September 30 - October 2, Martha's Vineyard

Day 3 - Sunday, October 2

Of course, the day we left dawned sunny and not a drop of rain in sight. I am seeing a disturbing trend here... Cold, rainy weather throughout my trips, and good weather the day I leave! Ah well. Mother Nature!

I am starting to think I am doomed to forever stand in the cold rain taking pictures of my beloved lighthouses and the ocean!

Packed up quickly and checked out, and headed toward the shops in downtown Oak Bluffs. I called the ferry early that morning while having my coffee to ensure they were indeed departing from OB that day. Yes, it was.

Perused a TON of shops in OB in the limited time we had, and bought a few souvenirs, etc. I do not have a lot of pix from Sunday, as most of the time was spent browsing and sighing over shops that were not open or did not open until later (Sunday).

Stopped for a quick lunch at Linda Jean's, right in the middle of the Avenue. Excellent food and service (and quick)! Brother had a crab roll; I was in the mood for grilled cheese. Had a random encounter while there - one of our servers from the previous evening at Oceanview Restaurant happened to be working there!

Linda Jean's

Extremely nice kid; personable and ambitious. Saturday night he was our main waiter; Sunday he was one of several. He had mentioned the night before he worked at another restaurant during the day, but he did not say where. It was totally random, and one of those little "happy accidents" that we just happened to run into him.

How cool was that?

Too soon headed back to the ferry. Vehicles are supposed to arrive 1/2 hour before the ferry departs.

Ferry pier

On the pier

In line for ferry

Did get a few pix, and there are some of my (in)famous random pix at the bottom of this post :)

There was actually a lot we did not get to do and see, so brother and I decided we should make a return trip to the Vineyard in the Spring (when hopefully the weather will be better). There is an alpaca farm I would like to see, plus Aquinnah's cliffs and lighthouse (did not make it there - not enough time!). I would like to get in a whole day of perusing the shops as well!

Hotel review, with pix!, will follow in a day or so.

Random, Oak Bluffs

Random, Oak Bluffs ocean

Random cottages, Oak Bluffs

Random, Oak Bluffs

September 30 - October 2, Martha's Vineyard

Day 2 - Saturday, October 1

Having stopped at a local grocery store for coffee, filters, and 1/2 and 1/2 (first-thing-in-the-morning necessities!) Friday, I was good to go for a bit on Saturday. Brother wanted breakfast, and as our destination was Edgartown we headed that way. Our goal was sightseeing, a museum, and a light house :). And breakfast (the Inn did not have food).

We stopped at a likely looking restaurant in Edgartown, but their breakfast service was just over. My brother asked if there was another place in the area. He can be very charming, especially with the ladies! The cashier, quite helpful after he loaded on the charm, pointed us in the direction of several local spots.

We opted for Edgartown Diner - what a wonderful place! I love diners, and this one was great. Diners (the REAL ones) serve no-nonsense hearty food, and this was no exception! I had a huge omelet, and brother had eggs benedict. Juice and coffee, of course, and we were good to go!

Saturday's weather was not quite as bad as Friday's, although it was still quite drizzly and chilly. Headed through Edgartown towards Martha's Vineyard Museum. It houses a wealth of history!

The museum winds its way from room to room, each with a different exhibit. It explains how Martha's Vineyard was formed and broken off the mainland milleniums ago when the glaciers melted. The whaling and shipping industries took place during more recent centuries (early and late 19th century, respectively).  Some of the artifacts they house are absolutely priceless. 

Furniture, musical instruments and a myriad of items salvaged from ship wrecks in the early 1800s. Articles of clothing actually worn during the early days of settling the Island and as the Vineyard gradually turned into a resort area.

The display of scrimshaw in the museum!! Wow. Absolutely outstanding. I have never seen so many beautiful pieces displayed in one place at the same time. There was even a cribbage board made of scrimshaw.

Scrimshaw

Scrimshaw

Scrimshaw

Scrimshaw

Scrimshaw cribbage board (top)

 The museum had a room in progress with a few exhibits of Native American art which they are expanding. The Island was originally home to the Wamapnoag, one of the 4 tribes officially recognized in Massachusetts. The Vineyard has been their home for over 10,000 years. The pottery produced from the clay of Aquinnah is absolutely goregeous.

Pottery from Aquinnah clay

Dioramas.... Again with clipper ships!! Beautifully done and so very fascinating to me.

 

 

Clipper ship diorama

Whaling ship diorama

 
 There were also a few out buildings as well, although not accessible to the public (for obvious reasons). A carriage shed housed a wooden carriage and hearse, and several wooden boats ("cats") made especially for navigating the shallow waters of the Island, as well as a Native American canoe - all hand-hewn. It was protected by plexiglass and (mostly) plastic in the front, which makes for terrible pictures.

Finally, there was a small replica of a lighthouse that housed the original 1856 Gay Head Fresnel lens which was displayed at the 1855 Paris World's Fair. At the bottom of the lighthouse - which is not open to the public - its first lens (parabolic) rests.

Museum lighthouse

Fresnel lens

The Fresnel lens is a first order lens - the largest made.

Old parabolic lens

From the web site: "The first order Fresnel lens that is on the Museum's campus was ordered for Gay Head Lighthouse, in order to provide it with a more powerful light. This lens was made in France in 1854 and served as the Gay Head Light from 1856 until it came to the Museum in 1952. The Fresnel lens was replaced at the Gay Head Lighthouse by an electrical beacon."

 


After the museum, we drove around Edgartown a bit more. Turned back toward Oak Bluffs, and stopped at the East Chop lighthouse! I was so, so happy!! We ran into a wedding party who was just finishing their photos on the lawn by the lighthouse. It was drizzling and chilly, and I felt bad for the bride wearing a strapless gown in that weather next to the ocean! She had a big smile, however :)

East Chop lighthouse

East Chop lighthouse

East Chop lighthouse

After all that, we both needed an adult refreshment, so we ended up in downtown OB again, and wetted our whistles at the MV Chowder Co. 

It was right across the street from the Flying Horses Carousel, which houses the oldest known wooden platform carousel still in operation in the US.

From the website: "The Flying Carousel is the nation’s oldest platform carousel and has been designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a national landmark. Constructed in 1876 by Charles Dare, it is one of only two Dare carousels still in existence. Originally operated as a Coney Island, NY amusement, it was moved to Oak Bluffs in 1884."

Entrance to carousel

So of course - we had to take a ride! We got the last one of the day, and alas I did not catch the brass ring. It was still so much fun!!

Carousel

Carousel

Headed back to the Inn after that. Brother wanted a short nap before dinner, but I knew if I took one I would end up sleeping for hours. So I took some pictures, and sat on the porch for a bit and perused some literature.

We had decided on a nice dinner that night, and chose the Oceanview Restaurant in Oak Bluffs. It was excellent and it was perfect! I was in desperate need of steak, and got a perfect sirloin. Brother had prime rib. We were both so full after dinner we could not eat another bite, so we each ordered dessert to go. Well I did anyhow! Brother ordered a slice of key lime pie, and could not resist taking a bite. One led to another and another :) - he had eaten almost half of it by the time we paid the bill and headed back into the bar for after-dinner drinks.

Blender issues again! No frozen mudslide that night :( I did, however, get an excellent (non-frozen) mudslide.

Headed back to the Inn, had a nightcap, and made a loose plan to peruse the myriad of shops in OB Sunday before the ferry back.

Day 3, and more pictures! will follow tomorrow.

~~~~     ~~~~     ~~~~     ~~~~

I am adding a footnote about the museum and their stewardship from their website. It is an excellent cause and one that peaks my interest, and that is why.

Museum Stewardship
As the steward of these lighthouses, the Martha's Vineyard Museum is raising money to maintain these functioning historic beacons. Admission and rental fees are used to help offset the costs of maintaining these structures. The MVM also encourages donations from the public to help renovate when necessary. If you are interested to donating money to the Museum's efforts to preserve the lighthouses, please consult the Support Page for more information. Or, contact the Director of Development Dan Waters at 508-627-4441 x121.

September 30 - October 2, Martha's Vineyard

Part 1 - Friday, September 30

Ladies and gentlemen! If you are following, you will get a treat spread out over the next few days (with lots of pix!) :) Several posts on Martha's Vineyard.

My brother and I headed out mid-morning Friday to catch the 12:00 ferry from the Cape. The weather was not spectacular, but we made it in plenty of time and I was able to get a few pix. As many times as I have taken the ferry, I have never taken my own vehicle over. So this was a first!

Crossing

Crossing

We got a seat inside, as the weather started to turn once the ferry was underway. The ocean was pretty choppy, and you could even feel the ferry rock (which is rare). Fortunately neither of us is prone to sea sickness. So my brother and I celebrated the start of the weekend with a beer during the 45-minute crossing.

We were supposed to land at Oak Bluffs. However... we landed in Vineyard Haven. I recognized the terminal as soon as I saw it, but did not say anything to brother. There was no announcement as to why the change in landing, but it did not really matter as the terminals are not terribly far apart (and I knew where I was).

I drove around for a bit, and we scoped out the general area in search of lunch. We ended up at the Lookout Tavern in Oak Bluffs, directly across the street from the OB terminal. It soon became apparent why the change in terminals: loss of power (the guy in the bucket truck was a give-away!).

Fueled up (brother had a Ruben, I had chicken salad sandwich with cranberries), I handed brother the car keys, and we drove around a bit more in the local area (hotel check-in was not until 3:00).

Unfortunately the weather took a really nasty turn that afternoon. It was extremely windy, very chilly, and raining hard.The waves were coming over the sea wall as we drove towards the Inn.

Ocean

We arrived a bit early, but our rooms were ready and we were able to check in. What a place! The rooms were huge, and each of us had a kitchenette. My room had a full-size refrigerator! I will post about the inn separately.

We headed back to downtown Oak Bluffs for dinner at Martha's Vineyard Chowder Co. One of my brother's favorite foods is clam chowder, and this restaurant has won awards for years for their chowder (I researched it before we left). I do not care for it, but there were plenty of options on the menu! I wanted him to get the full experience :)

I had scallops with wild rice and minced veggies, and a wonderful cream sauce. Brother had the clam chowder and baby-back ribs. My scallops were to die for!

Ribs & chowder

Scallops & wild rice

We had an extremely interesting night, to put it mildly! They seated us in a corner, and there was a large table of at least 12 people about arm's length away (tables are very close together). It was a 50th birthday party! The birthday boy was sporting these funky glasses and a party hat, so I asked if I could take his picture. I ended up with several!

Birthday boy

Birthday boy

Turned out we had the same taste in socks :) I was wearing a pair of argyles, and he had just bought some that he had to show off! Loved them!!

Comparing socks

Birthday boy's socks

When he got his cake and champagne, for some inexplicable reason the entire table turned and toasted me after the birthday boy. They even gave me a glass of champagne (I never turn that down!!).

How cool was that?

Cake

Not only did I make friends with the birthday people, I made some friends in the ladies' room! There was a bit of a wait, and a bunch of girls ahead of me. I was wearing my converse sneaks that night, and 2 of them expressed their love of my Kicks! Especially when I displayed they were high-tops!

Blender issues that night. Dinner and excitement done, I wanted a frozen mudslide. The restaurant did not have a working blender (really?) but pointed us in the direction of a bar up the street. Sharky's. They did accommodate!!

Frozen mudslide at long last!

Perfect ending to a great, and totally offbeat!, day. I thoroughly enjoyed myself :)

Saturday's adventures will post tomorrow!