Originally we wanted to go to both Martha’s Vineyard AND to Nantucket Island. Nantucket supposedly has trails/bike paths all over the island, but the weather for the ferries did not cooperate. We did not make it to “Nantucket, so …__ __ .”
The weather DID cooperate for going to Martha’s Vineyard on September 24th.
You can’t park at the ferry terminal at Woods Hole. Barry’s bike was not going to fit on the shuttle bike rack, so Barry dropped me off at the ferry with both bikes while he drove to the Palmer Avenue parking lot where he parked, and then rode the free ferry bus shuttle back to the terminal. Due to the morning winds our ferry was diverted from Oak Bluffs to Vineyard Haven, but at least we would get to the island, and the winds and wind direction would be fine to get back to Woods Hole all day from either terminal.
View of the West Chop Lighthouse from the ferry.
We disembarked and set off to explore. As we were biking up the road that would lead us to West Chop Lighthouse, a local told us about a graveyard up on the right that had some distinguished people laid to rest there. So we stopped, and were glad that we did.
Mike Wallace was an investigative journalist who was a regular correspondent on the CBS news program, “Sixty Minutes”. Art Buchwald was an “American humorist” who was best known for his political satire and commentary in his Washington Post column.
Noticing the pebbles on top of the headstones, I wondered if it was instead of the coins people leave everywhere?
Here is what I discovered:
The Hebrew word for pebble is also a word that means “bond.” By placing a stone on the headstone, it bonds the deceased with the visitors. It also is a visual for those connected to the deceased that someone (unknown) visited the grave, and wished to offer respect and honor to them.
It was a quaint cemetery, and certainly an unexpected stop.
West Chop Lighthouse
Telegraph Hill Lighthouse (East Chop)
To Oak Bluffs via the Korean and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge
Oak Bluffs – town area of shops
Flying Horses – A merry-go-round where you really can try to grab the brass ring! This was really cool. We didn’t ride, but we enjoyed watching this round. Love the joy each experienced!
Here is Cottage Park. Quaint, colorful cottages that make their own distinct neighborhood. Some were kept up better than others. I was a bit disappointed with the number of cottages that were in need of some lovin’- either the house itself, the yard – even very small ones, or both.
The following shows a row of cottages that face the center park area. How nice to have this for a front yard. I can imagine how peaceful it is sitting out on the front porch.
Some individual shots of those on the center park lawn.
Within the Cottage Park area is a cool open-air tabernacle for the community.
The Trinity Methodist Church in the same Cottage Park area definitely fits in with the cottage style.
Ocean Park on the Nantucket Sound in Oak Bluffs
We sat at one of the picnic tables here and had our lunch. We decided to take the bus to Edgartown, so we locked our bikes up at a convenient bike rack near the town stores.
Edgartown Lighthouse
Views from Memorial Wharf upper level at Edgartown Harbor
Old Whaling Church (corner of Church St and Main St-Edgartown)
After we returned to Oak Bluffs, we walked around a little more. We were going to check out the Island Alpaca Farm, but it had just closed. Glad we called first! We should have gone there before we left Vineyard Haven this morning, but it wasn’t on our plan.
There really wasn’t anything else we wanted to do that was close enough, so we decided at this point to get home by dark. Looking at the ferry departure times we were pretty sure we could make the next sailing from Vineyard Haven, but we’d have to take off right away, and “seriously bike” the entire way. If we miss that ferry, we’ll have to come back to Oak Bluffs, and hope Barry has enough battery power to make that additional trip. 🙂
WE MADE IT! Glad there was no large boat causing us a delay crossing the Korean and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Drawbridge.
Back to Vinny at Sun Retreats at Peters Pond. This has been a great spot! Tomorrow more lighthouses…
