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Sand Bar/Beach Bar Winnipesaukee

Some people like bars.  Some people like boating.  We can relate with both these groups, so we went to Lake Winnipesaukee in search of bars.  Sandbars to cool our bodies and a beach bar to cool our throats.  We fired up the perfect party boat, a 2002 29' Regal 2900LSR Bow Rider, and hit the open water.     Our first stop was the Gator Inc. Gas Dock, located at Silver Sands Marina.  We were greeted by John Gately, called  "the friendliest man on Lake Winnipesaukee".  We got gas, ice, soda, water, chips, ice cream, fresh baked cookies, a lake chart, hot dogs, and a free lolli-pop.   We turned the corner at Saunders Bay, and headed for The Broads.    Lake Winnipesaukee, NH's largest lake, can be seen at its grandest in the center of the broads.     From Gilford we went south east to Alton.  We stayed to the south of Diamond Island,   and to the south of Sleeper Island (Don't forget to notice the Castle on Sleeper).  And at Marker 75 on the Lake Chart is Small's Cove.     The sandbar is large, raging in depths from 2' to 5'.  Winnipesaukee water is crystal clear.  The sand is clean and fine. 
   We swam, mingled with the other boaters, jumped on and off the boat, sun bathed, ate, drank, played football, splashed each other in the face, and dunked each other.  After a while we were ready for the kind of bar that serves cold beer.  We pulled anchor and headed back through The Broads to get a late lunch at The Naswa.   As we headed towards Weirs Beach we took special care to watch out for the Witches.   The Witches are a group of rocks, invisible when the water is high, barely visible when the water is low, that has feasted on hundreds of unsuspecting out-drives.    Into the Weirs and through the Channel is Winnipesaukee's most popular Beach Bar: The Naswa.     The Naswa has plenty of slips, a beach to cool off, and a bar to belly up to.     We had burgers, chicken fingers and of course, beer.  Refreshed, we were ready for another sandbar.  We motored out of the Weirs, cut between Governor's Island and Stonedam Island, and a took a left before Bear Island.  We passed the Post Office on Bear Island , but were in too much of hurry to stop and send a post-card.  Around Bear Island we passed the Mount Washington   We waved to the passengers on the deck and turned the corner around Long Point on Moultonborough Neck, and cruised into Braun Bay.    Braun Bay, one of the busiest sandbars on Winnipesaukee was surprisingly quiet.  We swam with a few of the die hards as the sun set on the bay.     After the sun ducked behind the trees we headed out into the open water to bask in what was left of a great day on Winnipesaukee.