Apr 7, 2009

Orient Point

We took a spin out to the very end of the North Fork, Orient Point. The eastern-most building is a cable house from which electricity is sent to the Orient Point Light known as the Coffee Pot.  A mile or more beyond the light and across Plum Gut sits Plum Island which has been the home of the Plum Island Light established in 1827 and an animal disease research center since 1954.  Only research personnel and staff are permitted on the island.  They commute by the center's ferry.

In the 4th photo the water was very turbulent and carried sand west in a sand line to the edge of a rip.  I've never seen it so distinct.

A half mile west of the cable house a Cross Island Ferry was being boarded by cars, trucks and bicycle riders all heading to New London, Connecticut.   Reservations are needed and if some folks are getting late they'll drive with no regard to speed limits or much of anything else. Some locals sport bumper stickers that state "I don't care if you're late for the ferry!"   Very early morning returnees from Connecticut's Mohican Sun Casino often end up in a ditch or worse after a night of gambling and drinking with no sleep.  Good time to stay off the road.

Orient Beach State Park is open to anyone at no charge during the off season.  It hosts many bird species and is a waypoint for migrating birds in the Spring and Fall.  Newly arrived ospreys, our sure sign of spring, were repairing the winter damage to their nests here and there.

On our way back home we stopped in East Marion to see how the lavender farm, Lavender by the Bay, was doing.  The bees will be busy very soon.

Cable House

Coffee Pot Light

Plum Island Light

Sand Line at the Rip

Cross Sound Ferry

Orient Beach State Park

Weekend Warriors in the Park

Lavender Farm in Early Spring

Lavender Hives