We used Block Island as our jumping off point to get to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. We left around 8:30a.m. and shortly after getting away from the anchorage we ran into pea soup fog. It was so thick that we had less then 1/4th a mile of visibility. I wanted to turn around but we decided to go for it instead. Like our gulf crossing in Florida once again we found ourselves driving solely by radar. Not fun! We both watched around us and on the radar. At one point Jeff said, “there is a boat coming right at us.” Then all of a sudden out of the fog appear a powerboat going full speed right for us. Jeff honked the horn several time and had to turn hard to starboard in order to not get hit. While that was our most intense moment the entire day for 7 hours was very nerve wracking. Finally about a mile from Martha’s Vineyard the fog lifted and none too soon because the passage into Martha’s is very hectic and busy with tons of commercial boat traffic and lots of pleasure craft. Thank god we could finally see again. Once into Vineyard Haven we opened a bridge and tucked into a quiet anchorage away from all of the hullabaloo. We took a few moments to regroup and relax from the tension of the fog. After, we lowered the dinghy and headed for town. A late afternoon stroll through Vineyard Haven was nice. It was quiet with just a few families and people walking around. It was hotter then hell and very humid. We got relief while ducking into a few stores and soaking up their air conditioning. We spent a quiet night on the boat taking in the scene, swimming off the boat and cooling off in our air conditioning.
Traveling in Fog
Bridge Before Anchorage
Tidings of Joy Anchored in Martha's Vineyard
Downtown Vineyard Haven
Downtown Vineyard Haven
Cool Store Entrance Behind Fireplace - Vineyard Haven
The next day we decided to do some exploring. We found a bus that would take us to other parts of the island - Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. We really didn’t know anything about these areas so we wanted to check them out. Martha’s Vineyard is huge. There are four or five distinct areas all unique and very spread out. You would need a car or bus to access all of them. When we arrived in Oak Bluffs finally we felt like we were in the “real” Martha’s Vineyard. It was crowded with lots of people, shops, restaurants, bars and tours of all kind. It as a bit overwhelming. We walked around a bit then hopped back on the bus for Edgartown. As Oak Bluffs was crowded Edgartown was empty. There was nothing there. We passed by a beautiful beach and then there was a restaurant in Edgartown and that’s it. Needless to say we stayed on the boat and returned to Vineyard Haven and the boat. It was nice returning to our quiet anchorage after the busy tourist areas. We swam and watched the wind surfers cruise by. They got so close to the boat I thought for sure they were going to hit us but somehow they didn’t.
Windsurfers Martha's Vineyard
Sunset From Boat - Martha's Vineyard
Gingerbread House - Oak Bluffs
Gingerbread House-Oak Bluffs
The next morning we would venture onto Nantucket. We both were very excited about this port. For a very long time we have talked about cruising our own boat there and finally it was happening. Thanks to good travel weather we were able to make it to our furthest point east. Only four hours from Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket was a bustling harbor full of giant mega yachts and small wood sailboats. We got a morning ball in the large mooring field and were ready to see Nantucket. Again we launched out dinghy and went out exploring. We walked cobbled main street and the various other charming side streets lined with shops and restaurants. It was another blazing hot day so we decided to take an air conditioned bus tour to get the lay of the land. The driver/tour guide was a retired state senator and a very interesting person. We learned the history of Nantucket and saw the oldest house, the oldest working mill and even Bill Belichek’s summer neighborhood in Sconset. Overall a very nice way to see and learn about the town. After our tour we ventured into this cool bar that was an old train car and had a drink. Since we had been out for so long we needed to return to the boat and run the generator for bit to charge up the batteries. While doing so we made dinner and watched the sunset. We were so excited to be in Nantucket we decided to go back into town after dinner and walk around. We really didn’t have a destination in mind we just wanted to be out. We cruised around the same streets till it felt like we were walking in circles then returned to the boat for the evening.
A Boat We Know From the Bahamas
Dinghy Dock Nantucket
Main Street Nantucket
Old Mill Nantucket
Lighthouse Sconset
Outside Train Car Bar
Evening Nantucket
Oldest House in Nantucket
Nantucket is known for it’s whaling museum and rich whaling history so the second day we went straight to the museum which fortunately was air conditioned because it was very hot. We learned all about whaling in Nantucket and attended a lecture about what it was like to work on a whaling ship. While interesting and informative it made me (the vegetarian) very sad. The bartender from the train car recommended a good place for lunch where Jeff could get a lobster roll. Unfortunately it wasn’t that great and my salad was so small (three slices of beats with some pistachios on top) that I left hungry. Still blazing hot we decided to return to the whaling museum and catch a documentary all about Nantucket and it’s history. It was done by a man whose last name is Burns. Not Ken but we’re thinking a relation. The film was very well done and the cinematography was breathtaking. A nice way to spend a hot summer afternoon. Jeff decided he wanted a t-shirt so that was our next mission. We found one on one of the piers and also stumbled upon a really nice seafood shop where Jeff got a piece of swordfish to grill back on the boat. We made a nice dinner and watched the sunset. Another great day in Nantucket.
Whale Skelton - Whaling Museum
Whale Museum
Pretty House - Nantucket
Houses Nantucket
House on Stilts Nantucket
Evening Nantucket Harbor
Mooring Field Nantucket
Sunset Nantucket
Sunset Nantucket
Originally we had planned to leave after two days but we loved Nantucket so much we decided to extend one more day. When I woke up that morning Jeff said he had a surprise for me and that he made a lunch reservation in Sconset at a place we passed on the bus tour. I found there was live music playing at the brewery too so our day would be a full one. We hopped on the local bus to Sconset and walked around a bit before lunch. There is only a post office, wine shop and two restaurants in Sconset and that’s it. That and Belichek’s summer home. After strolling around for a bit we walked to lunch at the Chanticleer. A very cute french restaurant with a merry-go-round horse in front. The service was not very good but the food was so we just relaxed and had a very leisurely lunch. We hopped back on the bus to town to catch the free shuttle to the brewery. We packed into the brewery van with two other couples and the driver told us all the features of the place. It was not at all what I was expecting. I thought we were going to take a tour and have a tasting. Instead it was set up more like an outdoor market. There were several food trucks there an then three different bars each serving what they brewed there - wine, beer and scotch. The place was packed mostly with 20 somethings and there was a live band too. Fortunately we got a seat and met two nice families - one from Scottsdale the other from Boston. They were around our age and very nice and easy to talk to. Finally it got so crowded none of us could take it anymore. We said our goodbyes and Jeff and I hopped back on the free shuttle. A great ending to our time in Nantucket.
Chanticleer Restaurant
Chanticleer Restaurant
Sconset
Downtown Sconset
Brewery
Brewery
Friends We Met At Brewery
Crowd at Brewery
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