I met our crew on the dock. Note the cloudy gray skies behind us. The weather for the week did not look promising but we crossed our fingers and hoped the forecast was wrong.
Feeding the Shenny fish never gets old, for young people or old folks.
The three cousins have been soooo excited about another boat camp. The added attraction this year is the unsinkable Molly B! We trailered her to Shennecossett and planned to tow her to Napatree.
The crew joined Captain Papa to bring Molly B around.
Ready to go!
Kindred Spirit and Limerick joined forces for another Boat Camp. Don, Cindy and Charlotte, their granddaughter, made the long journey from Sea Cliff to Shennecossett. The kids were eager to see Charlotte again.
Off to Napatree! Our first experience towing Molly B behind Kindred Spirit. She behaved very well.
Our departure had to be mid-afternoon to match the best tide in the Napatree Channel.
We had just finished rafting the boats securely when Papa decided, with encouragement from four kids, that a ride in Molly B was a great idea. Everybody had a chance to drive before stopping for dinner.
After last year’s experience with morning sunshine waking up children who have predisposition to arise early anyway, Papa made black-out shades for the pilot house. Caleb sleeps there and he enjoyed the extra morning darkness. It also helped the girls to sleep until 7:00 in the salon.
Morning boat chores. Funny how doing chores on the boat is a fun experience for the kids. Just like Papa – he would rather do a boat project than a house project any day. 😉
Another added attraction for boat camp were the tubes to tow with the whaler. But who wants to wait?
It was not even 9:30 am and the kids were playing in the tubes while Papa enjoys his morning coffee.
There was no way to delay any longer so by 11:30 am all four kids piled into Molly B for tube rides. The less than ideal weather that week gave us an advantage for the tubing – no crowds out here and lots of room to play!
Caleb and Addie riding the waves.Charlotte and Ceci bouncing over the water.
All that tubing made the crew hungry – lunch in the cockpit.
After lunch it was off to the beach. We recreated the log photo from last summer.
The weather was quirky that week. Humid for sure, overcast at times, and then a reasonable amount of sunshine, too. I think it could have poured rain and this group would still have had fun.
Love this photo!
There were decent waves at the beach, but they were filled with seaweed and sand. Did that bother the kids? Of course not!
You can really see the dark seaweed in the waves in these photos. Ugh. Not my kind of water, but the kids did not care one bit. What a chore it was to wash and comb bits of seaweed out of their hair!
Is that Nana in the water??
Was that enough activities for the first full day of the 2025 Boat Camp? Of course not! Watch Hill holds outdoor concerts every Tuesday in the summer, so we took Molly B in and listened from the water.
“Caravan of Thieves,” a gypsy swing band was the musical group for the evening.
A trip into Watch Hill cannot be made without a stop for ice cream at St. Claire’s Annex.
All tucked in for the night. The moon looked over 3 boats, 4 adults and 4 children; all ready for a good night’s sleep.
Wednesday morning was overcast so we went fishing, another new activity for this year. Al and I know very little about fishing but thought it might be a fun thing to do from the Boston Whaler.
Nobody wanted to touch the sandworts so Papa had to do it all.
Let’s face it, for most people, fishing isn’t much fun unless you catch fish. No one caught any so we soon headed back to Kindred Spirit.
Back on the tubes! Thank you, Marcia and Dan for the loan of yours. Al found the other one on marketplace.
Let’s go ride the tubes again! This time I went along for the ride. In the Molly B, not on the tubes. With three riders and two tubes, we had to be sure to give everyone equal time.
Caleb and Addie, then Addie and Ceci, followed by Caleb and Ceci. And repeat ….
Riding the tubes can’t be captured in still shots so I took a bunch of videos. It does look like fun.
Ceci and AddieCaleb and CeciCaleb and Addie
To those people out there who think a Boston Whaler should be powered by 40hp, 50hp, and even 90hp – Not at all! This Suzuki 30hp is plenty of power for our 15-foot Molly B. We can’t imagine any reason to go faster than this. The Suzuki engine is also really quiet.
Lunch on the bow.
Cindy and Charlotte were shopping in Watch Hill that morning so Al gave Don the keys to Molly B to go and pick them up. Everyone loves “the unsinkable Molly B“!
And then it is back to the beach for our crew. All you need for a successful boat camp is the beach. Toss in Molly B and a couple of tubes – it is perfect!
I pleaded with them to stop for a moment for a photo. 😉
The teacher in me always has a Plan B in my pocket. I had a little beach scavenger hunt ready. They had fun running around and beach combing for things like various seaweed, creatures, stones, shells, and driftwood.
Can’t be at the beach without a bit of digging.
Limerick had to leave after dinner to start their 2-day journey back to Sea Cliff. Caleb, Ceci, and Addie gave Charlotte a song and dance send-off.
Speaking of serenades, our trio was singing all the time, from the flybridge, while crafting, everywhere! ❤️ These three songs became earworms for days after Boat Camp.
“I Want It That Way”“Cheap Thrills”“Country Road”
Thursday’s weather was going to be a bit wetter so we headed back to Shennecossett.
Pulling up the anchor, navigating through the channel and tying up in the slip. It did rain for a bit on the way back.
Back at the SYC fuel dock, we took on some fuel and had a pump out. Who knew having a pump out could be so fascinating? They even wanted to see where “it” was all stored in the boat after flushing. Of course Papa obliged the request. (Note for dirt dwellers – to pump out means “to empty your onboard toilet waste holding tank.”
Kindred Spirit was snuggled back in her slip, but we still had time to play. Let’s take Molly B for another spin before loading her back on the trailer!
Everyone gets more driving time, with Papa’s supervision.
Such serious faces!
Nana needs to refresh her whaler skills, too. Ceci took the photo.
When we went out for dinner, our crew received compliments on their matching t-shirts.
We stayed overnight at the dock. Friday morning was galley time! Caleb and Ceci wanted to cook their breakfasts. OK………..
Chef Caleb and his audience.
Caleb served his scrambled eggs to Papa and Addie, and then sat down to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
Ceci prefers to make (and eat) a cheese omelet.
After breakfast, there was time to play before boat camp officially ends.
What’s this???? Are they actually tired? Finally? Or are they playing possum?
Caleb and Ceci arrived at Boat Camp with artwork for us that absolutely demonstrated their anticipation for the week.
Addie gave us a thank you card for Boat Camp and her recent birthday gift.
It was a treasured and wonderful time together. We made memories that we will all treasure forever.
what a wonderful “camp” for everyone! looks like a great time, iffy weather and all. the pictures say it all…glad it was another successful camp season!
Prue Preston
Fun and great memories for the grands.
Mary-Jo Shultis
Wow! what a great time. you r a terrific organizer Your right memories fo a lifetime
Jeanne
Such awesome pictures and it’s obvious a wonderful time was had by all!!
Ellen Seltzer
what a wonderful “camp” for everyone! looks like a great time, iffy weather and all. the pictures say it all…glad it was another successful camp season!