Rockport, MA

Based on the weather, we decided to go directly to Rockport, MA yesterday rather than the Isles of Shoals.  Good idea, as the weather (i.e. wind) was really picking up by the time we got in.

Nearing Cape Ann, we watched a schooner sailing out of Gloucester.

As we approached the mainland of MA, heading for Rockport, we passed the twin lighthouses on Thacher Island.  The island, named after Anthony Thacher, is located in perilous waters, where there have been many shipwrecks. With the large number of shipwrecks around this area, there was a petition sent from sea captains to erect a light on the island. On April 22, 1771, the provincial government authorized construction of two lighthouses on the island. The lights went on December 21, 1771.
Although these lights were valuable assistance for the fishermen and sailors of the sea, there was a strong feeling among the townspeople that the lighthouse was helping the British fleet more than it was helping the Patriot cause. This feeling increased after hostilities erupted with the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill.  Early in July 1775, Dr. Samuel Rogers of Gloucester led his company of minutemen to the island. There they destroyed the lights, and brought the keeper, his family, and his assistants back to the mainland.

A few miles further and we assed the Straightsmouth Lighthouse and her maintenance building. Straightsmouth Island Lighthouse was built in 1835 to mark the entrance to Rockport Harbor. The relatively small lighthouse is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. However, Straightsmouth Island is owned by the Massachusetts Audubon Society as a bird and wildlife sanctuary. 

Luke got several good panorama shots of the Rockport area.  The first is the jetty protecting the small town.

Next, the inner harbor area of the old town,

And then the overall view of the entire Rockport area, including her harbors.  Latitudes is anchored in the second harbor, the smaller one on the upper right part of the picture.

One of the main attractions of Rockport is "Motif 1", an old fishing shack that is said to be the most photographed and painted fishing shack in the US.

As picturesque as it is, this is still a boating harbor and there are plenty of boats moored in the small harbor.

Like my watercolor version?

 

No, No, I didn't paint that!  But thanks to friend Connie, I have a new "water color" App on my phone!

 

Luke couldn't resist pictures of Motif 1

 

 

I liked this version of a no parking sign.

 

 

Getting to shore is a bit of fun here - there is a 9 foot tidal range, which means huge differences in the heights of docks and the shore.  It's a literal climb up a straight ladder from the floating dock to the shore.

 

 

It looks a lot further from the top...

 

 

I will leave you tonight with this beautiful picture of the first "strawberry moon" in 68 years.  A strawberry moon is a full moon that occurs on the first day of summer.  Welcome to summer!