Off-Hike Weekends

I’m an addicted peak bagger living in southern New England. Since much of Rhode Island and Connecticut is flat as a pancake, most of my hiking takes me out of town.

I can’t travel every weekend, and just hiking would make Jack a dull boy. In the early 70’s Rhode Island dubbed itself “The Ocean State”. Its geography sports miles of shoreline, and many of us feel a connection having lived close to the ocean all our lives.

Lifeguard rescue boat, Middletown, Rhode Island, USA ©Lifeasjack.com All rights reserved.

I’ve owned small boats since I was a boy, but went through a dry spell (pun intended) for a while. On an off hike weekend, I decided I would satisfy my wanderlust by purchasing a kayak. I had a plan already, and a need.

Following The Lights

Being a list chaser, I set a goal to travel a bit around New England viewing and photographing the lighthouses along the coast. I think it’s a pretty common theme among photographers.Their existence can conjure thoughts of loneliness, solitude, safety and duty, among others.

Most Rhode Island lighthouses are the small “spark plug” variety, and didn’t separate keepers far from home. Nonetheless to be keepers was a job suited to a particular breed of men or famously in the case of Ida Lewis, women too. Oops, sorry I’ve wandered off trail a bit yeah?

I set out on my off- hike weekends to photograph some of the local lighthouses. It was working well, until I reached the point in my list that required me to get close to those offshore beacons. This is where the kayak came into play. I bought a relatively inexpensive inflatable kayak. I would travel to my destination, find water access, and launch the boat. I managed to hit quite a few lights locally and will post them here now and again. Eventually I gave up when the kayak blew out a seam. The following year I did buy a nicer one, but I just take it out now for a paddle at dawn in summer, when the world is quiet and the monster power boaters are still asleep.

Newport Harbor, Newport Rhode Island USA ©Lifeasjack.com All rights reserved.