Well not strictly speaking Shelter Island as we
ventured off the island over the South Ferry into the territory of the
Hamptons. This is an anathema to traditional Shelter Island inhabitants. They write
to their paper decrying how the island should not be allowed to become like the
Hamptons.
To me it was obvious as soon as we stopped at the
first village Sag Harbor for coffee. There was a certain chicness about the
place. Everybody was just too well dressed and the shops were just too trendy.
Any way I digress, as our destination today was Montauk and the lighthouse
right at the tip of Long Island.
The lighthouse was built at the command of George
Washington, and you can see why as the rocky promontory must have been a magnet
for both coastal ships and those plying the North Atlantic seaways. As is the case
with most lighthouses there was the opportunity to climb to the top, though
because of extreme safety precautions you were only allowed to peer out of a
fenced door.
The exhibition in the lighthouse was very interesting;
as well as telling of the life of a lighthouse keeper (lonely) there it retold
the history of some of the shipwrecks and the growth of the town and harbour of
Montauk. The town grew because the fishing grounds here are some of the richest
of the East Coast. As well as commercial fishing the town became a mecca for
sports fisherman. So much so that the Long Island Railroad ran non-stop
fisherman’s trains non-stop from New York city, the fisherman were disgorged
directly to waiting boats. On return they could place their catches into
specially converted wagons full of ice. The trains allegedly then ran at
thrilling speeds back to the city to get the fish fresh to the table. So in the
early years of the 20th century a new resort was created using
fishing as its cornerstone.
This evening we ventured on the North Ferry to eat in
Greenport, a stunning sunset picture can be seen below.
No comments:
Post a Comment