Book Group Read

Enjoyable but would have benefitted from editing.

Goodbye Shelter Island

Until we meet again.

Wades Beach

We chose Wades for our last day on the island.

Shaded by an umbrella and cajoled by the warm water and and summer breeze

the hours in the sun were easy and pleasant.

We packed a bag of BLTs, potato salad and local peaches to stave off afternoon hunger.

Inching towards returning to LA, I soaked up more than the rays.

I bottled the tranquility for a day in the future when my soul needs a dose of summer bliss.

To be a Local

In my early 20s I had a summer share in Newport, RI.

A summer ritual was ferrying over to Block Island

with our bikes and touring the island for the day.

I hadn't thought about those experiences for decades.

Riding around Shelter Island on a bike brought the memories right back.

I can't specifically recall the streets or main part of the town,

but the specificity of the adventure was vivid while my bike wheels hit asphalt on SI.

Starting to crave a month in a place like this where the pace slows way down
and an abundance of nature is my daily companion.

I'd like my main mode of transportation to be a bicycle.

A day wouldn't pass without a salt water baptism.

The faces at the beach and IGA would become more and more familiar,

and I'd start behaving more like a local.

Greenport

Teenagers equal languid leisurely mornings.

A run to the farm stand led to a batch of blueberry muffins

before they even stirred.

Breakfast, a toss in the hammock, a glance at the news headlines while sipping coffee:

unhurried morning moments.

The afternoon was spent exploring Greenport

followed by a sunset swim at Sunset Beach.

The week is going too fast.

Please slow down.

Water Babies

A day of Kayaking and swimming with a finale at Sunset Beach.

Rained Out

Every beach vacation should have a rain day 

with booming thunder and electrical patterns lighting the sky.

Today's storm broke the heatwave and gave us an excuse to lounge

watch movies, eat pizza, pour over a puzzle

and take a long walk when the rain drops were set on pause. 

Day Three

East Hampton, art and an electrical storm.

The Peconic

The only way to beat today's heat was to be in the water.

We chose the tranquility of Shell Beach for our first full day on the island.

We're on Vacation

Lauren and Vincenzo's wedding in Northern NJ became our anchor for a week on Shelter Island.
When we planned the trip months ago we did not anticipate a crippling heatwave
and high humidity.
After two days of wedding festivities we were looking forward to the quiet and calm of Shelter Island.
But first we had to get there.
Long Island highways are notorious for traffic jams
 so we were expecting the worst on a Saturday in July.
We pit stopped in Washington Heights for brunch with dear friends in Fort Tyron Park
and ignored the ribbons of sweat dripping down our bodies.
Next stop LaGuardia, a construction site, to pick up two monkeys from Denver.
The timing and coordination could not have been better and the traffic gods were looking out for us.
It was smooth sailing to Greenport's lush farm stands and rows of grape vines.
We drove right onto the ferry and embarked on the ten minute ride to Shelter Island.
Surrounded by water, gulls and green hills we were greeted by an understated current of summer.

Lauren and Vincenzo's Wedding