on the street - refueling

Horseneck Beach State Park

Wesport, MA

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The last 4 months have been busy ones; wonderfully challenging, often nerve-wracking, and yet quite enjoyable. Last June (it seems so long ago!) I set myself some lofty goals and I am happy to say that I reached each one.
Yes, I am actually taking a moment to pat myself on the back..... just a moment.

And now it's time to write the new goals - for the week, for the month, and for the balance of 2014.

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However..... first I needed to empty my brain, breath deep, walk slowly and refuel.

Our new "POD" 

pure bliss in (way) under 160 sq ft!

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We headed out to Horseneck State Park for 3 days of camping/relaxing at the ocean. Horseneck State Reservation is @ 600 acres of barrier beach and salt marshes facing Buzzard's Bay. There is a paved trail for walking and biking from the public beach along the dunes to the state campground. The campground is situated on the edge of a wide beach strewn with tumbled rocks and large bleached clam shells. Facing south and open to the sea winds, the campground can feel a bit exposed - but it was the perfect spot for us this time.

We planned this little camping trip for a number of reasons - most of which were for the change of venue/relaxing aspects - but also we wanted to try our hand at "dry camping" - no electric or water hook ups - to see how long our on board water, propane, battery etc. would hold.
An experiment in tiny living.
The weather was stellar the entire time we were there. The first day was clear, sunny, and extremely windy - white caps on all the waves and a horizon filled with both wind and kite surfers! It was spectacular to see.

Once we were situated in our camp site, we walked out to and around Goosebury Island, a small, rocky island of low vegetation. The island is connected to the mainland by a short causeway that separates Horseneck Beach and East Beach. The island is uninhabited now, althou it was used mostly for grazing goats at the turn of the century and did have some small summer cottages up until a hurricane in the 30's.
There is one trail that runs up the center of the island and, of course, the entire perimeter of rocky beach to traverse and explore. The low lying brush is filled with rose hips, sumac, goldenrod, and various thorny thickets and berries. Looming above the vegetation are 2 towers - leftover remnants of WWII that have now simply become canvases - other than that it is only sky, sea, and distances seen beyond.

One can see Cuttyhunk off in the distance (@ 6 mi away).

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Abandoned WWII outposts
Gooseberry Island

Low vegetation at Goosebury Island
Wesport, MA

Looking back toward Horseneck Beach from Goosebury Island
Westport, MA

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The following morning, almost cloud free, sunny and calm, we set off along East Beach to Westport Point and then headed out to explore further along Buzzard's Bay. We stumbled upon Allen's Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, over 600 acres of protected beach, fields, woodlands, ponds and marshes. We walked the Beach Loop Trail which took us along Little Beach - which definitely was NOT little and looked more like the barrier beaches of Sanibel than New England - and then inland along Allen's Pond and the salt marshes.
It was a beautiful walk - maybe 7 miles - and we were rewarded with finding a small bayside restaurant, aptly named The Bayside. A couple of refreshing and delicious beers from Buzzard's Bay Brewing (just down the street in Westport) and a tuna salad sandwich made the last few miles back to the campground an easy stroll.

Little Beach

Wesport, MA

Allen's Pond Wildlife Sanctury

Westport, MA

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So how did the experiment work?

Our fresh water lasted for 2 showers each, all the kitchen clean ups, and bathroom needs - with some to spare. Food was simple - we had brought along some soup, bread, yogurt (all made at home) but we did use the stove each morning for coffee, eggs, and grilling toast. And one night we made pasta and a stove top chicken parmesan.  Based on the modest cooking we did, our propane and battery needs did not drain us either. Because it was so temperate we did not need any heating power on this trip so we will need to test that on another late season getaway. Without an electric hook up our phones were easy to charge using the cigarette lighter in the van, however, we learned that iPads will not charge that way.....

We were also able to think about things we would like to have along with us on future trips - our bicycles, better outdoor chairs/cushions, bath mat, tablecloth, additional kitchen needs, warm gloves, and possibly some changes to the lighting. We will add these for our next trip .... which is already being planned.

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All around the trip was a success!
We woke with the sun and wandered for miles every day, relaxed, watched butterflies and birds along the shore, collected shells and rocks, sat on abandoned chairs left on the beach, talked, enjoyed each sunset, cooked, read by the light of the iPads each evening, went to bed early and slept oh so well.

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Sunset
Horseneck Beach

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