Summer day trip
Destination: Long Island

What's out there?

Enjoying the ferry ride to Long Island

Summer weather is finally here and we wanted to take advantage of it. We decided on a day trip to a different destination. We decided to take the ferry to Long Island, since we had never been there, and wondered just what was on the other side of the water that we so often see, known as Long Island Sound. We boarded the ferry at Bridgeport, about an hour and fifteen minutes southwest of where we live. We reserved tickets the day before, to make sure we could get on, but there was lots of room. I think people are just not traveling as much as they normally would this summer, with the weather and also the tough economy. We made sure that we could take the dogs with us up above instead of leaving them in the car down below. I’m sure that would have been a little too scary for them, with all the noise of the engine, and the possibility of being too hot if left in the car.
The ferry ride was a great adventure for both Will and Emma. After the initial fright of the engine noise, they quickly grew accustomed to it and had fun up top. They both found little spaces in the railing to stick their nose out to smell the sea air over the Sound. I’m sure that Emma was on the lookout for any birds that flew by, not that she could do anything about them. Will got to meet a little puppy that wanted to play as much as he did. They had a little fun together for a while, but settled down to just enjoy the beautiful day at sea.
We landed at Port Jefferson on Long Island, about one third of the way along the peninsula. We got our bearings, and got some advice from a clerk at a store where I bought a map of Long Island and headed out. Our journey took us to the north fork, where we planned to catch a different ferry back to New London in Connecticut. We could have chosen to go to the south fork to visit the famed Hamptons, but didn’t think we could do both sides in one day, and wanted to do more than just ride in the car. There really is so much to see, so maybe we’ll just have to go back one day.
As we drove east, we could see the landscape change from a busy residential and commercial area to a more relaxed rural setting, complete with farms, beaches, parks, and loads of wineries. We stopped at one of the first wineries we came to hoping to find lunch as well as a taste of wine, but they didn’t serve food. The very friendly staff helped us find a good lunch, though, a little further along the north fork, right beside another winery, Peconic Bay Winery. Lunch was right next door to the winery, at a little take-out seafood place that also sold fresh local seafood in an attached store. We wondered through the winery next door, and then headed along the road east. Next stop was at a lavender farm, where they were just harvesting this years crop. Half the field was still beautiful purple blue of lavender, with the scent wafting through the air. We walked around the field and down the street to enjoy the scent and give the puppies some exercise. They really enjoyed getting out at every stop we made. They really are good travelling dogs and love to meet new people and dogs.
Our ferry ride back to Connecticut was a breeze - they were pretty experienced by then and loved the breezes up on the top deck. Another dog to meet, more people to greet, and the wind in their noses stuck between the railing. What more could two dogs want?

Lavender and blue hydrangea everywhere

Still picking lavender

Emma enjoys the view

Will watches the water

Will makes a friend