Martha's Vineyard

Resist -Gotta love Massachusetts!

As it turned out we decided that since Hurricane Jose was now turning our way perhaps a trip to Nantucket would be pushing it.  We did not want to be stuck out in the islands with a hurricane bearing down on us.  So our new plan was to visit Martha's Vineyard and then head into Long Island Sound (originally our plan was to sail from Block Island, RI to Cape May, NJ but Jose put an end to that plan).  We decided we would go up the Connecticut River in Long Island Sound as far as Essex and wait out the hurricane.  Determined to squeeze in a visit to Martha's Vineyard we headed that way before heading to the Sound.

Oak Bluffs Cottage

 In order, to reach Martha's Vineyard we had to sail through Woods Hole Passage.  The current runs very swift through the passage and there are numerous buoys marking different areas that make it confusing for a stranger.  It is necessary to study the chart and mark your passage well or risk getting dashed up against rocks that are conveniently located in the middle of the passage!  The current runs about 4 knots and sometimes higher.  Talaria was speeding along at 10 knots!!  Martha's Vineyard was named for Bartholomew Gosnold's deceased daughter Martha.  Gosnold is credited with the first known European expedition to Cape Cod.  The story is that when Gosnold first saw Martha's Vineyard the island was covered with wild grapevines.  Hence, Martha's Vineyard.  Wild grapevines are still all over the island they are just not as noticeable as in 1602 apparently.  Gosnold is credited with naming Cape Cod and the nearby Elizabeth Islands as well.  Martha's Vineyard has 6 towns and you can ride around the entire island in a day - which we did.  We moored Talaria in Oak Bluffs and then took the city bus all around the island!  

Oak Bluffs, one of the six towns on Martha's Vineyard Island is known for its little cottages.  This area of the town was once a Methodist camp.  People came year after year and set up tents and then eventually built the little cottages.  Those cottages are really a site to see.  Each gingerbread house unique from the next. 

Cute!!

Little Pink Houses for you and me

Martha's Vineyard has no streetlights, no traffic lights or billboards!  Yay!!  We were pleasantly surprised by the lack of ostentatious homes - most were very humble.  Most all are cedar shake with white picket fences or stacked stone fences.  And there are not alot of paved roads - many are just dirt roads.  Surprising considering the affluence of Martha's Vineyard. 

Gay Head Cliffs

Gay Head now known as Aquinnah, the native Indian name, is at the other end of the island.  The native Americans who of course were living on the island long before the Europeans arrived used to make beautiful pottery from all the different colors of clay from the Gay Head cliffs.  But that has come to an end as the cliffs are eroding.  

The island is beautiful and not what we expected which made it even nicer.  Very glad we visited.  Nantucket another day!