Is it an accident?

Wednesday, June 30th, 2021 seemed to be a great morning.  I was up early and felt like a little adventure was in the cards.  I dressed quickly and head downstairs where I ran into TB working already at 6:30 AM EST.  We exchanged some pleasantries and I hopped on my fat tire for some adventure. 10.5 miles to Great Point Lighthouse.  In the immortal words of NE legend Tom Brady “Let’s F@&ing Go!”  Once I got past Topper’s resort restaurant I tried to ride in the sand but I am old and 1/2 the man I think I am.  I chained my bike to a random pole.  Off the bike and a quick hike to the Great Point Lighthouse.  Wrong again young blood, try 5 miles through the dunes and along the beach shore.  Several bad decision in my life had prepared me for this odyssey: all involve me overrating my ability and underrating the difficulty of the task.  Once I started I couldn’t stop.  The only people I ran into all morning was a nice couple hiking out to the Lighthouse as well.  

We had some company as sea lions seems to enjoy swimming just of shore.  They playfully flipped and dove around for their own amusement.

The seagulls on the other hand did not enjoy our presents on the beach near their nesting area at all between dive bombing the lady and trying to 💩 on me that section of the beach was a little more adventurous than the rest.

The lonely road to Great Point Lighthouse 

Great Point Lighthouse

Give me more pictures of Great Point Lighthouse.

Inside looking out

A plaque 

Lighthouse up close

Here is one of my sea lion buddies getting ready to take a swim.

The hike back was a little faster than the hike out but the bike ride back was a lot slower.  The couples at Toppers seemed a little uncomfortable when a sweaty dude comes wandering through asking for water.  After drink 6 glass this guy takes his shoes of on a bench outside and dumps out 10 lbs of sand from his shoes.  Then he gets on his bike and rides off, unbelievable.  All in I left at 6:30 and was home by 11:30 AM.  

The rest of the crew went to Dionis Beach for an enjoyable day of ☀️, spike all and beach life.

TB, Lara, Kari and I rode our bikes to The Galley for lunch.  Great spot on the beach with good food.

Lobster roll #3 was killer.  I could have eaten 2.

I managed to ride my bike home with TB, Lara and Kari.  The rest of the day revolved around relaxation and reading.

The kids came back from the beach and we decide to grill some burgers at home for the night.  The burgers were huge and delicious as was the salsa and the salad. One more full day on Nantucket.

Is this how reservations work.

Tuesday, 6/29 was another slow starting day.  The construction began well before most people wanted to get out of bed.  

Eventually everyone was up.  Kari and I had walked down to Nantucket for a coffee and a snack.  I was asking her about going to Black Eyed Susan’s a local breakfast sport here in ACK.  Almost at the exact same instant TB called  and wanted to know about our interest in Black Eyed Susan’s.  We walked over and first waited to give our name along with a crowd of other random people.  Eventually this lady would come out and call someone’s name.  There appeared to be no rhyme or reason to it.  People who appeared to have arrived after us had come and gone.  Eventually Kari asked and was informed “I took your name.  Your on the list and I will call it when I am ready.”  Eventually we got in and had a pretty great breakfast.  Omelettes, Huevos Rancheros and French Toast with cinnamon and some form of orange butter.  Very very crushable.

The girls all wandered around Nantucket looking in the mireade of Knick Knack and specialty shops.  TB and I stumbled across 2 young locals hustling tourists with the promise of fresh lemonade and homemade cookies.  The cookies were pretty solid.  The lemonade was probably Crystal Light but the girls were as cute as a button so we overpaid a little.

Once everyone was home and organized,  a group went to Surfside Beach for a little fun in the sun.  Eventually I hopped on my fat tire and rode out there.  Don’t know how you can have a headwind both ways to Surfside beach but I did.  

The old windmill

Everyone else spent the day relaxing, reading, playing cards and broadening there minds.  I have never been accused of that so I pulled a Forest Gump and “I just felt like riding.”  From Surfside I made it out to the Sankaty Lighthouse and then back to Nantucket.  I did stop at The Juice Bar for a lemonade and a cone before heading home.

Playing some cards and getting out of the sun ☀️ 

Sankaty Lighthouse

Sankaty overlooking the gold course

It is me, Sankaty and my green backpack… yeah

We sent a crew to Millie’s to grab some take out.  Little did we know it would take 1 1/2 hours.  In the end we ate some great food at home.  We were all certainly ready to go when it finally got here.

Waiting for Milles.

Lobster Roll time.  Very good and worth the wait.

After dinner we played a game of overrated vs. underrated hosted by me.  The format was stolen from one of my favorite Podcasts, Conversations with Tyler.

If it wasn’t enough to be awoken by hammers we were serenaded to sleep by sounds of a domestic disturbance next door.   Sweet Dreams kids, tomorrow is a new day.

Good day for a Jeep ride

Monday, 6/28/2021 just so happens to be Sophie B’s birthday.  Like most days on the island,  it starts slow and builds momentum from there.  

This morning we didn’t need alarm clocks the hammers and nail guns from the construction on the house behind us was a “peaceful melody” to awaken at least some of this crew.  A little walk downtown and some coffee for those who enjoy such things was a continue slow rolling start for our day.  

Eventually, we made our way to Cisco Beach.  Some were able to ride in the jeep and some had to bike.  

One party missed the turn and continued out towards Madaket Beach.  After about 3 miles they attempted to cut across on a sandy trail.  Unfortunately the misery only increased between getting stuck in the sand, stung by a bee and wondering if the ordeal was ever going to end.  Eventually our heroes crossed the sandy cut across and arrived on a proper bike trail.

A second smaller group left a little later a series of several wrong turns and a lack of patience lead them to the Quacker Cemetery.  Frustrated by the constant rerouting, the head and the leadership on one member of this expedition threatened to abandon the expedition and return to base.  Physical violence may have been threatened given the fact that this particular expedition leader caused his group to ride by the cemetery not once but three times.

Eventually everyone made it to Cisco Beach where we enjoyed some fun in the sun.  This included some nice beach reads, spike ball, a walk and some gently warmed beach 🌭.  From a Nantucket warm water bath to my stomach, delicious.

Not doing too bad.

Sophie and Luc

This spike all game was intense

Abby and Grace 

Kite surfing would have been brutal to learn today.  This guys was amazing to watch

Eventually we headed for home.  I became distracted and stopped at 167 Raw for some of the best Ceviche I have ever had.  Lime Juice, orange juice, red onions, cilantro and halibut.  So good so good so good.

The ceviche. 😍 😍😍

At 4 we all began calling Lola 41.  This is the restaurant that Sophie really want to eat at in her birthday.  Somehow we got a table for 11 so we cleaned up and headed  to dinner.

Dinner at Lola 41 was a  great a mix of sushi and more traditional dishes.  Everyone left happy and satisfied.  From there we walked to Brandt Point lighthouse for some family photos.  Most are good a couple might be great but we certainly took enough to fill up somebody’s cloud.  After that it was home for cake and bed.  Another great day on Nantucket.

Toro, Salmon and Tuna

Ashley and Sophie living the dream 

Butners by Brandt Point Lighthouse 

Anseths at Brandt Point

The Anseth sisters.  Lord help us all.

The birthday girl and this dude, Luc who keeps showing up in pictures with her. 🤔 

🐔 and 🧇

Sunday 6/27/2021 started slowly.  Everyone woke up at their own pace.  Kari and I went for a 4 mile walk in attempt to combine fitness and problem solving.  We accomplished one but we were unsuccessful on the other. 

Trips were made to the Fish and Meat market for coffee and breakfast sandwiches.  Eventually an expedition party was organized to settle on Steps Beach which is as about a 5 min bike ride from our residence.  TB dropped the girls off and I rode my bike over to check on them.  I rode down to Dionnis beach as well.  The wind was up so keeping an umbrella up for shade was almost an impossible task.  

Head to the Steps Beach

The Atlantic Ocean midday at Steps Beach

The Steps Art House edition

Later I returned with the jeep to retrieve the gear and the girls biked.

Sophie’s in the lead.  

TB, LB, Kari, Elle and I enjoyed some light reading around the pool.  As the girls get older and more independent,  what our family trips looks like continue to change.  The crew didn’t need much help from the adults today.

Beer and a book.  We aren’t doing to badly 

Selfie time.  I have been demoted.  Our teenaged children are now the expert selfie takers.

The girls getting ready for dinner.

Dinner was at The Company of the Cauldron.  Which I learned is run by Chef Thomas Keller’s brother Joseph. He was unfortunately out with a hip replacement but I offered my services for the next side.

The menu consisted of popovers, charred Caesar salad, waffles and fried chicken.  At the end dessert was a red  velvet cup cake.  The food was amazing and so was the conversation.  One of the questions was “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” The girls, as they enter adulthood, gave very calculated answers about their careers ,  pets, family and location choices they will face in the coming years.  The thoughtfulness of the answers was reassuring that they are, at least for now, on the right track.

Popover on its way to being devoured.

Chicken and 🧇.  They look great and tasted better.

The family at dinner 

The girls breaking things down over dinner.

My answer was more esoteric.  I just want to be curious in 10 years. Curious about the world, about questions big and small.  As you get older you see patterns in behavior and problems that make the world seem predictable and boring and I want to work hard over the next 10 years to stay curious.  

Low Key Saturdays

Saturday 6/26/2021 was a low key day on the island.  Most chose to sleep in a little bit.  Eventually everyone was up and about.  Katie, Kari and I went to check out the farmers market. Perhaps another culinary masterpiece was in our future.  The Nantucket farmers  market was more about artisans and their creations then about a collection of local food sources.  Some of the artwork was quite beautiful but I don’t think it would have tasted that great with salt and pepper.

The rest of the crew made their way downtown exploring Nantucket various shops and stores.  I think everyone in Nantucket must have a stake in a boutique clothing store.

My fat tire ride for the week.

We discussed going on the Natucket Ghost tour and that may still be in the cards.  

Ultimately, we hung out and played games. 

For dinner we had some steak and shrimp tacos and a steamed clam appetizer.  Overall it was well received by the masses.  Sophie made the guacamole and sautéed the shrimp.  I over cooked the streak but got the clams right.

Ingredients for your tacos 

Our favorite Sous Chef

The clams!!!! Look upper right and you can see as couple have already opened.

Ash and Elle hitting the taco bar

Some of the girls relaxing after dinner.

After dinner it was an intense game of lettuce bowl.  The most obscure facts coming from one Abby Butner.  In the end, two teams tie we all tie so everyone went to bed kind of happy.  

Can’t wait to see what Sunday brings.

Let’s run it b-ACK.

Well team 2021 is starting to pick up a little steam. The family had some in depth discussion about summer vacation and the consensus was that we should go back to a week in Nantucket.  The Anseth crew arrived on 6/24 and we hopped the ferry ⛴ to Nantucket on 6/25.  This process was relatively stressless for most.  However if you’re  a dad and you are parking the car 1.5 miles away from the ferry and there is not a shuttle bus driver and you have 8 minutes to get back, you will feel a little chest tightness.  TB and I called the wives and we planned on having Ashley and Sophie throw themselves on the gangplank and holler “we can’t be without our fathers!!!”  This wasn’t necessary because the shuttle driver may have been Cale Yarborough because we made it back with 2 minutes to spare. 

Private shuttle rides

The ferry ride takes about 1 hour to get to Nantucket.  Once on the island we found the rental jeep and the bikes.  We managed to get all the luggage packed into the jeep which was amazing.  We gathered some groceries and made a pasta dinner for all.  It was supper fun.  Everyone was working in the kitchen -cutting vegetables, making the sauce, seasoning the chicken or preparing the bread. 

On the ferry ride to Nantucket 

A little hydration 

Dinner is served

After dinner we all went to the Juice Bar for 🍦 

Outside The Juice Bar

Brandt Point in blue

Brandt Point again 

A little bike ride home in the dark made for some exciting times getting home.  Once home, a little relaxing time and then bed.  We will see what tomorrow holds for us in Nantucket