Grandma and Grandpa Baule have a summer home on the bay just .16 miles away at 275 degrees magnet; if you look that way and see someone with binoculars and a NY Mets cap watching you search for the cache near July 4th or Labor Day, it is probably me.
There are three ways to reach the cache.
- Walk and Swim. You can park at the Pleasant Bay public beach along Route 28 at Bay Rd. Then walk along the beach toward the cache. Finally, swim the narrow channel to Pirate Island. The channel grows and shrinks with the tide, but is never more than 20 yards across. Caution: the portion of beach between where you park and the island will disappear at high tide! At low tide it is rocky, so walk carefully.
- By Sea. A kayak, row boat, or other small vessel can be beached on the sandy (south) side of the island. People frequently visit this beach. Be mindful of the tide—it moves quickly here. A boat may be left high and dry or may decide to leave without you. A boat may be launched at the nearby public ramp in Round Cove, accessed from Route 28 at the end of Pleasant Bay Rd.
- By Land. The cache can only be accessed by land via the private property of the Wequassett Inn. Wequassett is beautiful—in fact, one of the Baule daughters was married there. If you are a registered guest, you may walk easily from their private beach to Pirate Island. If you are not a guest of Wequassett, please do not trespass.
When you arrive at the “island”, circle around to find a good place to climb up from the beach to the interior. Make your way carefully through the flora.
While in the area, take a look around Round Cove (north of Pirate Island) for the mated pair of swans that make this their home.