Martha's Vineyard 2018

  The Mr. and I took a three day hiatus to the island of Martha's Vineyard - just a 2.5 hour drive and then 45 minute ferry ride is all it takes to get to one of my favorite places on earth.  It's also one of the favorite places on earth of some 100, 000  other people.  So,  while there's still a lot of wild, rugged, natural beauty on island and you can get away from it all if you go to the right places, it's also extremely peopley in summer months.  We found a mid-week trip is easier to navigate.  There are no traffic lights on island and no fast food joints (imagine that! ) ... and people manage to be polite to one another most of the time, and survive on decent food. 

  I love the excited feeling of pulling up to the ferry docks, driving on to the Ferry and sitting on the deck as we make the brief crossing to the island.  Like a kid again, and I wish for all of you that you get that giddy feeling now and then, it's good for the soul. 

   This is the Island Home ferry - in this photo we've just driven off it (cars in bottom level) and are  on the beach nextdoor  at the famous Black Dog restaurant, waiting for the lunch at noon opening.  We've made this a tradition, and a better fish and chips dish you'll be hardpressed to find. 

   Of the six towns on the island, Edgartown is our favorite place to stay.  The Harborside Inn is our go to for short stays - right on the water, amidst all the quaint shops and restaurants, it's a convenient location in a great walking neighborhood.  The flowers absolutely everywhere are stunning... there is one landscape company on island in charge of all the planters, and most early mornings you'll see the crews out there deadheading and watering, sweeping up debri. 

In July the hydrangea, roses and daylilies are in full bloom - just glorious. 

     I noticed a white poodle is the accessory most yacht owners carry on and off boat with them. Many of those poodles have strollers if their owner is strolling around town.  The poodle on this boat has a very good life, dining nightly with his/her owners on the upper deck, strolling up main street in the cool morning air, while the crew hoses the decks and squeegees the windows. 

Flowers and american flags everywhere... the island patriotism is clear and present.

 Below is a giant Linden tree - this photo does not do it's size justice -

Edgartown Light - a favorite spot.... 

So photogenic, a great place to catch the morning sunrise or

evening breezes after a hearty meal. 

 And hearty meals were aplenty (ahem) 

Katama airfield - the Right Fork Diner - fantastic, healthy choice foods... 

If you're on island, I highly recommend the experience. 

The farm institute is just down the road.. 

We made our traditional trek through... 

admiring the gardens and fields full of cows. 

There are many beaches around the island - our favorites are the  kid friendly

State beach that also includes the Jaws Bridge.. .

(I made the jump in my 51st year) 

Gay Head, Moshup Beach (Aquinnah) ... which we didn't visit this year..

And South Beach, which can be wild at times... 

The water here in the Atlantic Ocean is so clean and powerful.  The hues are navy and sea blue-green.  So refreshing ,too. 

 

 Funny thing - If you're a jeeper you know all about the Jeep wave (or peace sign).  Most jeepers are wavers.  I'm a waver myself - I believe in upholding the tradition - which started when the original jeepers - GP-ers (general purpose vehicle) army folk used these vehicles in their operations. When they passed each other, they waved as a sign of camaraderie.   For whatever the reason, on Martha's Vineyard, no one waves.  I mean NO ONE.  Yet once you cross the ferry back to the mainland, the waves begin again.  So bizarre.  I thought about it.  And I've come up with this.   There are many many Jeeps available for rent on the island because you can take them offroading on some of the beaches and tourists think that's way cool.   Perhaps the tourists who don't normally drive a Jeep aren't aware of the Jeep tradition, and so they don't wave or peace out.  Perhaps the real jeepers who live on island have gotten so tired of being snubbed, they don't bother anymore.   

I waved anyway... I think jeep rental places should put a sign on the dash explaining the tradition. Some thingsshould be upheld, ya know? 

My Jeep still carries the sand from our adventures this week, I think I'll leave it there.

Heading home on the Governor... a smaller freight ferry. 

More Vineyard posts HERE .

Till soon, Friends -  I hope all is well in your neck of the woods. 

MV 2016

    I'm like a kid on Christmas morning when we roll into the Ferry line at Woods Hole headed for the Vineyard.  Then when the Jeep is safely tucked in the belly of the Ferry and we take our positions upstairs on the deck, the engines roar to life and the navy and emerald green sea churns below and I know.... we're on Island Time. 

 Our first stop is usually the Black Dog Tavern - where the seafood and the ribs and their red wine sangria are not worth dying over, but pretty darn good.  Why did anyone ever coin the phrase - to die for - anyway?   Would you really be willing to die over an exceptional meal or slice of cake?  No food is that good.   Anyway - the Black Dog  cookbooks share some great recipes too, I recommend ordering one if you want to treat yourself. 

 This was our view from the Harborside Inn, where we've stayed when only on island for a long weekend.  Right smack in the middle of Edgartown and also on the water, it's a convenient location, walking distance to just about everything in town...... 

... including Edgartown Light. Mike and I are early risers, and we've made a tradition of walking to the light and along it's beaches before most people have fetched their coffee from Espresso Love. 

This year I found a live scallop... it hissed and snapped as I tried to observe it... 

 The quiet mornings before the rest of the tourists have come out to play is when I enjoy the island the most.  I can only imagine what the residents think of those of us who invade their space for three months of the year.  On one hand the tourism is great for business, on the other, a big nuisance for the locals. The population swells from 15,000 to 100,000 every year.. can you imagine.  Then throw in a Presidential visit!   We got in before the POTUS this year. 

  The walk to the light brings us past so many stately old sea captains homes and lovely cottages full of whimsy..... their gardens very well tended and brick walks add to the charm.  

This pagoda tree is absolutely HUGE, notice how little the man is standing next to it. 

The story behind it is pretty cool. 

My son, years ago at the same tree... 

 Just down Water Street a few blocks over is the Chappy Ferry - a three car, two minute ferry ride to Chappaquiddick.  

The beaches on Chappy or more wild and untamed with less people traffic.  The Mr. prefers it and so we go.... 

 While it's nice to get away, just the two of us... I miss my kiddos when they're not tagging along.    But don't ya know... two of them  just happened to be on island at the same time. The family of my son's GF rented a house just up and over a few blocks from the harbor.  We had a wonderful evening together, getting to know the new faces and sharing stories with the familiar.

  

We visited the Tisbury Farm Market and oh let me tell you... these jams are - not worth dying for, but pretty darn good.  Especially the Lavender Nectarine.  They ship, fyi. 

We also had breakfast one morning at the Right Fork Diner, at the Katama Air field.  This plane
was made in 1940, the wings made of cloth, if you can believe it.  You, too, can take a 45 minute ride around the island in this dual winged beauty.  We declined - as the Mr. said... "There are many risks in life, and you have to decide which are truly worth the possible worst outcome.   For me, This ain't one of them".  

 Alley's General Store has been in operation since 1858... it's so chock full of sillyness and well as the necessities, a visit isn't complete without a stop in at Alleys just to see what's new and  piled high and grab a drink or three for the trek up island.

   They say the Vineyard is for the Democrats and Nantucket is the Republican Island.  Judging by the amount of Bernie bumper stickers, I say it's probably true.  The POTUS will arrive shortly for his yearly vacation with family, and I hope people will be kind.  Seems they either love when the Pres visits or hate it, depending on how much motorcade traffic and cordoned off restaurants they have to put up with, I suppose.  If I were a resident, I'd consider it an honor, just sayin - 

Thought this was kinda funny... I CAN RELATE. 

 Hope you're having an enjoyable summer - we are, despite the drought and heat.

Until soon -  thanks for stopping by.