On Island Time

We had just picked our Land Rover up from the shop and decided to waste no time letting her sit in the driveway. So naturally, we packed our bags and loaded in the car, shifting gears from office to island time. By noon on Tuesday, we were driving off of the Block Island Ferry and headed for the Oar to enjoy a leisurely seaside lunch. Sitting under the canopy of Oars brought Kiel back to the same scene 10 years ago, as he was dressed in an identical outfit - sweat stained, tattered hat and all. Our next stop was the bluffs, whose beauty took us by surprise as we stood gazing out over the misty ocean. That mist soon turned into a gale, but the cool rain only invigorated our sense of adventure. Winding along the road, we stumbled upon one of the Island’s best kept secrets. A tree covered walkway opened up to a rocky beach, tucked in directly under the bluffs. As dusk approached we walked along the beach, dipping our toes in the water. Some of the more reckless souls, perhaps accidentally, drenched their toes in the water. However, we can gladly say our KJP boat shoes withstand the life of a salty adventurer.

We started Wednesday morning with an outdoor breakfast overlooking the ocean, which it turns out isn’t the worst way to start your day. With no plans ahead, we spent the day cruising around in the defender, getting to know the downtown as well as the hidden pathways of the island. And while we all enjoy long walks on the beach, we further enjoy bouncing around in the backseat of the defender as we sped towards one of the island’s lighthouses. While our trip was a short one, it was the perfect amount of time to explore Block Island, find our favorite coffee shop, and our favorite skipping rock.

The Best Ships are Friendships

After reinvigorating our appreciation for nature, wildlife, and mattress pads, our Maine adventures continued on to the town of Friendship, Maine. Spirits were high as we wound through the tree covered roads that led us to the stunning ocean side cottage of Milicent Armstrong, the owner of Artemis Design Company. The following days were spent enjoying the classic Maine staples: lobster bakes on the beach, morning dips in the ocean, and lighting off sparklers into the night’s dark sky. Milicent’s Moroccan rugs, initially intended for Artemis products, doubled as beach towels allowing us to bask on the rocks in style. 

The Shark Wrestler

Our trip wouldn’t be complete without a visit with Nantucket’s legendary shark wrestler, Elliot Sudal (@acksharks). We were up bright and early, fueled with coffee and doughnuts from Downyflake. We arrived at the beach in 'Sconset to find that Elliot and his girlfriend, Marissa, already had one shark on the line. Once the shark was reeled in to shallow water, Elliot dove into the crashing waves, and pulled the shark on to shore. Following proper protocol,  Elliot tagged the female with a tracking device and recorded her measurements. He allowed us a few pictures with the incredible animal, but with her best interests in mind, he quickly released her back into the ocean. After watching the fishing rods stand at attention for what seemed like hours, our doughnut stock was depleted and our sugar highs were quickly falling. Suddenly, one of the fishing rods jolted forward, spiking our adrenaline. Elliot began to reel in another shark, and then handed Erick the pole to finish the arduous process. After bringing the shark closer to shore, Elliot once again dove into the water, emerging with another female. This shark, measuring a total of 75 inches long, was a stunning beast. Elliot studies the shark population of Nantucket during the summer, and travels to Florida in the winter, catching and tagging sharks off of Sanibel Island for the NOAA Apex Predator Program. No KJP Crew or sharks were harmed during our adventure - only a few waterlogged iPhones.