Road To Hatteras (Part III): Reaching Montauk
by Dee Dee
I rolled off the Long Island Ferry onto Rte 114 at Orient Point around 10:30 PM. I wish I knew more about that part of Long Island to describe it, but I really don't. I'm sure that ljswahine (Lisa) or others who have been to Long Island could tell more about it, but, I did find a section of Mapquest, to post as a link, in case you'd like to see it...but many of you may already know of it (it's a really long link, so wasn't able to hyperlink all of it).

A fisherman friend in my town, who goes there often to fish, told me a bit about it before I left. He said that part of the island was really quite rural with a lot of farming. Though I couldn't make much of it out at that time of night....I could definitely feel the peacefulness of being way out in the country. The only traffic on the roads, were the cars that had been on the ferry with me. 

I was hoping I wouldn't get lost & tried to keep very alert, so as not to miss the signs for the North Shelter Island Ferry. I saw 3 fox & 5 deer cross the road ahead of me, during the aprox 20 minute drive there. I lucked out & found my way there and was in time for the next ferry; as well as the last ferry, in the southern part of the island, to Sag Harbor.

I was very glad for the time on the ferries, because, I got another hit of cold fresh sea air to wake me up again for the last leg of the drive. I arrived at  Sag Harbor about 11:45PM & knew it was about another 45 minute drive, or so, to East Deck Motel. I was almost the
only one on the road & it was verydark (which was great!)...so I used my high beams a lot to see ahead of me, for most of the rest of the trip.

I was definitely getting a third wind & getting into stokin' adventure mode when I got to Sag Harbor...I had seen this independant/Sundance Festival-kine film about the place, which had shown some very beautiful scenes of the land & sea there. I was smiling even more when I reached the small town of Montauk...because of all the reports that ASers had written about the place...I was thinking of you all!

I knew that the East Deck Motel was a ways out of town & that it might be a little hard to find. The motel clerk told me, that I'd need to turn off onto this road that'd be hard to see in the dark & that the East Deck was off of that road & easy to miss. So, I kept my eyes peeled & lucked out again, & found it ok....3 more deer crossed the road in front of me...which was great!

Just when I thought I might be lost, I suddenly saw this half lit up neon sign that said 'East Dec.."....I realized I had finally arrived. It was 12:45AM...and all lights were out, verywhere, except for that partial neon sign. For just a sec, I felt a little lonely, until I opened the car and heard the booming roar of waves pounding on the shore in front of the motel...I couldn't see them, because of the dune grass...but, I sure could hear them esoundingly... and because there was no moon...you could see the stars shining brilliantly...and the cold wind blowing....and I was so _thrilled_ to be there!....and I want to thank ljswahine (Lisa), for encouraging me to stay there. Thanks Lisa....you were so right!!!!

I walked over to the shore...and the waves were rolling in at about waist high. I then guiltily knocked on the office door, because, I knew I was going to wake someone. They were going to leave keys somewhere for me, because they close at 9PM, but had just
forgotten to (I can relate! I forget stuff like that, too). The gal was very gracious about me knocking on the door, bless her heart & very friendly.

I turned the key & walked into this very warm, welcoming, simple, well used little efficiency (with no phone, no cable for the TV & a sign that said something like 'no fish 
cleaning in the room; designated areas only') ...and you could sense immediately that many, many great surfing, fishing & diving times and stories had been shared there over the years. The clerk had described the place as 'beachy' ...and it most assuredly was...in the _very finest_ sense of the word.

When I finally got all my stuff out of the car & into the place & had the time to go out and sit on the shore...it was about 1:30 AM...and I finally had time to realize: "Hey! It is now Sept. 28th & you are 50 years old!". And I felt so good thinking that I had a whole 24 hours ahead of me to explore & surf at this enchanted place. A finer birthday, could not have been wished for.

I had brought my guitar with me to the dunes & so I tuned it up and practiced singing under the stars & night sky, two of the songs that I wanted to sing to my fellow GP attendees, to honor them:  the song 'Only Good Times' by Keola & Kapono Beamer, that I posted the lyrics to at A.S. just before I left & also, the song 'Long May You Run' by Neil Young.

I finally headed back into my room around 2:30 AM & watched the rerun of the local news on one of the non-cable channels that they had there...Mayor Giuliani was speaking of the tribute that had been held in NYC for the lost Firemen & Policemen that day. And he asked that as many people as could, try to attend one of the 15 memorial services to be held in NYC for others known lost in the WTC, on Saturday, Sept. 29th. I then determined that I would try my best to find where they were being held, while I was in Montauk, so that I 
could try to attend one of the memorials on Saturday, when I was due to travel thru NYC.

Next installment: More Montauk

Love,

Dee Dee
Posted to the alt.surfing newgroup
From: corrall@mediaone.net (corrall@mediaone.net)
Subject: Road To Hatteras(Part III): Reaching Montauk
Newsgroups: alt.surfing
Date: 2001-10-19 22:24:55 PST


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