It’s an ambitious plan to be sure: cruise to Point Judith in one jump. Oh it can be done. No doubt about it. But why? Sure, the weather is nice, and the waves are not a problem at all, but by the time we pass New Bedford we are so many hours into the trip we start looking for a spot to spend the night. I bring up Point Judith on the GPS and it says it’s about four hours away at our present speed.
“How ’bout Clarks Cove? I suggest. (Between New Bedford and Pandaram.)
“I think we should go a bit further,” the XO counter-suggests.
“Barney’s Joy?” I counter-counter. “It’s supposed to be pretty good.”
That doesn’t seem to fly either.
“Lets go to Westport,” I say. My wifes eyes light up!
“That’s the ticket.”  I pick up the phone and dial F.L.Tripps marina.
“Sure. We got plenty of room. Just pick up any mooring with a yellow ball attached to it,” the guy with the Scottish accent says.

Horseneck Beach

Leaving Gooseberry Neck to starboard and the treacherous Hen and Chickens to port, we scoot past Horseneck Beach, wind our way through the well-marked scenic channel, and pick up a mooring as near as we can get to the age-old F.L. Tripps facility, figuring it’s better boat watching potential.

Little cottages along the channel.

Sweet little McKenzie Cuttyhunk.

The XO wields the spyglasses.

The 4 MPH current here whips everyone around 180 degrees every tide change, making it really bad for anchoring. But fear not young boater, Tripps always has a mooring for you, and the setting is absolutely gorgeous. It’s always a safe, quiet night and the staff couldn’t be friendlier. Great showers, coin-op laundry, book swap, marine store, and a pump-out that comes to your boat makes F.L.Tripp worth every penny of the  $47.50 they charge. Unfortunately they have nothing in the way of provisions, but the last time we were there they offered to drive to the nearest store and pick up a list of things we needed.
For supper, we grill pork chops and carrots brushed with olive oil while  listening to the Red Sox on the radio.

I wish we could stay longer, but the marine forecast is pretty good, and there is so much unexplored territory we would just love to experience. So at the crack of dawn, or as the XO says, “Oh-my-God-o’clock”, I fix her a strong cup of coffee and gently wake her with soft kisses on her warm forehead.
“Coffee’s ready sweetheart,” I whisper.
“Okay. I’m getting up,” she says softly.
In ten minutes or so, we will be off on another adventure, taking full advantage of our beautiful New England Summer weather.

The beauty of Westport