Fire Island

Friday

A good number of our 15 campers headed off to Patchogue for the 7 o'clock ferry on Friday evening. Those traveling by car were stressed out in traffic, while those traveling by LIRR got to chill out watching geese grazing like bovines at the Watch Hill ferry:


Strangely, the ferry company did not accept reservations, and would not make any advance ticket sales (you pay only as you go on the ferry). But we all (or mostly all) made it, and those who did ascended to the upper deck. Here are Jonathan and Katherine on the ferry:

A starboard view:

A real-life Monet seascape:

The ferry seemed rather patriotic from this angle:


Descent from the Watch Hill ferry:


When we got to the dock, it wasn't immediately obvious where to go, but luckily all boardwalks lead to the campsite. (The group campsite was marked with happy face balloons, a theme for the weekend.) We immediately set to work pitching tents and avoiding ticks. This was another theme of the weekend - alternating layers of DEET and sunscreen.

First glimpse of the camp site:

View from the campsite at sunset:


Saturday

On Saturday, we awoke early and prepared a full breakfast (blueberry pancakes, eggs, sausages, granola, OJ, coffee, tea). Here are Suzy and Sai-Kit at the breakfast grill:


Later that morning, as the first waves of day-trippers arrived, 11 of us suited up for a canoe adventure with rangers Michael L. and Michael S.


Canoe #3 (Jonathan and Saffiya) is doing just fine, while my canoe zigzags from bank to bank:

The canoers take a break for swimming and chatting and group photos (it's great to be free of those pesky vests!):
Later in the afternoon we go to the beach to jump in the waves and relax on the sannd under several neighboring beach umbrellas. Here we have a study in polka dots: Fiona at the beach.

Another beach scene, late Saturday afternoon as people start leaving the island:


Saturday night Shishkebobs:

Determined to out-wait the mosquitoes:

Laundry time:

Marilyn with happy Redeemer group balloons:

Tents nestled in the group camp site:

Saturday evening sunset:

Stella at the dock:

Stella, Sai-Kit and Patricia by the visitors' center:

Duane, Patricia, Laura, and Stella:

Yum, roasted asparagus:

Beach path in the twilight:

Life guard chair rosy in the twilight:


The sunset gets hazier:

and hazier:
Last glimmers of the setting sun:



Finally, night falls, mosquitoes descend, and a jovial crowd boards the 10 o'clock ferry.