On the Cove

Artists of Lanesville - WALKER HANCOCK, Sculptor

2011-04-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

This excerpt is from A Village at Lane's Cove by Barbara H Erkkila recently reprinted and available through Ten Pound Island Book Company. Barbara was the best chronicler of Lanesville and also authored the book Hammers on Stone-The History of Cape Ann Granite available in bookshops around Rockport and Gloucester, and The Cape Ann Museum giftshop.The range and variety of Walker Hancock’s

In Gloucester, a gathering place scattered all about

2011-01-09T17:00:00.002-05:00

The Boston GlobeIn Gloucester, a gathering place scattered all aboutStorm leaves hole in a sea wall, and in a city’s psyche(Joanne Rathe/Globe Staff)By David RattiganGlobe Correspondent / January 9, 2011Days after the late-December storm that had damaged part of the Lanes Cove sea wall in the Lanesville section of Gloucester, a steady stream of local folks stopped in to have a look.Rick Paolillo

A piece of history crumbles

2010-12-29T15:36:00.002-05:00

December 28, 2010A piece of history crumblesPhotos.By Richard Gaines Staff Writer The Gloucester Daily Times Tue Dec 28, 2010, 11:19 PM ESTThe Lane's Cove seawall, built at a painstaking pace — 14 years from conception to dedication in 1842 — has persevered through a most unstable history for locally cut granite blocks weighing five to eight tons each.The thematic history of the seawall, to be

Lanes Cove Bluefish Tournament - 2010

2010-09-13T08:59:00.002-04:00

It was a beautiful day for the Bluefish Tournament this year.Gloucester Daily TimesSeptember 10, 2010Lanes Cove bluefish event one for the agesEbb & Flow By Peter K. Prybot Fri Sep 10, 2010, 10:56 PM EDTGood weather, catches, participation, organization and execution made last Sunday's 22nd annual Lane's Cove Bluefish Tournament flow like never before.The tournament officials even frequently

Lanes Cove - A New Destination for Overnight Boaters

2010-07-25T14:58:00.002-04:00

Seems recently we've been getting boaters coming in on weekends and rafting up at the dock in Lanes Cove and staying overnight. They've even set up a tent onshore! I know that Lanes Cove is one of the best spots on this side of the Cape and it looks likes some other folks have discovered it to. Hey, what's not to like--plenty of free parking for your friends, gorgeous scenery, no pesky

Beautiful Weather for April

2010-04-05T08:46:00.002-04:00

The weather was just beautiful this weekend, and is predicted to continue for the next several days. After the wettest March on record, things are greening up and budding all around. Of course this is New England, where fierce snowstorms are not unusual in April, and I once lost a bet that it wouldn't snow in May. Often times it feels like we never get a true spring--or at least not until June.

Christmas Eve on Lanes Cove

2009-12-24T21:29:00.002-05:00

I must admit that I've neglected my blog about Lanes Cove. Like so many of us, there are many other things vying for my time. One of these is the number of computers it takes to provide the two camera feeds, a weather feed, plus one for a ham radio Internet to RF (radio frequency) link known as Echolink. Try keeping four computers running 24/7 sometime.This is the lowest depth as far as sunlight,

Artists of Lanesville - GEORGE DEMETRIOS

2009-10-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

Sunset on Lanes Cove

2009-09-21T13:57:00.001-04:00

The sunsets are now racing south along the horizon and soon they will set behind the hill (toward the left), where they will remain for several months.

Essex County Chronicles: Tiny Cape Ann village became a big draw for artists

2009-09-21T11:57:00.001-04:00

The Salem NewsEssex County ChroniclesJim McAllisterSeptember 21, 2009 12:03 am—In the basement of the Cape Ann Historical Museum in downtown Gloucester is a room dedicated to the works of the many sculptors, painters and textile artists who practiced their craft, summers or year-round, in that far-flung corner of the city known as Folly Cove.Folly Cove is actually part of Lanesville, which was

Artists of Lanesville - PAUL MANSHIP

2009-09-19T10:32:00.000-04:00

Bluefishers happy despite weather, low catch figures

2009-09-19T08:30:00.002-04:00

Gloucester Daily TimesEbb & FlowPeter K. PrybotSeptember 11, 2009 10:08 pm—"There weren't a lot of fish caught, and the weather drove a lot of people away."So explained Don Peavey, one of the annual Lane's Cove Bluefish Tournament's officials and founders.But despite those negatives, participants did leave last weekend's 21st annual tournament happy, especially for winning a prize or just getting

Late-night rowdiness dampens great Lanesville holiday

2009-07-15T08:56:00.000-04:00

Late-night rowdiness dampens great Lanesville holidayEbb & FlowPeter K. PrybotOrganizers of the second annual Lanesville Emergency Action Program's July 4 Extravaganza and the 18th annual Lanesville Fourth of July parade and bonfire treated thousands of locals and out-of-towners to separate, superb Independence Day celebrations.Remarkably, the weather did its part with a sky showing its infinity

Mediocre Weather, Beautiful Location

2009-06-14T19:50:00.002-04:00

I have to admit that June is a pretty iffy month for weather here on Lanes Cove. It seems like we've had a lot of rain and the temperatures have been cool (50's & 60's). I guess I shouldn't ask for too much--we are getting some very lovely sunsets. The Cove is full of boats and the kayakers from Discovery Adventures are starting to go out. All-in-all, it is still a very special place.

Pleasant Weather for a Little While

2009-02-16T20:49:00.002-05:00

So after some nasty snow and ice storms this winter, we've had a nice thaw in the last couple of days. Much of the snow is gone, just those piles that seem to linger in their ugliness. Andrews Street had been pretty treacherous at times. A little over a month ago we had an ice storm that stranded us here in Lanesville. A fire engine that was sent out on a medical call got stuck on Washington

What a Way to Start a New Year

2009-01-01T12:20:00.002-05:00

It was downright chilly here--around 10ºF with 40 MPH winds. With those kind of conditions, sea smoke is common. Funny thing, we had just returned from Iceland where the temperature was more like 35º to 40ºF.

Winter Wonderland

2008-12-21T14:31:00.002-05:00

The nice thing about New England is that we have four real seasons. I grew up in Florida, and there they have spring and summer--that's it. Fall has been beautiful, but now it's time to get down to real weather and we are getting the first of some decent snow. It is always amazing how the color goes out of the landscape at this time of year--we now have a study in gray and white. We've gotten

Bluefish tourney hooks pleasant memories

2008-09-05T09:03:00.000-04:00

Ebb & FlowPeter K. PrybotSeptember 05, 2008 09:52 pm—Although the 20th annual Lane's Cove Bluefish Tournament tired legs, tested tenacity, and didn't break records, it was well-attended by well-behaved participants and well-executed by officials who learned from last year. Furthermore, a new piece of equipment proved critical, the top bluefish yielded its harvester nearly $200 a pound, and a

This Has Been a Cool Wet Summer

2008-08-21T08:06:00.003-04:00

August, and this summer in general, has been especially rainy. We have had spectacular thunderstorms throughout the summer, and my grass has never looked greener in August.We are getting near the end of summer, and that means the Lanesville Bluefish Tournament is coming up. Held traditionally on the Sunday before Labor Day, that means this summer's tournament falls on August 31st. Good luck to

Street Cleanup

2008-08-19T08:10:00.002-04:00

Noticed this morning that there were four city DPW employees with brooms sweeping the sidewalks and curbs in Lanesville. This was completely unexpected--and very much welcomed. I have a pet peeve--there are a lot of weeds along the sidewalks and curbs on Washington Street (and I image most other streets), probably encouraged by the wet summer we've had. It looks bad and if the owners of the house

Flatrocks Gallery

2008-07-20T08:18:00.002-04:00

Flatrocks Gallery is a new gallery located at 77 Langsford Street, just down from Lanes Cove toward Folly Cove. Started by two local artists, Anne Marie Crotty and Cynthia Roth, it is a gallery dedicated to artists of Cape Ann. Personally I believe there is a preference for artists around Lanesville, which is a good thing. Flatrocks gives a permanent venue for artists here, sort of a continuous

Fish Count

2008-07-19T09:12:00.004-04:00

It's pretty easy to know when something is happening on Lanes Cove--usually there are a lot of cars that show up together. It's not unusual for a group to descend on us--we had kayakers come is frigid weather to test out their capabilities in cold weather. Today it was a group from the United Divers of Central Massachusetts participating the the Great American Fish Count, sponsored by the New

4th of July Celebration in Lanesville

2008-07-04T22:00:00.001-04:00

Here is the article from the Gloucester Daily Times:A gala celebration in LanesvilleBy Peter K. PrybotJuly 12, 2008 05:35 am—The 17th annual Lanvesville Fourth of July parade and bonfire were beauts.The community and guests there even got an added Independence Day treat — the first-ever July 4th extravaganza at the Lanesville Community Center. But, organizers of the parade and bonfire say new

Kudos for a Much Appreciated Donation from The Shed

2008-07-03T14:00:00.004-04:00

Maybe I hadn't really noticed before, but today two portable sanitation units (toilets) arrived on Lanes Cove. I talked to the driver and he said they had been donated by the owner of the company The Shed, Ellen Ramsey. He said she does this for many events. Thank you Ellen--with the number of people who visit the cove for the parade and bonfire this essential service is greatly appreciated by

Great Job by the Lanesville Bonfire Committee

2008-07-02T08:01:00.003-04:00

I wanted to compliment the Lanesville Bonfire Committee--they have been doing a great job. This year's bonfire is the biggest I've seen yet. They have roped off the area, restricting it to Fire Personnel Only. This is from a recent e-mail with Jackie Hardy, Ward 4 Councilor:Great way to get rid of the scrap lumber - agreed, but there are restrictions on what can be burned and not ... the Chief of

Police: Boaters were drinking alcohol before late-night crash

2008-06-30T08:11:00.003-04:00

Last Friday night we heard several emergency vehicles race through Lanesville and learned later that there had been a serious boating accident in the Flat Rocks area, the stretch between Lanes Cove and Folly Point.The coastline along Cape Ann on Ipswich bay is unforgiving--except for a couple of beaches in small coves it is extremely rocky. I hope all recover fully.Out of respect for the privacy

Last Year's Bonfire

2008-06-26T13:15:00.002-04:00

A picture from last year's bonfire.

The Bonfire Is On!

2008-06-26T08:42:00.002-04:00

So the bonfire is on! The permit from the Gloucester Fire Department took a bit of groveling, but the chief had some legitimate concerns (like NO fireworks in the bonfire). But the permit is in-hand, so with a lot of sweat and hard work (and a few beers to easy the pain) we should be good-to-go for the 4th of July.As a note of caution, things do get a bit wild around the cove during the bonfire.

Bonfire Cam

2008-06-20T08:51:00.002-04:00

So I've been working on providing streaming video of this year's bonfire and I think I have it. Web TV provided by Ustream You can try this link to bring it up in your own window. As the construction of the bonfire starts I'll focus in on that. Until then, enjoy the activity in the cove. With a little luck, I'll have a recording stored online, so if you miss it, you can still tune in.

Bonfire In Trouble?

2008-06-20T08:44:00.002-04:00

I've heard that the annual Lanesville 4th of July bonfire might be in jeopardy. Seems as though Dickie Crowell won't be pulling the necessary permit from the fire department this year and there is a bit of trouble finding someone acceptable (to the fire department) to do it. Stay tuned!

Spectacular Day

2008-06-11T16:49:00.002-04:00

Although it was pretty warm earlier this week, today has been spectacular--just to bad I had to watch it on the webcam from work.

Spring is Slow in Coming

2008-04-11T12:43:00.002-04:00

This spring has been painfully slow in coming. I guess this is what makes New Englanders the people they are (sort of like Red Sox fans that went 86 years without a World Series win). We noticed the sun heading north along the horizon at sunset, along with longer days, both sure signs that the weather will warm and summer will be here soon.One sure sign that the season has changed is a lone

Bleak, but Beautiful

2008-02-09T08:29:00.000-05:00

Lovely morning on Lanes Cove--a little below freezing, not much wind and just a lovely view.

Personal Weather Stations

2008-02-02T09:23:00.000-05:00

As you have probably guessed, we get some pretty interesting weather here on Lanes Cove. It was fun to put up a weather station and then put the results online. Weather Underground is a very cool weather site on the web and they have a feature that allows you to upload your weather station information to them. They have integrated this input (some of it realtime, like mine) and placed the results

Windy Day

2008-01-30T16:46:00.001-05:00

I recently added a High Wind section to the real-time weather reported on the webcam site--pretty cool because I noticed that we had a gust of 53 MPH this afternoon. Nice!

Quiet Time of the Year On the Cove

2008-01-30T12:42:00.000-05:00

This winter has been a little unusual. We really haven't had the bitter cold weather we normally see around this time of the year. The beginning of January saw temperatures of 10 or 11 F and winds of 25 MPH. That was pretty miserable, but for the most part it hasn't been too bad. Actually, I saw a lobster boat working traps off of the cove last weekend. Of course, we also had some stiff prolonged

Artists of Lanesville - WALKER HANCOCK

2007-11-19T10:30:00.002-05:00

Nothing Like a Little Stormy Weather...

2007-11-09T14:03:00.000-05:00

There's nothing like a little stormy weather to up the number hits on the Lanes Cove webcam. As Noel turned from a hurricane to a Nor'easter, people wanted to see what was going on as it passed Cape Ann. I suspect that the other webcams in the area saw a flurry of hits as well, but since we have a good view of the water we probably got our fair share. From our position, northeast winds drive the

10.1-pound bluefish reaps $2,200 in Cove tourney

2007-09-08T09:07:00.000-04:00

Ebb & Flow , Peter K. PrybotGloucester Daily TimesSeptember 08, 2007 11:57 am—The Mary Parisi 19th annual Lane's Cove Bluefish Tournament shattered records. But its committee had to make some tough calls and realized improvements are needed.'Shocked at the number'"We arrived at 5:30 a.m. and a long line of contestants already waited to sign in," said Jenn Grace. She and committee members Gregg

Jet Skis on Lanes Cove

2007-09-03T06:58:00.000-04:00

Lanes Cove gets a lot of use in the summer. No wonder, it is a beautiful spot with a serviceable boat ramp (not great, but serviceable), a small public float and access to Ipswich Bay. Occasionally we get a few jet skiers that put in at the boat ramp and tool around Ipswich Bay. Now jet skis have the reputation of bad motorcyclists on the water--except you don't need a license, and there is no

5th Annual Art in Lanesville

2007-08-12T16:47:00.001-04:00

Art in Lanesville is a big deal. During the 20th century, there were many artists and sculptors who either lived, or summered here. People like Charles Grafly, Paul Manship, his son John Manship and his wife Margaret Manship, George Demetrios and his wife Jinnee (Virginia Lee Burton), Leon Kroll, Walker Hancock, John Coggeshall and Morris Pancoast, who lived next door to On the Cove were some of

Blackburn Challenge

2007-07-22T21:13:00.000-04:00

This weekend was the Blackburn Challenge. Early this morning I watched almost every kind of boat that could be rowed or paddled move along the coast from the Annisquam River toward Halibut point. It was a glorious day, just stunning--moderate temperature, almost no wind, and flat seas. Registration information can be found here.Twenty miles is a long way to go, and conditions can change pretty

Lanesville Celebration - Gloucester Daily Times

2007-07-14T12:45:00.000-04:00

Gloucester Daily TimesPublished: 07/14/2007Lanesville celebration reaches new heightsBy Peter K. PrybotEbb & Flow"This was the best one yet," said Jay Frontiero, a firefighter from Lanesville.Bruce Maki, a retired Gloucester police officer, added, "There were a lot of smiles."Most watchers of the 15th annual Lanesville Fourth of July parade and bonfire's audience would concur. A huge crowd of

One More Day To Go

2007-07-03T22:07:00.000-04:00

The boys were hard at work this afternoon putting up the last batch of pallets, and then the finishing touch--the upper story of a house that was never quite finished. Should be a lot of fun tomorrow.Also, we now have a bonfire cam.

Lanesville Bonfire Preparations

2007-06-26T12:56:00.000-04:00

Semi delivering pallets for the bonfireBase laid for the bonfireSaturday I watched a VERY large semi truck pull past us. I thought, "Boy, is this guy lost." He went down Andrews St. and then around Lanes Cove Rd. to Duley St. I didn't think he would make the corner, but then realized that he was heading (or backing) toward the bonfire site on Lanes Cove. Yep, he backed the rig down the dirt road

Ah, Spring

2007-05-19T11:25:00.000-04:00

Spring comes hard in New England. The leaves on the trees almost explode into a green profusion and the birds are coming back. But not all is so bucolic. Yesterday tied a record for lowest maximum temperature and set a record for rainfall.Statement as of 5:40 am EDT on May 19, 2007... Record daily maximum rainfall set and record low maximum temperature record tied at Boston... A record rainfall

Spring Is Here!

2007-04-25T13:24:00.000-04:00

The surest sign that spring has arrived is the first boat in the cove. Well, last week the first one went in. Good thing it wasn't the week before, when a nasty spring nor'easter came through. The float that is normally stored up on the Flatiron portion of the wharf floated away in the high tide. I understand that some folks wrestled it off the rocks and tied it up to the light pole just behind

Moon Over Ipswich Bay

2007-03-31T09:00:00.000-04:00

Early (I mean early) this morning I woke up again to the moon over Ipswich Bay. I grabbed my camera and took some long exposure (16 sec) photos. You will notice the moon twice in the these photos--this is due to the fact that the photos were taken through a double pane window. The distinct image of the moon is a reflection and many times dimmer than the direct image. Also, if you look at the

Not Just Sunsets

2007-03-30T06:38:00.000-04:00

This side of Cape Ann is known for its sunsets, and they are pretty phenomenal. And the sunrises are pretty interesting--the sky to the west gets the same colors as that of the eastern sky just not the same intensity, and obviously without the sun. But there is something that few visitors get to see, really amazing moonsets. Many people see moonrises, the good full moonrises occur around the time

Sunsets Are Back

2007-03-04T17:28:00.000-05:00

We site back a bit on Lanes Cove, so during the winter our sunsets are blocked by the small hill to the south. About this time of the year the sun is heading north and finally clears the hill. Right about now the sun sets around Hog Island in Ipswich. Soon it will be at the Crane Estate. Even though the wind is blowning 15-20 MPH and the temperature is 37F, the days are definitely getting longer

Not Much Happening

2007-02-25T09:26:00.000-05:00

I just noticed it has been over a month since my last post. There's a reason for that--it is pretty quiet here in the winter. That isn't to say it is boring--heck, it is too amazing here to be boring--it just means that the cove's activity is in a more passive state. Living here you are much more attuned to the natural world, the weather, the stars, the flora and fauna. The weather is definitely

Sea Smoke

2007-01-17T10:46:00.000-05:00

Winter has finally arrived on Lanes Cove--with a vengeance. The winds last night were blowing steadily 25-30 MPH with 35 MPH gusts. With temperatures in the single digits, that puts the windchill around -13F.Sea smoke (a kind of frigid fog) forms in these conditions. Pushed around by the winds the condensed water vapor has the appears of smoke. You know it's cold when you see it. We've seen a

More Data From Lanes Cove

2007-01-15T22:53:00.000-05:00

I got the webcam up and running about a year ago and the results have been great--just under 30,000 hits so far (averaging more that 100 a day). I have had many very nice e-mails saying how people enjoy watching the weather, or the goings on on Lanes Cove. Of course this time of the year the days are short and so there's less to see, but people still tune in.I've always wanted a weather station

Quiet New Years on Lanes Cove

2007-01-01T08:08:00.000-05:00

If you've been reading about Lanes Cove here, you know that things happen here. Last night I was expecting the usual, someone setting off fireworks to celebrate the New Year. I was up late working on adding a weather page to the On the Cove website and at midnight I expected the usual show of rockets and loud explosions. But midnight came and went--nothing--not a sound. Peace and quiet. No

Ah, the Weather

2006-12-28T11:06:00.000-05:00

It has been incredibly mild here this winter, with no hint of snow. Of course that doesn't mean balmy tropical weather either...right now it is 42 degrees with a 15-18 mph wind. How do I know this? A new weather station. Yes, Santa brought me a new weather station, and with a little luck, I will have a webpage up soon so that you too can tell what's happening here On the Cove.

Winter?

2006-12-02T07:58:00.000-05:00

New England weather is fickle, that's for sure. This fall has been very warm--yesterday, December 1st, it was in the 60's. The mallards arrived last weekend, at least a few, as well as a hawk that hung around the cove for quite a while. Last night a front came through and the rain, with some lightning, came down in sheets. A few minutes after the rain stopped, it was perfectly clear. This morning

Lovely Sunset

2006-11-03T16:41:00.000-05:00

The days are certainly getting shorter, so I have to watch the sunsets online. Still, not too bad...

Happy Birthday Emily!

2006-11-02T08:42:00.000-05:00

Running a webcam can be great fun.This morning I noticed a sign with some balloons attached to a stack of lobster pots--HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY. I decided to zoom the webcam onto the sign. Later, as I was getting the newspapers this morning, a car pulled up and a man got out. He said he his name was Bill Maki and today was his daughter's birthday. She's going to school in Spain and watches the

High Winds Predicted

2006-10-27T16:50:00.000-04:00

Weather forecast: Statement as of 4:23 PM EDT on October 27, 2006Expires 6:00 AM EDT on October 28, 2006 ... High Wind Warning in effect from 10 am to 6 PM EDT Saturday...... Wind Advisory in effect from 6 PM EDT Saturday to 7 am EST Sunday...... High wind watch in effect from Sunday morning through Sunday afternoon...These are all in effect for eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.Winds

Turn of Weather

2006-10-25T08:08:00.000-04:00

The weather is turning now. We've have a very pleasant October with warm days and crisp nights, but the wind has been blowing from the west for several days now and the temperature is definitely dropping. A cousin visited from California a few weeks ago and she said she always liked the idea of having four seasons. That's what we are getting now--the leaves have turned, most are gone from the

Tragedy in Lanesville

2006-10-03T14:05:00.000-04:00

At 12:30 AM on Monday, Ocotober 3th, a fire was reported at 5A Langsford St here in Lanesville. The Bay View station was closed because one of the firemen who was assigned to the station went home sick earlier in the day. A truck dispatched from the Central station required over 11 minutes to arrive at the scene (Gloucester police were already on the scene but couldn't enter the building because

Lanes Cove Bluefish Tournament

2006-08-22T13:07:00.000-04:00

The 18th Annual Lanes Cove Bluefish Tournament is scheduled for Sunday, September 3th. Last year's catches were pretty small (the winner was a little over 10 lbs.), but maybe this year we'll see better.Gloucester Daily TimesBig blues made bad weather bearable—Ebb & FlowPeter K. PrybotBad weather was the big story for the Mary Parisi 18th annual Lane's Cove Bluefish Tournament, started by the

4th Annual Art in Lanesville

2006-08-22T12:58:00.000-04:00

Last weekend was the Art in Lanesville show. This is a non-juried show of residents of Lanesville artwork held in the Lanesville Community Center. Forty-three artists were represented with work including granite scuptures, photographs, paintings, and bronze sculptures. The opening reception was held on Friday evening and included a performance of poetry, music, dance and a presentation by Les

Procession to Mary the Beloved

2006-08-14T21:18:00.000-04:00

Last weekend was the the annual procession to Mary the Beloved, "representing all the great tradition of the Sacred Feminine throughout the world. We ask for her wisdom to open our hearts and guide us to Global Peace." The procession began at Back to Source on Washington St. in Lanesville and ended at the water's edge on Lanes Cove. Mary was floated out to sea in a small boat decorated with

4th of July on Lanes Cove - 2006

2006-07-08T10:08:00.000-04:00

An amazing 4th of July here on the cove. A great parade with downpour showers at the very end. The bonfire was a bit slow to start due to the showers, but once it was going--it went!Gloucester Daily Times Lanesville abuzz over Independence Day festivitiesPublished: July 08, 2006 12:00 amEbb & FlowPeter K. PrybotThe making of the one-of-a-kind 2006 Lanesville Fourth of July parade and bonfire

Getting Ready for the 4th of July

2006-07-01T18:38:00.000-04:00

Lanes Cove Bonfire PreparationThere are a lot of guys moving a lot of pallets into place for the annual Laneville 4th of July Bonfire. Might even be bigger than last year. Stay tuned.

Sunspike

2006-06-06T07:14:00.000-04:00

Sometimes the conditions are just right, and this is the result.

Dramatic Sky

2006-06-05T11:21:00.000-04:00

The fun of having a webcam is being able to capture images when you're not there. After a rainy weekend, we're still getting very dramatic skies.

Happy 50th Birthday

2006-06-02T12:51:00.000-04:00

Lanes Cove is known for all kinds of crazy things. A couple of weekends ago, I noticed two people in a beautiful wooden dory rowing around the cove. OK, so that's not real wierd, but there were many balloons attached, with a small crowd of people near the float. Inquiring as to what was going on, I found out that the people rowing the dory were the parents of a lucky 50 year-old, who was

Memorial Day Weekend

2006-05-30T12:24:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day was absolutely spectacular. The weather was hopefully a precursor to a beautiful summer, warm and clear in the afternoon. Of course, this is New England, which means we'll get some of everything.The cove was busy with kayakers, people fishing, boaters and just people sunning themselves on the rocks. In all, a very pleasant day.

Whale Bone Returns to Lanes Cove

2006-05-15T20:58:00.000-04:00

For many years a whale bone was a feature of Lanes Cove. It was located on the land side of Lanes Cove Rd, near the stone walls that made up the coal bin of the Lanesville Granite Company. A few years ago it disappeared, and a sign was soon posted asking for its return. I'm guessing it ended up in someone's backyard. This morning my wife said "come quick" and looking outside I saw the vertebra,

Rain!

2006-05-15T16:03:00.000-04:00

We get Weather here, but usually from ocean related storms. This time it's from the other side. We've had rain every day for probably a week. The cove is damp with a lot of the water coming in through a couple of streams that empty into the cove, but other than that, not too bad.ALERT 1 - Flash Flood WatchFLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOONIssue Time: 3:40PM EDT, Monday May 15,

Beautiful Day On the Cove

2006-04-26T12:24:00.000-04:00

The light is really changing here on the cove. Though we could use a little warmer weather (it is 48F at noon today), the days are longer and the grass is greening up. The magnolias and forsythia have bloomed, most of the trees are budding and the days are getting warm enough to work in the garden/yard.

More on Petrology

2006-04-06T21:08:00.000-04:00

The petrology field trip got me thinking...just what was so interesting around Lanes Cove. I posted a question on a local forum and someone posted a USGS (US Geological Survey) bedrock map of Cape Ann. Just south of Lanes Cove (where the field trippers were looking) were a couple of diamonds. I asked what they represented and the reponse was "Hornblende diorite porphyry inclusions - Predominantly

Petrology on Lanes Cove

2006-04-02T18:28:00.000-04:00

I noticed three vans wizz by the house this afternoon, two from Smith College and one from Amherst College Geology department, filled with what I assumed were college students. I ran across the Smith College website a while ago with pictures from previous field trips. Though I didn't talk to them, I believe the course to taught by Prof. John Brady. Oh, and Petrology? It is the study of rocks.So

Another Willow Sighting (almost)

2006-03-23T10:18:00.000-05:00

Got a call this morning from my wife. She asked if I was watching the webcam. I keep the image up at work because I don't have a window that overlooks the water (who am I kidding...I couldn't tell you if it was day or night from my office). I quickly switched to the webcam just to see the stern of a ship passing out of the frame. She told me it was the Willow and it was just outside of the cove.

Fireworks on the Cove (in March?!?)

2006-03-19T12:44:00.000-05:00

You never know what will happen around the cove--that's part of the "charm" of living here. On the 4th of July, we get lots of fireworks, some semi-sanctioned (or at least overlooked) by the city--beautiful against the night sky over Ipswich Bay. But last night, around 1:10 AM, we got quite a display. Someone decided to light up the sky, not with a few bottle rockets, but with a whole display--

Gone are the Mallards

2006-03-17T12:56:00.000-05:00

As the weather warms (somewhat) here, I noticed that our flock of Mallards that spend the winter here--are gone. I'm guessing they've headed back north--maybe the ice has melting enough where they reside for the rest of the year for them to move back. I guess it is a sign that winter really will end. I've even seen the odd lobster boat outside the cove, and the sun has moved northerly along the

Getting a Streetlight Fixed

2006-02-28T21:18:00.000-05:00

There are two streetlights that illuminate the cove. They are very convenient for boaters who come in after dark, but at this time of year, they just do a nice job of providing a pleasant warm glow. One of the streetlights has been out for a couple of weeks, so I finally called the Gloucester DPW. They said Mass Electric (Now National Grid) handles this, but they would pass along the information.

Wave for the Camera

2006-02-12T16:14:00.000-05:00

I have a webcam that looks over Lanes Cove. During the winter, there isn't much going on, so the images are not so interesting. OK, sometimes when the wind picks up you can see spray breaking over the breakwater, or whitecaps in Ipswich Bay, but generally, pretty boring. So on a Sunday this February we get a nice blizzard, the kind where you bring in lots of wood for the fire and just enjoy not

Astronomically High Tide

2006-01-31T13:01:00.000-05:00

The astronomically high tide (something like 10.8') combined with a storm off of the coast have combined to fill the cove to overflowing. Nothing new, it washes off a lot of the granite that makes up the breakwater and surrounding walls.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT

2006-01-23T10:20:00.000-05:00

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECTUNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENINGUrgent - Winter Weather Message National Weather Service Taunton MA 410 AM EST Mon Jan 23 2006 Eastern Essex MA-Western Norfolk MA-Southeast Middlesex MA- Suffolk MA-Northern Bristol MA-Southeast Providence RI- Western Kent RI-Eastern Kent RI- Including The Cities Of... Gloucester... Foxboro... Norwood... Cambridge... Boston...

Willow Returns

2006-01-21T17:35:00.000-05:00

I started this blog last April with an entry about the USCGC Willow. Earlier this week she returned for an overnight anchorage in Ipswich Bay. It was nice to see her return.

Kayaker's Paradise

2006-01-08T16:45:00.000-05:00

This area of the world has been called a kayaker's paradise, and I agree. Discovery Adventures launches out of Lanes Cove practically every day in the summer, along with many, many other kayakers. Last year a group came down in dry suits during the late fall and practiced rolling their kayaks, helping each other get back in and bailing them out. It was pretty interesting.This year we haven't seen

Just Another Phenomenal Sunset...

2005-12-11T10:39:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure of exactly why we get these phenomenal sunsets, but we had another one last night. I've set up a webcam that looks out over the cove--it is in early development, so it may not always be up. Let me know what you think--leave me a comment.Lanes Cove Webcam

Artists of Lanesville - Isabel Natti, Block Printer

2005-12-06T22:00:00.000-05:00

Vernal Pond by Isabel Natti, 2005.Isabel Natti is the granddaughter of Paul Manship and niece of Walker Hancock. She is the daughter of Ilmari "Jimo" Natti and Pauline (Manship) Natti (Paul Manship's first daughter). She grew up in Lanesville and New York and now lives in Rockport.I met Isabel at the Sarah Elizabeth Shop in Rockport Massachusetts. Sarah Elizabeth Holloran was a member of the

Mallards Return to Lanes Cove

2005-11-24T13:48:00.000-05:00

We have a flock of Mallard ducks that winter in Lanes Cove. They came in Thanksgiving. I watched them last winter--they stay until spring. You can see them at the shallow end of the cove even while there is ice.

Artists of Lanesville - Susanna Natti, Illustrator

2005-11-14T12:28:00.000-05:00

I've been doing some research recently, initiated by some questions I had about the Joan of Arc statue in Gloucester (I'll discuss this in a future posting), about the artists, sculptors, authors and illustrators that have lived in Lanesville. I will tell you--it is a remarkable group of people. I will lay out a small vignette on these residents and former residents in the coming

Weather Turning

2005-11-10T08:45:00.000-05:00

The days grow shorter and the only boats left in the cove are the lobster boats. Today the temperature is in the 40's with gusty winds and gray skies.

Beautiful Early Snow

2005-10-29T15:35:00.000-04:00

Hmmm...Snow today--major snow. Huge flakes, most of the afternoon. Temperatures in the mid-30's. Tomorrow--60's. Really beautiful here On the Cove.

A Brush with Wilma

2005-10-25T06:39:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Wilma is heading up the east coast far offshore, but will look like a nor'easter to New England. We've had steady rain and some wind this morning, but it is slated to get worse by late morning. The temperature is mild (50 degrees), so if we lose power, it won't be a disaster. Better to get the weak tree limbs down now instead in the middle of a blizzard. Flood Watch / Flood Statement

More Weather

2005-10-18T06:29:00.000-04:00

This last week the weather had defintiely changed. It was cloudy and grey all week with downpours on Saturday but not as bad as the western part of the state. Both Saturday and Sunday had high wind warnings and the wind was mostly from the west--that means it comes right across Ipswich Bay and directly into us. It was reported as 35 MPH with gust to 50 MPH, but I'm guessing we saw higher. When we

Gloucester Area Astronomy Club

2005-10-05T08:18:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday I took my daughter and her friend to a meeting of the Gloucester Area Astronomy Club in Halibut Point State Park. It was a outstanding night for star gazing--clear, reasonably low turbulence and a new moon. The folks there were very welcoming, spending a lot of time with us describing what they were observing and letting us take a look. I believe there were six telescopes set up,

Full Moon At Sunrise

2005-09-19T22:02:00.000-04:00

An amazing view of the full moon at sunrise over Lanes Cove.

Heading Home At Sunset

2005-09-19T21:46:00.000-04:00

The days are getting shorter, the evenings cooler--a beautiful time of the year here on the cove. This fishing boat is heading in for the day.

Lanesville Bluefish Tournament

2005-09-04T11:15:00.000-04:00

One Bluefish that didn't get awayWeigh-inView of Lanes Cove from On the CoveView of Lanes Cove and the boats in the tournamentToday was the annual Lanesville Bluefish Tournament. The number of entrants have been increasing each year and this year it was 540. It was an exceptionally beautiful day--no clouds until late afternoon, light to no breeze, flat calm seas, and moderate temperatures.The

Gloucester Schooner Festival

2005-08-31T12:14:00.000-04:00

The Gloucester Schooner Festival gets underway this weekend. I'm reminded of this because one of the ships pulled in yesterday and is anchored in Ipswich Bay, within sight of Lanes Cove. She is the Gazela Primeiro, owned by the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild. Length: 177 ft. overall, 140 ft. on deck, 133 ft. on the waterlineHeight: 94 ft. from the deckWidth: 26 ft. at maximum beamDraft:

Fabulous Weather

2005-08-26T21:48:00.000-04:00

The last few days have been fabulous--August seems to cool off quickly giving us temperate days and cool nights. You just can't buy better weather. Soon September will come in with shorter days and lower temperatures, though we've gotten some downright hot days in the month. Could use more rain though, the yard and garden are showing some signs of stress.

Historic Lanes Cove

2005-08-24T12:49:00.000-04:00

Here is a postcard produced for the Shute and Merchant Co., (check the website--it is very nicely done). Shute and Merchant Co. was a large fish packing company in the late 1800's and early 1900's (since purchased by Gorton's of Gloucester). These postcards were given away as promotional items. You get an idea of scale of the operation of granite loading in this time.

The Restless Tides

2005-08-24T09:05:00.000-04:00

Watching the cove everyday, you can't miss the effects of the tide. The average rise and fall is listed at 9.5' and the edge of the water at the shallow end of the cove must go 75 yards (at least) from low tide to high tide. Saw someone digging clams last weekend at low tide, though it is currently restricted in the cove. Don't know if he took any home with him or not.An interesting discussion