Stripes Ahoy, and Other Nautical Finds

Hi friends…sorry I haven’t felt much like blogging lately. I’ve had this post in draft format and perhaps it is time to share. It seems any blogger worth her (sea) salt does a nautical post these days, and what better time than when we are fighting off the winter blahs?

Well I’m on the Downeaster “Alexa”
And I’m cruising through Block Island Sound
I have charted a course to the Vineyard
But tonight I am Nantucket bound

We took on diesel back in Montauk yesterday
And left this morning from the bell in Gardiner’s Bay
Like all the locals here I’ve had to sell my home
Too proud to leave I worked my fingers to the bone

So I could own my Downeaster “Alexa”
And I go where the ocean is deep
There are giants out there in the canyons
And a good captain can’t fall asleep

I’ve got bills to pay and children who need clothes
I know there’s fish out there but where God only knows
They say these waters aren’t what they used to be
But I’ve got people back on land who count on me

So if you see my Downeaster “Alexa”
And if you work with the rod and the reel
Tell my wife I am trawling Atlantis
And I still have my hands on the wheel

Now I drive my Downeaster “Alexa”
More and more miles from shore every year
Since they tell me I can’t sell no stripers
And there’s no luck in swordfishing here.

I was a bayman like my father was before
Can’t make a living as a bayman anymore
There ain’t much future for a man who works the sea
But there ain’t no island left for islanders like me

Song by Billy Joel

I don’t know if you’ve heard of One Kings Lane , but I’ve enjoyed perusing. You have to sign up (it’s free) and you have to not mind getting and email every day telling you about the daily deals. Most of these photos happen to be sold out but I still can drool, right? Plus, now I know about the work of Massimo Vitali , so anytime I need a virtual beach vacation, I can just take a peek at his wonderful work. And, um, his website plays ocean sounds.