Block Island Day 1

For four years, G3 has talked about his Boy Scout trip to Block Island. It was his first Boy Scout camping trip and also his favorite. When anyone asks him what his best experience was in Boy Scouts, he never hesitates to respond, “Block Island.” Since it was his first trip, he didn’t want me to go. At eleven years old, he was already independent and felt my presence would somehow tarnish his experience. I was disappointed, but I respected his wishes.

Needless to say, I’ve spent these last four years hoping the scouts would return. Now that G3 is older and has proven he doesn’t need me, he doesn’t mind me tagging along—provided I’m not too much of a nag and spend most of the time pretending I don’t know him. When the trip was announced in the spring, I signed up immediately. I’m a restless soul. I am not happy in New Jersey and therefore am always happy to get away. As a result, I’ve traveled extensively and have been to most places within a day’s drive. Therefore, it’s not often I have the opportunity to visit someplace new, someplace I’ve never seen. That’s why I woke up excited. Block Island is a new destination for me.

Also, it’s an Island which means it’s surrounded by water and water make me extremely happy. It always has. I feel most at home when I am near the ocean or another large body of water. The salty smell of the air alone is like an elixir.

Due to the long drive, we needed to leave much earlier than usual for a camping trip. G3 was happy I pulled him out of school early, but not so happy that I didn’t let him stay home altogether. I was unable to drive. Warning lights came on in my car, and I couldn’t get an appointment at the dealership until Monday. Not that I minded. The last time I attempted to drive to Rhode Island for a scouting event it didn’t go well. G3 and I rode up with one of the dad’s and his son. It was actually an enjoyable ride since I had someone to talk with. G3 and the other scout also chatted for much of the drive and when they weren’t talking they read. The other scout is reading the third book in the Hunger Games Trilogy and G3 is reading Stephen King’s The Long Walk.

We reached the ferry with fifteen minutes to spare before it departed. It’s a biking trip so we parked the cars in a lot and walked the bikes onto the boat. I was worried that I would get sick. Boats and I have a love hate relationship. Mostly, I hate them because I get terribly sick, especially if the water is rough. But I love water so I deal with the misery. Luckily, the waves were not too bad today. I stood up top, next to the rail, the wind in my face, and I felt only mildly nauseous, which was good because if I threw up, it would have seriously embarrassed G3.

Block Island, what we’ve seen this far, is built up. It’s a destination for tourists, but there are homes here too.The campground is about a mile from the ferry. It made for an easy bike ride to get there. Upon arrival, scouts and adults sorted out who would tent in which site and then began setting up. It always takes so much longer than I expect, but that’s because the older scouts are teaching the younger ones what to do and how to do it.

Once the tents were up, we had our leadership meeting where the older scout leaders discussed the plan for the morning. We will be having an early breakfast and then heading out on the bike trip. The scouts were divided into three groups based on age, but we will all be following the same route. I am now in my tent and plan to read because the scouts are way too loud for me to sleep. I am reading The 57 Bus which I started this morning and thus far am enjoying. Once the scouts quiet down, I expect it will be a peaceful night since the cicadas are almost as loud as the scouts and you know how much I love cicadas.