Day 1: a car for an hour, a ferry for an hour, three buses took two hours and finally the harbor of Menemsha, on the island of Martha's Vineyard. The Richard & Arnold at the dock and Dave waiting, I was happy to see that not much has changed - the houses, the boats and the people as I remembered, inviting and warm. Actually it was one of the hottest weeks of the summer season, but I had the most refreshing swim at the beach near the harbor, looking back toward the mainland, west facing. The water was cool, clear and salty. Dinner was fish and lobster, of coarse. Day 2: Awake at 3AM. Dave started the engine and let go the lines. It felt like the middle of the night, so I stayed in the bunk ---Big mistake. An hour later I found myself sea-sick and unable to stand up. I lie on the deck like a wet fish and roll around most of the day wanting my headache and queezyness to go away. Every ten minutes I ask Dave "how much longer?" The gods of the sea looked down on me with pity and we arrived back at the dock around noon. Not bad. I changed into a bathing suit and went first for a swim then for a shower. Very refreshing. Dave and I ate lunch on shore, on the dock . A cup of chowder and saltines for me. A seafood sandwich for Dave that he called a "chimmmy-chonga". A friendly fisherman Tim, who owns and fishes the old 'Bottom Scratcher' renamed 'Four Kids' gave Dave a ride to a pharmacy to buy bonine for me. There was no Dramamine left in the whole village at Menemsha Harbor. I'll bet I'm not the first mariner to go begging for it.
Day 3: Much better, the stuff works. We headed out again at 4AM but this time I got up and went on deck to see the night turn to day as we headed south toward Gay Head Lighthouse and past the tip of the island. Noman's Island lay as a grey lump on the horizon off in the distance. The sea was running 5-6 feet, it was rougher than the day before, but the pill was working it's magic and I was able to help a little with the sorting of fish. The piles are small and Dave had the deck cleared in less than fifteen minutes. The fish were slow coming and he decided to move, closer inside, not as rollie and easier for me. We bruise easily at our age. Dave ate eggs and sausages, I lived on water and crackers. The regulations allow for 300 pounds of Fluke per boat, per day with five days allowed each week and so we were back at the dock by one o'clock. I went for a swim, showered and had lunch with my honey and then with mixed feeling, I hopped the bus at 4PM, then the ferry and then the car. Dave calls me "a tough lady". I was asleep in my own bed by 10PM- but recovering took two days. It was a memorable three day holiday and you know what? I'll have to do it again - I forgot to take pictures.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Off To Martha's Vineyard Island
Posts have been non-existant due to change-over in compters, i'm still working it out. Meanwhile I will be joining Dave on board our sweet new/old boat. I look forward to the visit. Dave said, "Bring your draimimine." I know it's a joke but I will most likely feel queezy at some point in the trip. He never gets sea-sick and that just isn't fair. I haven't been away from home since driving back and forth to Gloucester last winter. This time I'm leaving the car in Hyannis, it will be like old times -traveling on my own to far off places. MVI is not far, as the crow flys, but all day on car, boat and bus will be all the adventure I need. Events at the Blessing of the Fleet in Provincetown at the end of June will stay with us forever. Family, friends, loved ones gathered to share a space on board our Richard & Arnold. I'll post pictures taken by Steven Kennedy from onboard the boat. There's one of me that I kinda like, I'm not fond of having my picture taken. Dave on the other hand never takes a bad photo. The harbor where I'm heading will most likely be baking in the sun like every place in America right now. I remember being in downtown Ciaro in 1992 and it was 120 degrees in the shade. Move slow, drink water and stay out of the noon day sun. I also remember being in Menemsha, a tiny bowl that has no cell phone reception, when it felt just as hot. I'm going to get away from my responsibilities and to feel the water under me again. I'll fish with my honey for three days, from 5AM to whenever we catch our daily limit-which doesn't take long since the quota is so small, but that's another story. dave and I try to avoid the conflict with overzealous burourcrats, we just say, "yes'm and do their bidding." It's a sore subject and one better left to tell in the book, 'Nautical Twilight'. It's all there in black & white. So now we we have an 80 year old hull that may one day be a sailing / fishing yacht. Or maybe we will have to take all the fishing gear off and sell our permits to some big company, who can afford to buy our share. I know for sure that our Richard & Arnold will out live Dave and me, and most likely all the people in all the offices that have been hired to keep an eye on one old man and one old boat
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