On island

It's been a whole week
and, gratefully rain has fallen all day
keeping me indoors to do a bit of work
and now, finally
begin sharing all the things i've told you
in my head
these past seven days.

In all the years i've been coming here
this was the first time my travel was delayed a day
by a nor'easter
which
if you know this crazy elbow of sand
is astounding.

And, of course
because i chose to stay home
in case there was a big blow
the forecast winds never really materialized.
Even so, it was nice being snug at home while it poured rain
rather than driving the 6 hours to Hyannis and crossing my fingers
that conditions did not leave me sitting in the terminal for hours
or overnight.

i have arrived by small plane on 3 or 4 occasions
but it is now so ridiculously expensive
(one could fly to California or Europe for the same buckage)
i don't have to explain why i drive
then board a boat.

i actually prefer taking the ferry
although not the "fast boat"
i almost always choose to go to the island aboard
the old steamship that lumbers along
taking 2 hours to bring me here
allowing me to watch the mainland slowly disappear behind us.

 

Satellite image of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket

 

It was still plenty windy
and on the boat
it was hard to tell if the moisture was just fog
or a rain shower
but as we passed the jetties leading to the island's harbor
the sky lightened and i went out on deck where
the sweet sea air washed over me
and i felt as if i were coming home.

Beverly picked me up and we
stopped by a friend of hers
so she could say goodbye before she left the next day
and then we drove west
away from town
to Madaket

 

GoogleEarth image of the western tip of the island and the marvelous, ever changing (and treacherous) patterns of sand bars in Madaket Harbor

 

where we chatted
then stood before the glorious sunset
setting fire to the edge of the departing storm

Comments

[Juls]

I seriously need a good dose of ocean. Thank you for letting me live through you vicariously!

[Wendee]

I have heard, but never really thought to look into the geography of that part of the country. These images really help explain so much. The sand bars must be fascinating - - nature, never resting. I hope your time there, in contrast, is/was restful. Enjoy the salt air and all those sunrises and sunsets!

[Lucy]

Wondered where you'd been! The earth images are fascinating.

[Janine]

Wonderful images. I love the ferry too, we take it every year to Vancouver Island on the West Coast. I wouldn't trade it to fly in for anything :)

Enjoy!