Date(s) Hiked:
August 7-11, 2004
Trails(s) Hiked:
None
Total Distance:
Biked: 36 miles (approx 12 off-road)
Kayaked: 4 miles
Walked: approx 8 miles
Difficulty:
Trivial
Conditions:
Warm bordering on hot, clear, sunny days. Cool, clear, dry nights.
4' to 6' swells on the return ferry.
Special Required Equipment:
Kayak, mountain bike with 50% road tires, ferry ticket, compass, sunscreen, your choice of sugar or waffle cone.
Trip Report:
Sometimes the mountains have to wait. As we do every year, my friends and I grouped together to rent a house on Martha's Vineyard for a week. This is a fantastic way to get away: no car, no computer, no TV, but all the luxuries of home, like soap, hot water, a real bed, and a supply of ice cream.
I'll spare you the personal details; however, there are a few particulars to report that are relevant to outdoor recreation:
For less than $20 I was able to rent a Kayak from Winds Up! in Vineyard Haven. They're right on Beach Road and have a small beach for put-in. We were able to cruise the very shallow northern stretches of the Lagoon before getting out in the deeper areas. We managed a four mile round-trip in just over an hour. They also rent day sailers, sailboards, and canoes. Bring your own dry bag.
Any visit to the Vineyard cries out for a bicycle. Leave the car home and ride the two-wheeler all over the island on its numerous bike paths and rolling roads. An excellent sixteen mile loop from Oak Bluffs is to go south along the State Beach bike path towards Edgartown, with beach and ocean to the left and Sengekontacket Pond to the right (also a kayaking destination), then grab the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road bike path up to the center of Vineyard Haven, and from there take Beach Road to New York Ave and back into Oak Bluffs. Bring plenty of water (a camelbak is great) and load on the sunscreen before you start. Don't be surprised by the rolling hills ... the island isn't completely flat!
Another great ride for the fatter tires is to head into Correllus State Forest, an area of 5,100 acres crisscrossed with 15 miles of trail, ranging from a paved bike path to dirt fire roads to wondrous single track. We spent several hours pedaling the bikes throughout the area and didn't see a single person except on the paved sections. It's not wilderness - it surrounds the airport and is buzzed with plains (and you may come upon the chain link fences). But it's a great ride in great condition with virtually no erosion. Total 20 miles round-trip from Oak Bluffs.
Circuit Avenue runs through the heart of Oak Bluffs, does not allow bikes, barely squeeks the cars through, and existed in our minds for only two purposes: in the afternoon, to get to the dockside bars serving Margaritas, and in the evening to get to the three ice cream shops. Mmm!!! Justify that biking and kayaking with a chocolate-dipped waffle cone filled with oreo cookie ice cream, and enjoy it hiking ... er ... strolling through the gorgeous gingerbread houses surrounding the Tabernacle.
It's an island, and that means either being wealthy and flying over (meaning I hate you) or taking the ferry. On a day like today, that may mean heaving seas and heaving passengers. Personally, I enjoyed the ride, being bounced and thrown around, though it was difficult to sip from my Nalgene when the deck would drop a foot or two without warning. My bike, however, ended up soaked with salt water. Time to wash and lube!
This weekend it's off to NH again, and a reminder that as good as fresh jambalaya or oysters-on-the-half-shell can be, it's freeze-dry that's in my blood; I thrive with not a bed but an air mattress under my butt, not a waffle cone but a pole in my hand, and not a view of the beach, but of the northern woods. Aw, who am I kidding. Even this ardent mountain lover can't resist the call of the ocean. And the ... beach.
I did not climb a single 300-footer while I was there.
August 7-11, 2004
Trails(s) Hiked:
None
Total Distance:
Biked: 36 miles (approx 12 off-road)
Kayaked: 4 miles
Walked: approx 8 miles
Difficulty:
Trivial
Conditions:
Warm bordering on hot, clear, sunny days. Cool, clear, dry nights.
4' to 6' swells on the return ferry.
Special Required Equipment:
Kayak, mountain bike with 50% road tires, ferry ticket, compass, sunscreen, your choice of sugar or waffle cone.
Trip Report:
Sometimes the mountains have to wait. As we do every year, my friends and I grouped together to rent a house on Martha's Vineyard for a week. This is a fantastic way to get away: no car, no computer, no TV, but all the luxuries of home, like soap, hot water, a real bed, and a supply of ice cream.
I'll spare you the personal details; however, there are a few particulars to report that are relevant to outdoor recreation:
For less than $20 I was able to rent a Kayak from Winds Up! in Vineyard Haven. They're right on Beach Road and have a small beach for put-in. We were able to cruise the very shallow northern stretches of the Lagoon before getting out in the deeper areas. We managed a four mile round-trip in just over an hour. They also rent day sailers, sailboards, and canoes. Bring your own dry bag.
Any visit to the Vineyard cries out for a bicycle. Leave the car home and ride the two-wheeler all over the island on its numerous bike paths and rolling roads. An excellent sixteen mile loop from Oak Bluffs is to go south along the State Beach bike path towards Edgartown, with beach and ocean to the left and Sengekontacket Pond to the right (also a kayaking destination), then grab the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road bike path up to the center of Vineyard Haven, and from there take Beach Road to New York Ave and back into Oak Bluffs. Bring plenty of water (a camelbak is great) and load on the sunscreen before you start. Don't be surprised by the rolling hills ... the island isn't completely flat!
Another great ride for the fatter tires is to head into Correllus State Forest, an area of 5,100 acres crisscrossed with 15 miles of trail, ranging from a paved bike path to dirt fire roads to wondrous single track. We spent several hours pedaling the bikes throughout the area and didn't see a single person except on the paved sections. It's not wilderness - it surrounds the airport and is buzzed with plains (and you may come upon the chain link fences). But it's a great ride in great condition with virtually no erosion. Total 20 miles round-trip from Oak Bluffs.
Circuit Avenue runs through the heart of Oak Bluffs, does not allow bikes, barely squeeks the cars through, and existed in our minds for only two purposes: in the afternoon, to get to the dockside bars serving Margaritas, and in the evening to get to the three ice cream shops. Mmm!!! Justify that biking and kayaking with a chocolate-dipped waffle cone filled with oreo cookie ice cream, and enjoy it hiking ... er ... strolling through the gorgeous gingerbread houses surrounding the Tabernacle.
It's an island, and that means either being wealthy and flying over (meaning I hate you) or taking the ferry. On a day like today, that may mean heaving seas and heaving passengers. Personally, I enjoyed the ride, being bounced and thrown around, though it was difficult to sip from my Nalgene when the deck would drop a foot or two without warning. My bike, however, ended up soaked with salt water. Time to wash and lube!
This weekend it's off to NH again, and a reminder that as good as fresh jambalaya or oysters-on-the-half-shell can be, it's freeze-dry that's in my blood; I thrive with not a bed but an air mattress under my butt, not a waffle cone but a pole in my hand, and not a view of the beach, but of the northern woods. Aw, who am I kidding. Even this ardent mountain lover can't resist the call of the ocean. And the ... beach.
I did not climb a single 300-footer while I was there.
