It was around 7.30pm on Monday, September 1 when I could hear one of my sons crying. Dinner conversation had concluded, and they had just finished up the milkshakes I had promised them. We were all pumped up to play Pictionary, but we had some chores to sort out first.

In walks Marcello, and he sadly advises, “Daddy, Armand is crying.” Just a few steps behind him walks Armand, and he’s having a fair meltdown. Confused by this rapid turn of events, I asked him what was wrong. While sobbing and chest heaving he managed to eek out between breaths: “I’m-sad-be-cause-sum-mer-is-ov-er”.

I can totally relate to Armand’s despair. Summertime is absolutely fantastic!

You have more daylight hours to play in, Quincy snowballs are for sale and then of course there is swimming. Ah yes, swimming! Sure, we love mountain biking and hiking during the cooler months, but nothing beats jumping off the rocks at Horseshoe Bay cove, snorkelling at Church Bay or leaping off Watford Bridge Ferry Dock. That’s what the four of us call summer!

Although the new school year has begun, I explained to my dear son, “The water will be warm for at least another month, so dry those tears and look forward to the weekend. Summer isn’t over just yet!” And so, it was at this point I was reminded that we haven’t gone out on a boat yet.

Now before you suck your teeth and roll your eyes in protest, let me explain that we don’t own a boat. My family can’t afford one now, nor any time in the near future. But, last summer we wanted to try something new and rented a Boston Whaler to take a cruise up in Somerset.

Our first stop was over at the Vixen, a sunken ship located to the north west of Fort Scaur, which appears to be the home of hundreds of fish. When you’re on a tour boat you’re normally 10-plus feet above sea level. But when you’re on a Boston Whaler, you’re fairly close to the sea surface. Given this, when you throw bread overboard from a Boston Whaler, a swarm of fish circles you in a feeding frenzy. The fish will come right up to your boat and snatch bread right from your hand if you have the courage.

Pompano Beach was the next stop on our tour, and it did not disappoint.

We dropped anchor, put on our snorkelling gear and plunged into the ocean.

The water was stunning, the seabed pristine and the vista was better than anything I could have imagined. My sons took this as an opportunity to do an endless number of front flips off the side of the boat, and they simply didn’t tire.

After such an amazing experience, we knew that we would have to do it again in 2014.

So, my girlfriend and I promised the boys that we’d rent a boat during the first weekend after school had started.

This time we opted for the eastern end of the island and focused on Castle Harbour.

Under the Causeway we go, and we headed straight for Tucker’s Town to take a peek at the luxurious homes on the seaside.

Yes, they are magnificent, and yes, it’s hard to imagine that there is so much wealth on this tiny island. But the real wealth in that area isn’t so much the amazing properties that line the coast but the beautiful beach at the very end of the peninsula.

Castle Point Beach, and Castle Island are both sights to behold.

You may have seen those aerial photos showing stunning places in Bermuda that you’ve never seen before. Well, this beach and that island are those places.

Both locations are pretty quiet, and those who know about it respect the tranquillity of the environment.

There weren’t any loud stereos to be heard or lewd behavior to be seen.

It’s just a place to dock your boat and bask in Bermuda’s incredible beauty.

I must confess that I feel somewhat ashamed to have reached 42yrs old and never climbed Castle Island.

There certainly is a part of me that’s embarrassed that it took me 41 years to visit the Vixen.

In retrospect, I truly wish that our schools taught more about Bermuda’s natural beauty, because it certainly would’ve increased my appreciation for my island home.

Perhaps most ironic is that the cost of renting a boat, especially if shared, is strikingly small, especially when you compare it to what so many households likely pay for cable, internet, mobile phones, etc.

When I consider how much many of us spend on booze, tobacco, gambling, cannabis, etc, the $160 to rent a boat for four hours appears to be an incredible value.

Succinctly, I cannot recommend renting a boat enough. Every resident should experience it the first opportunity they get. You’ll begin to appreciate Bermuda more than you ever have before.

Email: bryanttrew@mac.com