Capturing the Moment

Sailing into the sunset on Lake Champlain. You never know what kind of weather to expect from the last weekend in September in Lake Champlain, but we scored an amazing one for our end of season trip with the family out to Stave Island. Nestled in the middle of Lake Champlain, between Vermont and New York, Stave Island is the perfect getaway for the kids. There is miles of shoreline to explore, a bog with a secretive snapping turtle, stories of hidden treasure, a beach, a tower to climb, and acres of woods to play in. With no shows or tablets, it is the perfect place to commune with nature and get in touch with the wild. Every sunset is appreciated, usually with a sundowner cocktail in hand, and the night sky can be absolutely brilliant. Running into Fall at the Stave Island farm house We soaked up every minute of this weekend, knowing that it could be our last until we open the island back up next Spring. Catalina, Fisher, and I even managed to get a circumnavigation of the island in o...

  The 2024 Crew Every year, an epic party occurs on a little island in the middle of Lake Champlain. It is invite only and only the cream of the crop make it out. It is called the Stave Island Party, of SIP for short. If you have every been, you know it can be a wild and crazy time. 2024 was no exception. The Rye gang came out in force, and brought plenty of kids with them. It has been fun watching the energy change from carefree adults to parents of young kids. The weather stayed nice, there was plenty of food and beer to go around. Baseball seemed to be the hit of the show with the younger crowd, although the adults got their swings in too. Some fun volleyball occurred, and lots of of circumnavs around the island via paddle board and kayak. Snakes were caught and towers were climbed. The farmhouse dock may not have been saved from the water, but there was some power lifting going on with the one axle that washed up after the storm. A little excitement came on Saturday when I need...

  The best we could do for a group picture. We got everyone in! Brian and Amaia. Ben, Kim, and Wren. Marcos and Raquel. Nate, Kelly, and Finn. Mary and Woody, Fisher, Heidi, Catalina, Dai Mar, and Dela. With Jackson and Juniper sneaking up in the back. A rare peak into Man's Night. Nate out shreddin' on the bushman. Dela getting some water time in. Kelly and Finn on the way out from Mallet's Bay Marcos and Fisher heading off on a paddle board mission. My trusty boat crew. Look at these cool hats. Lets put em on! Some days were sailing days on the sunfish, others were skurfing and SUPing. Dela found this cute coyote on the pier. Catalina's first snake catch! Kim and Wren getting the party started! The organized chaos of Friends Week! The newest addition to the gang. Baby Wren. Everyone is family this week. Big hike around the South end. This is often where you could find Dela... next to Kelly. Amaia with a frog the spinning doughnut. Little warmer than Alaska. Looking fo...