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Home My WebLink AboutJune 17, 2004 - A wet, not-so-wild weekend The Suffolk Times • June 17, 2004 we � � no -so-wl wee en � ,� ,�� ;,��;�,�'�,��!,��-, ' "�� ,�i� ,a,� . �y l:� �i lNI��N��iii� �/�ll/;i�l/��71�� pn��l� � illF��ll�li��ill�il,��u��,. « . �umNlO� -.. . . . � , � ��.. �/��„� � »... .. a i aNa�N�� H . �'7 .. . p� %� � Jr�, ��i �� I ,�y N i �I4.. .. ryl� �nr�� lh/ � � i� 4 r � " � �/ i. � � �f , .r . � � N,;� .,_ i ".,- a,,.�p.rvr..- !' 'n7��Nd�'�:M� � Mµd .:: ' � . p . �/�� N �' . I��p��ll �h�l� �� n�,;� , ,n� �r,,; ri� /��/'/ /' '�, �; � Times/Review pli��to by P�iul Sl:.e:� : .�;�. Of all the hundreds of skate cases picked up by people, few ever see what was inside. Here, luck was with us and we finally found one young skate that didn't have a chance to row to adulthood. BARaARA atvD I �EciDED to mix a ter we were sure we little theater with a short camping tri had a place for the night,we last week.The plan was to leave early headed to the fishing docks in on Sunday morning and head to Montauk to browse around and find a Hither Hills State Park in Montauk to place to eat lunch,but the restaurants see if there were any camp sites avail- weren't open yet.So we headed back able,and then drive back to Sag west and,on our way,pulled into the Harbor to the Bay Street Theater to overlook for a view of Gardiners Bay see Alan Alda in a play. on our right and the churning ocean Even though it was raining when on our left,near the campground. we woke up on Sunday,our plans What an experience it must have been were set,so we decided to follow for those who had to be out in that through.After all,we'd wild,untamed ocean. camped in rain before,but We decided to head for Sag Harbor this time we had a nasty and get some lunch on our way.We wind blowing out of the pulled into the place that advertises east.Since it was such a lobster rolls and had a delightful miserable day we figured seafood lunch with the best lobster therc'd be no problem get- bisque I've ever tasted.Looking out ting a site,and there wasn't. from the restaurant window,we could t �s unique and authentic museum. dently we'd done the right thing by The exhibits are so well done they putting the big stakes in—the tent remind you of something you might held.In no time I fell asleep.We woke see in the Museum of Natural Histor once or twice during the night to hear FOCu$ in New York City. the wind howling,but the last time we From there we stopped at that big woke it was settling down and the �N farmers'market just outside of town roar of the surf was gone.We hoped for no other reason but to wander we were going to have a change in the NATURE through and see the array of gourmet weather.And change it did,for when by Paul food,vegetables,breads,jellies,jams, we got up about 7:30 a.m.,the wind Stoutenburgh cheeses,fruits,vegetables and deli had swung around to the northwest. items they offer.Of course we had to The woods in back now protected us. buy a few little goodies just to keep us We had weathered the storm. going. The day that had been predicted to And then on to our play at Sag be not very nice turned out to be see the high radio tower to the north, Harbor.To sit 30 feet from Alan reminding us it had always been sort Alda,whom we have admired for beautiful.We decided to do some of a guidepost telling us we were near years,since his part in"MASH,"was exploring which we usually do on a ing the point.We recalled an osprey truly a great experience.When it was day in Monta�►k.We pulled up stakes, nest we used to look for about a third over we headed back to p�icked the car and headed east.First of the way up this`Biffel Tower"of Hither Hills State Park to stop,a geat breakfast to Napeague. sct u our little tent. � hold us while we trekked p This was a around.We pulled into As we drove along this stretch of This was a trip with few road,we saw perhaps 20 or 30 motor- birds to report or flowers tr�P with few Shadmore State Park,a cycles go by,reminding us of the great to be seen.There were birds to re ort �reat place to stop for a number of bicyclists we had seen ear- daisies along the sides oP p walk to the ocean cliffs. lier in the da when we left Cut- Or flowers to Further on we headed for Y the highway,along with a be seen � Camp Hero,now open to chogue.It was raining but rich variety of clover that • there were bikers all over we could see through our cars,bikers,horses and Mattituck.Their cars filled blurred,rainy windows.Russian o �ve �'alkers.We drove around the arkin lots at the an ooked at old bunkers and the P g was at its prime,honeysuckle was just radar tower,relics of World War II.It's school and at North Fork breaking out,and the creamy white just a delightful place to go for a day Bank.There must have been blossoms of the locust tree we spoke and take your lunch.There are picnic hundreds of bikers out for of last week were starting to fade. tables all over the place,lovely green the day,all in rain gear. With the windshield wipers working, lawns and a comfart station for our Once past that long we headed back to the park where y � convenience.We took a long walk stretch of South Fork road, the rain had become just a heavy mist. from one of the parking areas out to we were in Amagansett,and here we Puddles were everywhere and,as we the spectacular bluffs,where we took in the Town Marine Museum.It's turned into the campground,we could enjoyed the sight of the now-quiet in the building that once housed the see all the empty spaces where people surf rolling in over the rocks far Coast Guard,which patrolled the had pulled up everything and headed below.It's a hiker's dream. beaches during the era of sailing ships. home.We found a good spot and set Then,back in the car,we headed for In those early years they had few nav- up our tent.We put the car nearby to the lighthouse at the end of Montauk igational aids,and often ships would protect the tent from some of the Point and walked down to the beach, run aground on the outer bar and be wind and rain,and I used long stakes where we usually see men fishing beaten by the angry sur£It was the to keep it from blowing away like the below the lighthouse and along the job of the life-saving service to get a red balloon. beaches.We have often walked these breeches buoy out to the ship and Then I passed all the sleeping gear beaches and found the empty black- bring the survivors ashore. to Barbara as she organized things ish,leathery eggshells of the skate, The building was turned into a inside the tent.Once we were all called"mermaid's purses."With all the marine museum and,I must say,it's squared away,we took off toward egg cases I've opened over the years, one of the finest.Anyone interested in Montauk to have a nice dinner and only once did I ever find one that still the nautical world of surfinen,fishing, see the movie"Troy"we had been had the young skate enclosed in it. clamming,lobstering,whaling and told was so good.And,finally,back to The day had been delightful.And so shipwrecks should swing in and see our tent to settle in for the night. we headed home from a great few days We could hear the heavy surf just in Montauk,a wonderful place to visit. over the dunes.The rain had pretty Think of what we would have missed if well given up by then,but the wind we had Ict the weather sto us. whi ed the tent unmercifull .Evi-