Martha's Vineyard - Day 4

♫Rolling in the Deep♫

Journal entry:  4:09 a.m.  I've been up since 3:30.  I ate too much lobster roll.  I'm enjoying the quiet--only one car now & then.  6:46 a.m.  I slept another hour & I'm feeling perkier.  ☺


It is Saturday and we're heading for the West Tisbury Farmers Market in West Tisbury, but it is only 8:00 and it doesn't open until 9:00 so we stop in at the Polly Hill Arboretum along the way.  The visitor center does not open until 9:30 but the grounds are open for us to enjoy.... 

We are still too early so we drive through the West Tisbury Village Cemetery to look for Nancy Luce's grave.  She came to be known as an eccentric who lived in the 1800's and was called the chicken lady because she loved her chickens as pets and would mark their graves with headstones when they died.  Over the years people have left chicken statues at her grave.  We could not locate it, however, and went on to the farmer's market where I asked about the grave and was told they'd probably been temporarily removed for mowing....

I am drawn to the flower displays in particular and end up buying the one bunch this seller has to offer....

...which must be carefully wedged against my leg in our little car so the milk carton full of water they're in does not spill....

We head on down to Aquinnah which ironically is located at the southwest end of the island and in the part of the island referred to as up-Island.  After inquiring about it I am told up-island refers to the fact you must drive uphill to reach it.  It is quite noticeable as we drive along South Road because there are gently rolling hills and the coast line is falling away from us.  We arrive at the end and walk to the overlook and are surprised by the steep cliffs....

The Wampanoag, which means People of the Dawn, were already on the island when the first Europeans landed here in the 1600's.  We want to walk down to the beach along the cliffs (I spy someone walking down there) but find the only way to the beach is way over on the other side of the point and then a long walk on the beach to get back to the point below the lighthouse.  They have restricted access to the area surrounding the cliffs for conservation reasons, so we enjoy it from afar....

                               

We drive to Menemsha because Ken has read there is a really good fish market there.  We plan to eat supper there and watch the sunset so we want to check it out.  This swordfish sculpture is near the parking lot....

I explore the beach while he checks out Larsen Fish Market....

We drive back to Vineyard Haven, exploring new roads as we go.  Ken buys himself a swimsuit in town because he decides he wants to swim in the ocean before we leave.  We stop at the library to look through their collection of Vineyard Haven books.  This West Chop Lighthouse, now a private residence, is just up the road on Main Street....

Back at the house I put my new flowers on my little table and catch up on my journal writing....

At 5:00 it's back in the car for Menemsha.  I walk along the beach looking for sea glass and shells....

Ken goes off in the opposite direction....

When it's time to eat we find the fish market crowded and the wait too long, so we head for Oak Bluffs to dine instead.  The clouds roll in as we eat our supper consoling ourselves that the setting sun probably couldn't be seen anyway.

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