theparkerfamily

second consecutive day on the water … this time on a “blow boat” with friends of the family (who are also my 59th cousins 326 times removed). we went out to the Isle of Shoals, a group of nine small islands about 7 miles off the coast of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine.

During the 1700’s, there was a town on the islands, Gosport, which was fairly prosperous up until about 1778, when the Islanders were evacuated to Rye, New Hampshire due to the Revolutionary War. The islands were then largely abandoned until the middle of the 19th century, when a popular summer hotel opened on Appledore Island. Currently, the only inhabitants are a Unitarian church retreat, and scientific research camp.

Having never been on a sailboat, it was quite an experience covering those 7 miles and back again. We were on such a beautiful 30-foot sailboat that I am shocked I didn’t get a single picture of the boat itself.