We loaded up the bikes and headed for the Hamptons! Our first sightseeing venture included driving along the Dunes, gawking at all the post-modern oversized mansions. This stretch of the spit featured mainly really ostentatious homes that looked more like hotels than individual dwellings. We continued along Montauk Highway driving through several villages eventually arriving in South Hampton. It looked a lot more like Rodeo Drive than a vacation hang-out spot that’s for sure! We really didn’t feel like riding our bikes through this village so we continued the drive East up the point. By this time it was about 1ish and we were getting hungry. We spotted a seafood shack and decided it was more our speed than the fancier restaurants. The lunch was to die for. We ordered Maryland crab cakes with coleslaw and onion rings. There were a few picnic tables outside and quite a few people already enjoying their lunches of clams, cod and shrimp. We asked if we could join them and we had the best time lunching together and chatting it up. Turns out they were from Ramsey, New Jersey and knew exactly where I used to live on Forest Avenue. How ironic is that! There were 8 of them and they had spent the weekend in the Hamptons at one of their family homes. They were impressed that we had chosen this place to eat since it’s supposed to be a great secret among the locals. We continued towards East Hampton swimming against the Sunday afternoon exodus. We passed miles and miles of BMWs, Mercedes, Land Rovers and Audis as they slowly streamed back to the city. Even though East Hampton village was just as posh, if not more than South Hampton, we decided it was as good a place as any to ride our bikes. We cracked up riding through the village. Every cross-walk has two white-gloved policeman directing traffic. Pretty much overkill if you ask me. We rode out of the village and took several side streets so we could check out all the homes. It was unbelievable seeing the gorgeous gardens and houses. We also enjoyed walking through the local cemetery reading all the headstones, some dating back to 1722. The most unusual being, “Peggy Negro Serving Cap. Somebody (sic) all her life.” We decided it was time to pack up the bikes and drive out to the farthest point of the island and view Montauk Lighthouse. (Today’s pic is Ned in front of the lighthouse). This lighthouse was commissioned by George Washington and was the first one built in the state of New York. Dang - some pretty good history there. Our next stop was Sag Harbor. I enjoyed this section of the South Fork most. Even though it was still pretty ritzy, it seemed more like old money and not trying as hard as the Hamptons. We took a bridge over to North Haven Island and then a short ferry ride to Shelter Island, checking out all the homes along the way. The little town of Dering Harbor really knocked our socks off. There are only a handful of houses, but each and every one of them look like something out of the Great Gatsby. It is very secluded and oriented toward the harbor. We eventually took the North Ferry off the island and headed into the town of Greenport. What do you know, an ice cream parlor serving Hershey’s ice cream, which is the same brand as Doumar’s?! (It’s not on the official tasting list since it would be scoring the same ice cream twice). We had fun walking around the town with our cones and discussing the day. We decided that we are definitely North Fork people. We like the low-key vibe of the North Fork with its wineries, flower and produce stands over the posh and glitz of the South Fork. When we arrived back at the campsite it was a far cry from last night. Almost everyone is gone and instead of campfires, bikes, balls, and the shouts of kids playing, it is incredibly quite and still. Sigh - the tip of Long Island at rest until the next weekend barrage of families and socialites.
