Warming Up

With only three Saturdays available in New England with Steve this summer, we are determined to use each and every one wisely. So after a morning of yard work that just couldn't be ignored and an afternoon of piano performances, we tossed the beach chairs and sand buckets into the car and headed to Cape Ann. 

We arrived in Gloucester at five, just as the snack shop was closing and the parking attendant was locking up. We timed it perfectly! The crowds were heading off the beach, just as we headed on. (And parking was free!) We flipped off our sandals and slipped off our clothes.

 

Emilie, Jonathan and Annelise grabbed their nets and headed to the tide pools. 

Sophia and Ezra stayed close, digging their toes in the sand, filling buckets with water and chasing the birds. For the next three hours, we caught crabs and dug for sand dollars, built castles, and watched sail boats. 

The tide was as far out as it could go and the highlight of the evening was wading to a sandbar that was suddenly exposed. We had a new little island, almost all to ourselves. We played until dark, loaded up the car and headed to a nearby fishing village to look for dinner. 

                        

We settled for Top Dog's, a gourmet hot dog joint. (According to them, the best  dogs in America! How could we pass it up?) Steve ordered the German Shepherd Dog, a hot dog with sauerkraut, I ordered the Blood Hound Dog, one with BBQ sauce and grilled onions, and ironically, the kids ordered clam chowder. Afterward we found the cutest little ice cream shop perched out over the sea. Our little jaunt North proved worth every effort!