“There’s no E,” I said. “I see D, F,  and G all in a line, but not E.”
“Hold on please; the Harbormaster just walked in; I’ll ask him,” said the young woman over the phone.
We are circling through an unfamiliar mooring field in Stage Harbor, Chatham, Massachusetts. Thank goodness Ginger Lee is nimble and well-behaved in close quarters.
“It’s near the shore,” the young womans voice came back.
“We just can’t find it,” I answer, and it’s the truth. The XO and I have done this many times: she stands on the bow with a boat-hook; I am at the helm; we communicate through our headsets; she almost always finds her mark. But sometimes a mooring float will sink, or disappear; it does happen.
The phone comes to life again: “Take the D instead. Sorry about the confusion.”
“That’s ok, no problem,” I say and bang a youie. The XO snags D’s pennant, drops it over the bitt and we are here! I meet her on the deck for hugs and a look at our new surroundings; It’s been a long ride from Martha’s Vineyard.

Mooring D and Ginger Lee.

It is a warm summer day. Not the raging heat like last year; it’s just darn nice out. After cocktails we load the bikes into the dinghy and head off to the dock, anxious to stretch our legs on solid ground.

The Harbormasters hut with an excellent outside shower, (lower left.)

Stage Harbor as viewed from the Harbormasters balcony.

The first order of business is to check in with the Harbormaster.
“How long can we stay on that mooring?” I ask.
“As long as you want; it’s thirty bucks a night,” was the happy reply.
“Well we’re certainly in no hurry to leave. Which way to downtown?”
“Take a right out of the parking lot. There’s a map over there,” she points to a small, grey, pamphlet stand. Susan plucks one out; the XO loves a good map.

Our bikes await.

Busy downtown Chatham.

We found the ice cream shop…

and the lighthouse that can be seen from both east and west shores.

Back at the mooring, we watch a couple of black seals as they chase down their dinner.
“If there’s seals, there’s sharks,” the XO reminds me, as she prepares our own dinner.
“We’re gonna need a bigger boat!” Darn it! No sharks today. Tomorrow, we plan to take a dinghy ride through the beautiful Oyster River. My wife has her heart set on sampling some local oysters; hopefully, we’ll find some there. As for me, I am so happy to be here, blissfully floating, enjoying the pleasure of her company, the warm summer breeze, and these calm Cape Cod waters.

Stage Harbor sunset.