerous kayak rental companies that cater to all levels of paddlers. Most outfitters provide high-quality kayaks, paddles, and life jackets, along with maps and tips for exploring the area. Some even offer transportation services to and from popular launch sites, making your trip hassle-free.

Rentals can be done by the hour, half-day, full-day, or for multiple days, giving you flexibility to choose how long you want to spend on the water. Many rental companies also offer guided tours, which can be a great option if you're new to kayaking or if you want to learn more about the area's history and wildlife.

Tips for Kayaking in Minnesota

Plan Ahead: Especially in busy areas like the Boundary Waters or popular lakes, it's a good idea to reserve your kayak rental in advance.

Dress for the Weather: Minnesota's weather can change quickly, so bring layers and be prepared for cooler temperatures, especially if you’re paddling on Lake Superior or early/late in the season.

Stay Safe: Always wear a life jacket, check local conditions before heading out, and bring along plenty of water and snacks for your trip.

Respect Nature: Minnesota’s waterways are known for their natural beauty, so be sure to follow Leave No Trace principles and respect wildlife.

Conclusion

Kayaking in Minnesota offers something for everyone, from peaceful paddles on serene lakes to exhilarating rides down rushing rivers. With plenty of rental options available throughout the state, it’s never been easier to plan your next kayaking adventure. Whether you’re exploring the remote wilderness of the Boundary Waters or taking in the beauty of the North Shore, renting a kayak in Minnesota is your gateway to unforgettable outdoor experiences.

Paddle through the beauty of Minnesota, rent a kayak, and start exploring today!

[mollydsails]

September 19 - ok. I know it is a bit late to post about our last New England Summer Cruise of the season, but here it is. Molly D visited Jamestown/Newport, Oak Bluffs, Nantucket, Cuttyhunk and Block. We had great weather and had a bit of fun as well. How could you not have fun when visiting your favorite places??

Our first stop was Jamestown (Newport was full—holiday weekend). New experience for me and David, as we’ve only been in Jamestown very briefly many years ago when we were shopping for our first Molly D. Nice stop! The immediate waterfront blossomed with many restaurants, shops and drinking establishments. On our way into Jamestown, David spotted Ripple, a sister ship to Molly D. David hailed them on the radio and we made plans to meet up later in the afternoon. We met in the bar of one of the restaurants and enjoyed drinks, appetizers and great conversation with the owners of Ripple (can’t remember their names, duh!). The following day David and I took our inflatable across the harbor and spent some time wandering around Newport. We had a great lunch at The Mooring. We timed our lunch so that we would be inside the restaurant during a rain event.

Newport Bridge as seen from Molly D’s mooring in Jamestown

Lunchtime view from The Mooring restaurant.

Our next overnight stop was Oak Bluffs. We arrived on Labor Day and the harbor was crowded with day trippers. David and I kept with tradition and enjoyed onion rings from Nancy’s and delicious ice cream from Ben and Bills. A bonus— snagged bottles of Stone Cellar Chardonnay at Our Market for $6 each!!! Bargain!

Our next stop was 3 nights in Nantucket. Nantucket was so quiet and far less crowded than the high season. So nice!!! We enjoyed walks around the town, visiting shops, and, of course, the obligatory meal at bACKyard BBQ.

Onward to Nantucket!

We had a great sail!!

A Mr. Rogers sculpture

Brant Point Lighthouse

Next stop, Cuttyhunk. After season. Plenty of open moorings. No farewell from pier jumpers when the New Bedford ferry left. Beautiful place, as always

Another Cuttyhunk sunset

Small island. Small stop sign.

So long Cuttyhunk! See you next summer!

Final stop was Block Island (4th time this summer!). I got my final mudslide of the season from The Oar.

Final mudslide of the season.

We enjoyed another good meal at Tigerfish, an Asian fusion restaurant.

The summer of 2024 passed too quickly. We were very busy with “house” projects, but we managed to visit nearly all of our favorite ports

On October 5, Molly D will begin her 4th (our 5th) trip south. David and I have been extremely busy in getting Molly D serviced and provisioned for this trip. Hard work but we know what fun awaits us along the way. Our trip will be made even more special this year because we have 3 groups of boat friends who will join us at various ports along the way.

[beni75]

@argenel

1-. Lake Loise, Alberta

2-. Point Reyes Lighthouse, California

3-. Lake Loise, Alberta

4-. The Scarborough Bluffs, Ontario, Canada

5-. The other side of Niagara Falls

6-. Boats at dusk

7-. Yosemite Tunnel View

8-. You're all very deer to me. Here's a scene I encountered in Yosemite National Park

9-. Don't go chasing waterfalls. Maui, Hawaii

10-. Heart-shaped opening inside the Upper Antelope slot canyon near Page, Arizona

[liminal-librarian]

On A Bluff

“Oh, Hi, It’s you again.

How have you been?

What brings you to our doomed little island this time?

Interesting, I had no idea anyone studied them.

How have I been? Are you really asking that after I talked your ear off last time you stopped to watch me paint?

Of course, you’re welcome to watch me paint. Yes, I still paint mostly seascapes. Last season I had someone from up the river commission me to paint the new lighthouse. That was the farthest south I’d been for years, so I certainly took a look around.

Yeah, they paid my travel expenses and everything. I stayed for about a week, sketched a bunch of concepts, let them choose what they liked, and then painted what they wanted. They wanted low tide, but somehow I couldn’t manage that until I first painted high tide.

It was on the windward side of the spit, it wanted to be the hungry sea, you know, so I had to paint that reality before I could settle in and paint the fantasy that they wanted.

Did you just call me bloodthirsty?

Hmm, I can see how it sort of sounds that way, and I’m not saying that you’re wrong. But at the time I was thinking more along the lines of proper respect for the sea, and the lighthouse keepers who have to be there and endure it all, both high tide and low.

Right?

Anyway, seeing how the waves broke on the rocks and spray up 20 feet reminded me of the old lighthouse. We used to go picnicking there after school sometimes, waiting for our parents to return from fishing. Of course, at low tide, we just stayed home and went swimming in the sound, but at high tide when we weren’t allowed in the water, we’d climb up to the ridge where we could look out in hopes of seeing a little parade of fishing boats returning home. Hmm.

Yes, exactly, so intermittently since then I’ve been painting the old lighthouse, over and over, but in other locations along the ridge, I don’t know enough about geology and foundations and whatever, so just because I’ve put it somewhere in a picture because that spot seems aesthetic to me, doesn’t mean it would be an optimal place to put a new lighthouse, were the island to finally stop washing away. I don’t know what to call it. Some kind of newly awakened penchant for fantasy, I suppose.

I did paint the new lighthouse in a couple of spots (smooth concrete, conical perfection, and all), but mostly its the old lighthouse, quaint old bricks, and high tide rollers breaking against rocks that aren’t there, and the plumes of spray, which would mean the rock there is too solid to be moved by tide or rollers, not like what we’re seeing down there, very little rock, the dirt washing away, the sand and gravel taking a bit longer. Some of the houses with good foundations last a bit longer.

Dad’s house and workshop were solid masonry construction, it just sank and tilted as the waves washed the sand and soil out from under it, the same way your feet sink into the sand if you stand in the wash for long enough. A lot of our neighbourhood was constructed the same way.

Have you met Jen Morgan?

She stayed longer than most and used to sit by me and knit some afternoons.

What? Oh, her people were builders, both sides. The way Uncle Ross used to tell it: She used to help them summers, until she finished school and did it year-round, for a couple of years, until her babies started coming, then she stayed home taking care of them, answering the phone, and keeping the books. She was good on the phone, had a way with accents, could understand people from the mainland faster than I could. Never mind, what was I saying?

Ah yes, well her children were all grown and working before the island started sinking. I suppose she’s retired, technically. But her hobby, besides the knitting and the watching me paint, was wading in and seeing what was happening with all the houses as they washed away. Offering bets which way they would tip before they slid away, or sink straight down, or whether they would hold together that long, or just break up.

I never did hear of anyone taking any of her wagers, but she kept watching day by day and gossiping about the strengths and weaknesses of the houses and the construction styles used, and how well they’d been implemented.

Lots of people found it creepy, talking about people’s homes washing away, like gossiping about all your friends dying slowly at the same time or something. But they weren’t homes to her, of course, they were houses, abandoned houses at that, no one has lived in most of them for years.

I could understand that. To me they are just big artificial rocks, starting out parked way up on top of dirt, I could understand what she was talking about so far as the waves and the angles and the soil under them washing out. I’m as lost as the next person understanding the parts about how solid they are built.

What? Oh, yes, I haven’t seen her around … for about eight months, I assume she’s moved to the mainland, I think her daughter-in-law was expecting and she planned to go and help with that. If she hasn’t been back I assume she’s not coming back.

...

Yes, it’s very lonely around here now. Mostly I meet people back in town. Aunt Mae (No relation) at the diner where I get breakfast, you know. Her regulars, you know? Other than that most of the new faces are the students of the SCUBA school that is renting the YMCA building for the summer, the rent’s cheap, you know because no one will ever buy it.

Because the building has classrooms and a pool, beginners play in the pool, intermediate swim in the sound, they take the advanced students out in a boat, and the master students do pretend maintenance exercises under the docks. At least from what I understand, they strongly recommend not swimming under overhangs like that until you’re very proficient.

And on weekends, if you schedule far enough ahead, you can charter the boat to take you out and dive to see the fish or the old houses. A few people do come back and dive to look for things they forgot when they moved out.

...

No, not no one, my brother and his faiencee came up and visited me for a couple of hours.

Just last week, why?

No, they swam, I think he’s our third cousin, not that I can keep Mum's half of my family tree straight what with the people I’ve never met and the names I don’t know how to spell.

Yes, they are both selkie men, with swim muscles bulging under a healthy amount of blubber, and with wrinkles and ridges under their skin where those tendons relax, when they aren’t pulling swim webbing tight.

I admit I did flirt a little, I don’t think my brother blamed me. Mostly they laughed at me for being the wrong gender to interest him. Not like my sister who visited the week before.

She called me all sorts of names.

...

What? Oh, she … called me a witch, and lazy, and seven kinds of a liar.

Well … you know? I’ve been painting … fantasies of lighthouses. To be honest, for years I’ve been painting the sea much stronger and hungrier than it really is. And since that commission, I’ve been painting … I don’t know, cliffs and lighthouses strong enough to stand against that sea.

You can call it wishful thinking I suppose.

Anyway, when I’m painting something from my head instead of from observing it, it can take a bit of time to imagine it correctly, so that I can decide what to paint. She came up and bothered me, so of course I had to start over again. And after she watched me sit here with my eyes closed trying to decide how to paint a spray plume. And then she called me a liar.

She said that I keep saying I’m pants at meditation because I can’t sit still or keep my eyes closed that long, but she knows it’s a lame excuse, because I sit here for hours painting, and much of it with my eyes closed.

She said that I keep painting the sea, but hungry enough to gobble up an island, she asked when was the last time I painted a boat or beach-goer or a home or anything nice.

I offered to paint her, she frowned at me and suggested that she’d pose on the dunes over there, with sun and plants and sand around her. And I for sure was forbidden to put her in the high tide landscape I’d been working on.

Well, I didn’t have a second canvas handy so I suggested she come back the next day, and she refused.

...

Thank you, very kind of you to say.

No. My brother and his man came to check on me, make sure I wasn’t angry at Abby for being Abby, and not understanding that I was never one to swim like her, or meditate like her, I don’t even think I can meditate.

Hmm? No, I’m sure that they’ll get married in front of Mum’s side of the family, I don’t think Dad’s side of the family … well some of them might complain about two men marrying, the rest I think are more likely to complain about the whole marrying a selkie and probably moving permanently into the ocean, instead of bringing him into the fishing business. Or maybe I’m just projecting, because those are the sorts of things they already say about me, selling paintings instead of fish.

My sister Abby? I haven’t a clue, she’s still in school, I have never had the feeling she has trouble finding someone to dance with when she wants to dance or argue with when she wants to argue. I know she spends the summers as near the water as she can, she was swimming when she visited me, so I suspect that she’s not working on the boats … unless that was a Sunday, hmm, I don’t know actually. The last church closed, though sometimes we sing after breakfast at Aunt Mae’s Dinner, that’s about all that’s available for Sunday observances, I guess.

No, after they … well in the middle of asking me about Abby, he quizzed me about when I last went to the mainland to see Mum and Dad. He called it ‘home’ and it took me … too long to understand him, so then he started quizzing me about how much longer before I intend to visit Dad’s family, Uncle Ross’s fishing compound, whatever you want to call it, he called it ‘home’ which felt wrong and made his selkie man twitch. Our eyes met and he barked something and they chased each other around for ten minutes.

When they finished, my brother came back and asked me where my home was, where I was trying to get back to, and all that.

I said, ‘In the sea’ and for a moment he smiled like I’d just admitted to having a selkie boyfriend of my own. Then he figured out that I meant ‘It is sunk underwater’ because I was thinking of Dad’s old house. And he looked incredibly sad and more than a little concerned.

He said I needed to say goodbye to that.

And I admit that I screamed at him.

His friend ran away, but my brother stood there and took it, then he frowned, and said nothing for a long time, then he looked again at what I was painting and asked to see my other paintings.

Which led to them coming back to ‘my’ ‘apartment’ to look at everything I hadn’t shipped off to my agent on the mainland. After he looked at them all, he said, “They are all facing Dad’s old house.”

Which wasn’t true, strictly, but I could sort of see how he’d come to that conclusion.

Some of them were facing Mum’s favourite beach for gathering seaweed. Some of them were facing… well never mind that.

Finally, he said, that saying goodbye wasn’t enough, I needed to visit. Because I’ve been circling and circling and circling like a caged tiger, and I won’t be able to move on until I reach my goal, at least one more time.

Also, I should be wish-listing some attributes for what I want in a home because if Dad’s new house isn’t it, I should be shopping for what I do want or need or whatever, because endlessly circling like a tiger isn’t healthy. Etc.

Damn him for being right, you know? And bless him for caring enough to tell me so. Right?

Huh? Oh, so yeah, I took beginner and intermediate lessons (that’s about as far as I could afford and still be able to commission the SCUBA boat to take me out over the bay that isn’t there anymore to where Dad’s old house was.)

I know the house is out there, mostly in one piece, I expect that it’s still laying on its front just like it was last I saw it. I know that Mum and her arms and her cooking aren’t there anymore. I know that all of my Uncles’ fishing boats couldn’t lift it and drag it back to shore.

But my brother is right, I need to go in and look around and believe that it’s not a good place to live anymore.

I haven’t told them, because I also know that letting me go inside is against regulations. But I figure I know my way around my own home, the one place in the world I am least likely to get disoriented, therefore ‘getting disoriented and not being able to find my way back to the surface’ isn’t a problem I need to worry much about.

...

Yeah, so that’s on Saturday. Why? Are you thinking to come by next week to check up on me?

That’s very kind of you.

...

So … What do you look for in a home, besides apparently, no rats?

...

That’s Fair.

The only things I’ve come up with are, I want warm blankets and to be able to hear the surf, and I want to be within walking distance of a coffee shop that sells pancakes.

Simple things really. I’m not so very difficult to please, I think.

And yet.

Why?

Why can’t I walk away from a place that I know no longer exists?

Baby Blanket

Story from prompt (I finally found it again!): https://www.tumblr.com/yomikoreadsbooks/640978150247006208/dateagirlwhosweird-lustfulpasiphae

Content warning: First draft, will probably edit later.

Growing up, from my very first memories up to the day I came home crying over my first break up, my favourite baby blanket, and my go-to comfort was my mother’s seal skin blanket. It always smelled just like her, always the warmest thing in the house after Dad’s pancakes (the wheat kind, and the seaweed kind). (And equally popular (the seal skin and the pancakes), therefore just as likely to go missing if left unattended for long.)

In other words, my siblings all would say the same, except Mum got them their own around age seven, it was some sort of reward for finishing her strict regimen of meditation lessons, and swimming lessons, and I don’t know what all.

I’m afraid I inherited a full dose of Dad’s ADHD and was always pants at meditating, Though I always thought I swam well enough, (with three fishermen, and twelve fishermen’s children in the family, (don’t forget the boat mechanic and the 5 boat mechanic’s children). There was plenty of time and opportunity to be in and around the water.)

(Dad was the boat mechanic.)

The official story with Mum is that Uncle Ross (the oldest of my uncles, and the head of the family) is a proud, arrogant, stubborn, skin-flint of a man and never got his machines looked at until they were on the verge of failing or had already failed.

So of course one day (two days after a huge squall) when he caught something unusually big (like a seal the size of a walrus, (a Tiger Seal, you know, like from the south pole)), of course the winch that is supposed to pull the nets up failed completely. (As winch motors tend to do if they have not been seen to in much too long.)

(If you ask Uncle Ross, he’s not a skin-flint (have any of his children or nieces or nephews ever gone hungry? Or gone more than a week having outgrown their life jacket? Or without a new bike for their sixth birthday?) He’s an excellent uncle for his big family, he’s not a skin-flint, he’s trying to ‘minimise his carbon footprint.’ Etc.)

And of course, Dad being the boat mechanic in the family, was brought in to repair the winch, and in the process was on hand when they got the seal out of the net onto the boat, and being that it didn’t seem hurt, but did seem very disoriented (to have turned up at entirely at the wrong end of the ocean) and him being the one with the most unstructured time on land, appointed himself the one to research the official channels and whatnot to get her taken back to Antarctica and released into the wild where she belonged.

Completely normal and believable, no?

Unofficially, of course, the winch motor was fine, because Dad is sneaky and wouldn’t let something like paperwork or ‘not getting paid’ stop him from keeping all the family boats operating smoothly. It’s just that Mum is a selkie, and was going through an idealistic/rebellious phase at the time to even be near a fishing boat.

She says she was trying out some water magic to keep the net in the water so she could rescue the fishes that were too dumb to rescue themselves. It A) didn’t work, and B) led to a situation where she figured out, contrary to official dogma, humans are people too. C) also, humans are very interesting.

Dad’s shop is only a short walk from the house, so Mum could usually find him when she needed to, without needing to swim, also Dad is something of a maverick himself with a strong sense of family/community and very little sense of property. Of course, he never considered hiding her seal skin. He tried to teach her to put it ‘away’ when she came visiting, but eventually got the idea that if he thought of it as a blanket or couch throw, to be left out and snuggled under, not an overcoat to be hung up in the hall closet, he stopped minding seeing it left wherever.

.

So yeah, it’s my dad who has ADHD, but it’s my Mum who is the one addicted to Telly. I’m not saying she wasn’t a good Mum. And she would take care of us in all the ways we asked for help. But if you left her unattended you’d probably find her on the couch in front of the telly, curled up with whichever of my siblings was already there, or who also came for snuggles.

At least, that’s where we found her in the afternoons returning from school. In the mornings she went wading and swimming in the ocean, to harvest enough seaweed for the day. We ate a little seaweed on the side at every meal. (Except when Dad made it into the pancakes.) I guess like normal humans have spinach or whatever kind of greens works for them.

I read somewhere that only the Japanese have the stomach bacteria to digest seaweed properly, somewhat like only Europeans have the enzymes to digest dairy products or something.

Neither bothered me, so I figure, I’m half European, and either you swim and eat seaweed enough you’re going to inoculate your system with the right stomach bacteria eventually. Or else, it’s just that I’m half whatever Mum is. So there’s that.

.

A couple of years after the earthquake happened, and the island started sliding gradually into the ocean, Uncle Ross moved as much of the family as was willing to the mainland.

Most of the family went. I did too, at first.

(No, we do not subscribe to the conspiracy theory that fraking caused the earthquake, Dad showed me the numbers, how deep fracking happens, how deep the epicentre of the earthquake was, etc. I’d sooner believe that Mum’s family misunderstood something Mum or one of my siblings said, and decided to work geomancy or something crazy to wipe the island out of existence. Or drag it down out of the air, however you calculate that.)

But I always found myself returning home to wander, and to paint my landscapes, (Have I mentioned that I make my money selling paintings of the sea, and of dune grasses and such? I do. There, now I’ve mentioned it.)

Gradually my day trips changed into overnight camping trips, and then into whatever you call this, I’m living here again, my dress clothes and valuables are in my room at the new Family compound on the mainland. But most of my everyday clothes are here on the island.

I’m not the only one who came back or the only one who stayed, however you calculate that.

The island is two-thirds gone.

My family’s cove was more than halfway along towards the end that was first to slide off into the abyss.

The big bay where the town was, is probably going to be the last to go.

Many of the displaced live here.

Every time someone moves from the sinking edge into the village, I feel guilty for taking up space in this ghost town, because unlike them, I have a place on the mainland that I could be occupying instead. But I’m here, sleeping in a room that could be used by someone else who needs it more.

Except there is plenty of space. Everyone with the means has moved to the mainland, or to a more fortunate island.

Even those who have been slow to move, well there are other islands, the price of real estate might be a bit dearer than it might have been if they’d moved as early as Uncle Ross insisted.

But still, they’re leaving, fast enough that the town is still getting emptier over time, the port is merely a port in the storm, a stop on their way from moving out of their ancestral home, to wherever they are going next.

But still, I feel guilty, I’m here, taking up space on an island that is no longer my home. Walking the gradually shrinking perimeter, with my easel and paints.

Have I mentioned that I’m hardly painting landscapes anymore?

Mostly I paint the sea, either the calm sea on the lea of the island. Or the hungry, wild sea towards the abyss that is slowly eating the island.

Sometimes when the wind blows just right I feel a temptation to throw myself in and go looking for the house where I grew up, the couch in front of the telly, the warmth of my mother and her seal skin blanket.

But I know that it is not there, that couch and telly are on the mainland. Mum is either there or out in the sea harvesting seaweed or visiting her family. My siblings are the same.

It’s only me here, the humans passing through, leaving the island like rats leaving a sinking ship, except in slow motion (both the sinking and the fleeing). While the selkies, mum and my siblings, flow past me the other way, sometimes I think that I can feel them when they pass the island. Sometimes I know because they stop to greet me and sometimes stop for a while to watch me paint.

It is so strange because I know that I don’t have to choose. I don’t have to choose land, like the humans, and I don’t have to choose the sea like my mother’s people who I have never, or at least, very rarely ever met.

I could be like my mother and siblings and have both. But I don’t know how. I never learned the meditation that should grant me access to my magic and a seal skin of my own.

I was always pants at meditating, so I just sit here for hours and days and paint the sea.

[thorsenmark]

Turn Point Light Station by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: I could just image the view this people had from this point...open waters all around. And then they were in for a surprise show as several orcas made an appearance, for one heck of a show.

[charminglyantiquated]

So I’m currently designing a DND model for a shipyard, and I have no idea where to start. Vague plans include part of the bay being used to build ships, but what main things would you find at a functional port?

I am answering this SO late, sorry! Just going off some of the harbors I’ve spent time in (which is to say not all of them are 1:1 for DnD, but I’ll toss them in in case they spark any ideas) :

A ton of space along the shores of the harbor would go towards docks and piers, obviously - places for boats to stay while they’re in port. 

Related, mooring further out in the water, and landing docks for the small ships that get people to and from those moored ships.

Docks for local ferry services to nearby islands/short coastal trips, and their onshore facilities for people using the service regularly

Warehouses and the like to store the goods that come and go by ship, or for them to be sold.

Markets for those goods - even in the modern day, my hometown’s fish market is about thirty seconds on foot from the fisherman’s pier.

In a more modern setting you would probably include marinas for smaller private boats and also the much nicer luxury ones.

The obligatory waterfront bars!

Something like the Seamen’s Church might be neat - an institute offering cheap lodgings, resources, education etc. to those working on the ocean. They’re still operating today - my crew stopped in to take showers and do laundry during a transit.

A breakwater, ensuring the harbor has calm water.

Some kind of scenic waterfront walkway either connecting all of this or overlooking it.

In terms of natural features there might a small beach or two in an undeveloped part of the harbor, cliffs, or small islands in the harbor’s mouth or in the ocean beyond. You could also include a river or waterfall, with the harbor placed where it meets the ocean.

A lighthouse near or just beyond the harbor mouth.

In a lot of old port towns the working downtown area is very close to the waterfront, since that was the heart of the town’s industry. Along with the necessary businesses that kept ships repaired and stocked, there would be businesses catering to sailors with time on land, and possibly to tourists with money to spend on souvenirs, depending on your vibe.

Nicer homes would be up and away from the water, usually. Especially if there’s some kind of hill or bluff that offers a view over the harbor and the sailing ships. Don’t forget the widow’s walk (although the name might be apocryphal).

[schuylerpeck]

Hey, the clouds are distractedly munching on the mountains and I love you.

The sound of a breaking cord woke me up today, sudden unexpected note echoing in the quiet. It's not the first time, and for some reason it's always either at dawn or dusk. I don't really mind, maybe because I know I can find a new one easily, maybe because it's rarely a cord I use a lot, but I guess mostly because the harmonies that go with this little end are like no other.

Lately, the city doesn't know what smell to settle on: one day the slightly~sweet aroma of decaying leaves, the other the sharp and clean scent of snow, then the next one honeysuckle and warm asphalt. November seems, as it often does, like a turning point. Probably we'll get winter next but maybe, just maybe, just for once, we'll turn around for a second summer. How odd it would be! How wonderfully strange!

Still, I yearn for the crisp and clear mornings when the freezing wind slams the air out of me. Still, I long for the scent of smoke in my hair and the dancing flames in the chimney. Still, I hope for the wonky snowmen and laughing children.

And these are my three gifts for you today, for no other reason than we're here in this world at the same time: an unlikely event, a handful of hopes and an incomparable harmony. I hope you sleep tight, when night reaches you. I don't know you but I love you.

And to the anon who's been hurting, I hope you'll find comfort in all the little things, from the invisible roads of birds in the sky to knowing a stranger probably miles away doesn't know you but still loves you. Take care of yourself, one day at a time.

Hey, jazz is playing in the next room over and I love you.

the rain, a steady curtain, the wind, a barking howl. this morning, I woke in a cottage by the sea to hear the sky stirring overhead. from the yard, I watched choppy waves break into frothed foam. the ocean rising in fists against the bluffs. maybe it’s impossible to watch the treacherous cauldron the coastline becomes and not imagine a life spent tossed between the waves, salt-stained and slicked fish; heaving ropes and sails and tipping my body against the boat, the rocking bull under my feet. far enough away from the waves, with plans to leave in a few hours, I scurried back indoors, stripped off my wet jacket and socks, and curled up by the fireplace.

take me on a drive anywhere, and I’ll start piecing together a life in the miles between—the years spent as a regular in the windowless highway pub that markets fried cod and $3 beers; an evening shift working the gift shop at the lighthouse, watching families come in cherry-cheeked from the cold, eyes set on the fridge magnets that will hold grocery lists and electric bills when they go back home. would I call that an overactive imagination or a destiny for indecision? I do dream of folding my life into my arms and carrying it off somewhere new, but when I think about where I could see myself, it’s a wrestle with “everywhere.” do you see it too? the summers we tan ourselves working the farm stand selling strawberries in the countryside. a cramped corner apartment in a city that quiets under heavy winter snow. strolling a tiny beach town’s tired whale museum on a holiday weekend all the shops are closed. I think we look pretty wonderful, given all the countless selves running around every city and small town in sight. the memories we must keep, a library, I’m sure, is my gift to you, if for no other reason than we’re here in this world at the same time. I’m so happy to bring you with me, the more of the world I get to see and sit with. thank you.

I hope you sleep tight, when night reaches you, wherever you are; breath an easy tide in the coming and going of dreams. I don’t know you, but I love you.

[wanderlustwayadventures1]

Cape Cod Trip added bonus Maine and Rhode Island

4 Day & 6 Day Adventures

Trip 1 Cape Cod, Plymouth, P-town, Martha’s Vineyard

September Trip 2020 4 days

Stayed in an Air b&b at Yarmouth

Day 1 Plymouth Rock and Pilgrim Memorial State Park.

When the first settlers first stepped onto land here, they did so because of the protected bay. Early in the 18th century, nearly a century after the landing, one of their descendants identified a certain rock as the place of that first landing. The famed rock, which has been broken, moved, and put back together, now sits at the seashore protected under a classical columned canopy.

The Mayflower II the tall masts of Mayflower II rise above her decks, a reminder of how this all started. Built in England during the early 1950s, the ship arrived in Plymouth in 1957 and today serves as an important way to relate the tale of European settlement in America. As well as can be determined, the ship is a full-scale replica of the original.

Day 2 Martha’s Vineyard Daytrip

Steamship authority vineyard: ferries to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

We started at Oak Buffs were we rented an e-bike. The six-mile bike ride from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown is known for being a gorgeous and manageable ride, including riding over Jaws Bridge!

Oaks buff is known for its distinctive Victorian architecture with 300 colorful cottages designed to look like gingerbread houses.

We continued to Edgartown, with its quaint harbor complete with an 80-year-old lighthouse. A former hub for the whaling industry, admire the stately Greek revival mansions built by ship captains.

We Traveled along the idyllic countryside and small fishing villages. We then took a taxi the technicolor cliffs of Aquinnah.

The Aquinnah Cliffs – formerly known as Gay Head – is one of Martha's Vineyard's most-visited tourist spots, with bus and bike tours congesting the paved roads in the peak summer season. But the epic clay cliffs, which were carved by glaciers millions of years ago, are worth the trek. Visitors can explore the lower beach paths to see the cliffs up close and stretch along the sands at Moshup Beach. Or take the upper trails to the top of the cliffs to catch a glimpse of Gay Head Light and nearby Elizabeth Islands.

The Aquinnah Cliffs are part of the island's Wampanoag reservation and under special environmental protections to deter erosion.

Day 3 Cape cod waterways boat rental on swan river. Swan Pond River is Located right on the banks of the Swan River Cape Cod Waterways boat rentals offer four different boat models to choose from: Kayak, Stand Up Paddle Board, Canoe, and Pedal Boat rentals!

The Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, Massachusetts, was built between 1907 and 1910 to commemorate the first landfall of the Pilgrims in 1620 and the signing of the Mayflower Compact in Provincetown Harbor.

Provincetown

Provincetown is at the northern tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. P-town is known as a longtime haven for artists, LGBTQ. Numerous galleries plus restaurants, nightclubs, cabarets and specialty shops are clustered on and around lively Commercial Street.

Long Point Lighthouse 5mile Trail

Begin at Pilgrim first landing park, walk over a jetty for a mile towards long point. Follow the shoreline towards a lighthouse. The first light was built in 1827 and became automatic in 1952.

Day 4 Pilmouth Plantation

Plimoth Patuxet is a complex of living history museums in Plymouth, Massachusetts founded in 1947, formerly Plimoth Plantation

The largest of which is the 17th-century English Village. On ground carefully chosen to reflect the topography of the Pilgrims' original settlement, and following the same street layout, the village authentically recreates the reality of those hard first years in the Plymouth Colony.

The following year we did a 5 day trip in July 2021

Trip 2 Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Gloucester, Cadem Hills State Park, Arcadia, Rhode Island (Newport).

July trip 6 days 2021

Day 1 Yarmouth July 10

Plymouth Rock, Provincetown and Plymouth first landing

MacMillan Wharf, 450-foot-long MacMillan Wharf. Aside from setting off on ferries and sightseeing tours, it is a picturesque spot to amble along and gaze out over the bay, boats and coastline.

Day 2 Martha’s Vineyard July 11

Ferry/bus we took the bus to the bridge that was made famous by the movie Jaws. We rented kayaks and stopped at the bridge to view locals and tourists jumping of the bridge.

Day 3 July 12 Whale watching Trips to Stellwagon bank marine Sanctuary

It encompasses 842-square-miles of some of the most productive ocean waters anywhere in the northwest Atlantic.

While the frequent presence of Humpback whales, Finback whales, Right whales and sometimes other endangered whale species no doubt gives the sanctuary its public appeal and worldwide recognition, this marine sanctuary was created in order to protect all of the great diversity of marine creatures that depend on these waters for all or part of their life cycle.

The sanctuary was named after its principal geologic feature: a shallow, underwater sandbar known as “Stellwagen Bank.” There is more to the sanctuary than just Stellwagen Bank, however. The sanctuary encompasses many other equally important areas; most notably “Jeffrey’s Ledge” which is just to the north of Stellwagen Bank itself.

You can think of Stellwagen Bank as a huge, underwater sandbar that it is about 24 miles long, 3-5 miles wide at its northern end, and just under 14 miles wide at its southern end. It rises above the surrounding seafloor to a height the equivalent of an 11-story building, with waters on top of the Bank ranging between 65 and 120 feet in depth and surrounding waters being between 250 and 350 feet deep.

Geologically speaking “The Bank” is an underwater extension of Cape Cod and this can clearly be seen in maps of the seafloor. As you can see in the map below, Stellwagen Bank is situated directly between Cape Ann and Cape Cod, a location that led many fishermen to refer to the area as “Middle Bank.”

Cadem Hills State Park camp out

Located a few minutes north of Camden on U.S. Route 1, the park offers year-round trail activities and camping. Winter camping, in a rustic shelter, is also offered and available by reservation by calling the park. 1.1 out and back trail, renowned for the panoramic view of Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay from the top of Mt. Battie, which inspired Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Renascence," the park still inspires wonder in visitors today.

Mt Battie

Day 4 July 13 Hike & Acadia National park

After camping in Camden State park we stayed at an Air b&b right in town in southwest harbor, Me. It was 25 mins from Acadia National Park.

We did 2 trails, the first was a simply path along the coast call Ocean Path.

Ocean Path Distance 4 Miles out and back length of time 1.5-2.5 hours.

The second was Beehive loop Trail it is 1.4 miles , Strenuous hike, Length 1-2 hours. I do not recommend this for beginner hikers or young kids there are sections of narrow cliffs ledges and non technical climbs up metal rungs. My son was 5 at the time but we hike rock scrambles so he was trained well for this one. Def an amazing hike for advance hikers!

Day 5 July 14 Rhode Island

The next day we went back to Rode Island we stayed in an air b&b on a boathouse with such an amazing night view.

Day 6 July 15 Sunset mimosa Sail Newport

The next dat we drive 45 mins to Newport for a 75-minute sail highlighting 5 different lighthouses at the southern end of Narragansett Bay. few other points of interest around Newport Harbor and lower Narragansett Bay. We boarded the Schooner Adirondack II 80 foot turn of the century style pilot schooner.

For lunch we had reservations at the The morning Restaurant to enjoy New England Lobster. The Restaurant was located right in the wharf, with breath taking views of the harbor. I highlight recommend this restaurant!

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