June 15th and 16th - Martha’s Vineyard

The ferry over to Martha’s Vineyard was fun.  We had a quick drive from RI down to the ferry dock on the end of Cape Cod. Since we arrived early, we were put in the standby line. While we were waiting, we watched a semi back onto the ferry. I had no idea that the ferry would be so large. Luckily, we were able to get on an earlier ferry.    

Our first afternoon here, we drove around the island. We drove over to Menemsha Beach where the fishing boats are. Menemsha Beach is rural and remote. There are fishing stores/shacks where you can buy fresh catch or have them cook it for you. I had clam chowder and a fish sandwich. But there are no tables where you could sit down and eat.  

 Afterward, we drove around the entire island to see what we could see.  We wound up in Vineyard Haven and then were directed to Oak Bluffs to find a beer.

We got up and out early on Sunday morning and walked on the beach for 4 miles. People were fishing, digging clams, riding bikes, and sun bathing. I liked that the beach wasn't crowded and you could park anywhere along the road. After walking, we went into downtown Edgartown and had lunch at a restaurant at the water’s edge.  We looked over and realized that we were right across from Chappaquiddick Island.

 Since it was right there, we took the ferry 150 yards (literally, 150 yards) to Chappaquiddick Island.  I told Rob that young people would not have a clue about Chappaquiddick. (We asked Nathaniel and Ali and sure enough they had never heard of it).  Chappaquiddick is the place where Teddy Kennedy bumped off Mary Jo Kopeckne and got away with it.  We walked across the infamous bridge which now leads to a wildlife area, but we were too cheap (and too uninterested) to pay to go in. 

(I asked one of the locals, and at the time of Mary Jo's demise, the rails on the bridge were only 18 inches).

 Afterward, we drove around the island because when else were we going to be there. We looked at a couple of wildlife areas and toured the Mytoi Japanese Garden. That was actually kind of interesting because one of the caretakers was very knowledgeable about the wildlife. We found a Spotted Turtle which she had never seen before; and we got into a turtle discussion since we've had at least 10 pet turtles (Pookie, Ted, Doris, Morris, Ray Charles, Manitoulin, MicroMan, and about 6 others I can’t remember). 

All in all our visit to Martha’s Vineyard was fine, but Rob and I have both decided that it is not for us. Most of the people who come here rent houses and pretty much do beach or biking family-based activities. There are a few crowded touristy places, but not many.  Most of the island is dry, meaning no alcohol.  You can only get a beer in two of the towns on the island.  And as you would expect, everything here is very expensive. A dozen oysters in Key West is $12. A dozen oysters in Martha’s Vineyard is $34. 

  

Tonight for dinner I had my first lobster roll. A lobster roll is a hotdog bun filled with hunks of lobster. I had a hot lobster roll – lobster in melted butter.  Yeah, I can live with this. When I get to Maine, I will be looking for more.