Amy and I are going away together at the end of the coming week to parts unknown, so we were unable to dedicate a full week to the Sutton experience, but my flexible work schedule allowed me to join in the fun for a couple of days.
With Irene bearing down on us, many of the island residents (including us) had their ramps removed, and there was some consideration that I might depart a day early.
Nay! In keeping with my ever growing legend, I decided to roll the dice and take my chances rather than cut the trip short or secure professional transport.
I awoke to fog, marauding bands of precipitating clouds, and distant rumblings at about 3:30 this morning while I lay in bed for the remaining two hours until my planned departure, wondering whether or not I’d have an opportunity to escape. Part of me relished the idea of getting stuck and witnessing the rumored 20 foot seas, but I also knew Amy was in desperate need of guidance and comfort at home in these uncertain times. 😉 So I did what any white hot studly knight would do – I saddled the F up.
The rain and fog offered a momentary lapse as we surveyed the scene, and while my dad and I dragged the dinghy down the beach to access the disconnected float and my faithful steed, it began to rain again hard. Things still looked about as good as we could hope so I shoved off and as I came around the point at the end of the island I could make out the faint outline of trees at the entrance to the harbor. It seems trivial to set the compass and aim for where you know land to be, but it’s easy to loose faith that you’re still on course when you can’t see anything. So I was relieved to be able to navigate by sight.
The sea was blessedly and eerily calm as I easily skimmed the surface at full throttle. I looked back at the island as the fog crept in behind me, filled with sadness but also kind of thrilled by the experience of the early morning flight.
Our contingency plan always involved bringing the little boat into the harbor to ride out the storm, and I was presented with a dock filled with with the boats of folks who enacted a similar plan ahead of us. As I wedged myself between several other boats to tie up, I decided to leap the remaining 2-3 feet to the dock and misjudged the distance by a few inches. The tip of my right shoe brushed against the edge of the dock on its way into the sea, but fortunately my fleshy torso anchored itself on the edge of the dock and I lifted my dangling legs ashore. I highly recommend the Salomon sneaker, by the way. After everything was said and done, my feet were still the driest part on my body.
I understand things are different elsewhere, and I’m told by people further south that higher winds are possibly incoming, but the rain has more or less petered out and Irene was much ado as far as I’m concerned. Still, glad to be home in time for lunch and a quiet nap with the wife.
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Goodbye?
8 responses to “sutton 2011”
Never saw 20′ swells. A little surge over normal high tide but just your typical coastal storm here. (Good to have you with us.)
Great pictures (as usual)!
So you didn’t get any of the end-of-the-world flooding?
We had a day of rain and wind here but mostly it was a non-event for us. We did get the earthquake earlier in the week, though, which was enough excitement for one week.
Thanks Joe! I wouldn’t remember this storm as being anything out of the ordinary for us. We didn’t even loose power during the storm, which is ridiculous considering how easily it seems to go out. It did go out in the middle of the night though, for no apparent reason. But across the border in Vermont it’s definitely going to go down in the history books. Lots of flooding over there, lots of destruction. They’ve apparently lost a few old covered bridges over in the Woodstock area that I know about and I’m bummed about that. We’ve had some washouts but nothing too bad.
Man, I was bummed we didn’t feel the quake. At least I didn’t feel it at work, but a friend said his place shook for about 30 seconds in the next town over. So it definitely sent waves up this way. I’ve still never felt a quake. How was it for you?
Good to hear that you didn’t have much impact from the storm. My parents were in Montpelier last night visiting my aunt & uncle, but apparently got out and on the road OK this morning, road blocks be damned.
The earthquake here was just long enough to figure out what was happening and start to freak out a little bit. I work in an old brick cotton mill on the second floor and the whole building shook for 12 seconds or so. At first I thought a truck had hit the building.
I was more worried about wind than water. Our house is on high ground but surrounded by very tall pines that take a beating better than they appear to have any right to. I have prophesied their falling and the resulting atomic suplex upon our house. Here’s a video of one of those bridges I was talking about.
This bridge is in Queeche, right by the Simon Pearce restaurant that sits on the river as well. That bridge happens to be just below a fall and sits at least 35 feet above the water, but maybe only 10 feet higher than the water above the falls. Still, that’s a lot of water. I think this bridge is damaged but the one further down the river is gone. At least that’s what people are saying. I’d think the restaurant is pretty well doused as well. Hopefully your folks will be able to get where they’re going. Northern Vermont isn’t quite as badly hit as the south.
I work in an old brick building as well. Perfect earthquake fodder.
My bad, the bridge below is the Taftsville and according to this video it’s till standing. But the Quechee bridge above is actually down. Or whatever. I don’t know. Stupid rumor mill. I’ll find out in person one of these days. It’s sad either way, these bridges are beautiful and the replacements are always ugly.
I think it’s one of the oldest bridges in Vermont. Third oldest according to this site.
To set the record straight: Amy was not in need of guidance and support. Amy was in need of Ben being home to fix things when they broke. Once Amy gets good at that, Ben…
Amy, sometimes words hurt.