Good-Bye Martha’s Vineyard!

Jim says:

Today we catch the 1:00 PM ferry back to mainland…as it is called by the islanders. As a farewell gesture, here’s a chance to see some never-before-seen photos of the island. The reason they’ve not been seen before is because I just took them in the last couple of days!

Here’s two teaser photos…

The porch of a gingerbread cottage in Oak Bluffs.

A private beach club on the Chappaquiddick Island. Some of the scenes from the movie Jaws was shot here.

To see the other 31 photos, just click this link…
http://picasaweb.google.com/jimjrver/MarthaSVineyard061410#

For our final day on the island yesterday we returned to the prettier, less-populated eastern end and enjoyed 10+ plus miles of bicycling. Then back to Menemsha, our favorite place on the island, for another delicious seafood lunch. Ymmm!

We enjoyed a real peaceful setting during the last week. On a road in our campground with ten camping spaces…we were the only ones there. I’m so glad we decided to be here before the kids get out of school for the summer. It won’t be so quiet then!

Our camping spot for the last week.

After a delightful week on Martha’s Vineyard, we’re now planning to hang out on Cape Cod for the next ten days. Hey, it’s a lousy job…but someone’s got to do it!

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2010
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.panamaorbust.com

The Flying Horses Of Martha’s Vineyard!

Jim says:

On Saturday we went back to Oak Bluffs on the island of Martha’s Vineyard specifically to experience the Flying Horses. It was closed when were there on Thursday.

Of course, Mary had to actually ride one of them!

The Flying Horses in Oak Bluffs is the oldest still-operating carousel in the United States.

It’s so old the horses do not go up and down.

Mary got a bunch of rings but unfortunately, not a brass one.

The carousel was built in 1876 and moved to Martha’s Vineyard in 1884. The original carousel horses had real horsehair manes and tales, and their oxide eyes each contained a tiny hand-carved animal – traditions carried over to the current horses. The current carousel has been well cared for and is in excellent condition. Good for another 100 years!

I did not ride them as I’ve done so several times in the past. Besides, I had to take Mary’s picture for you to see her in action! I love Mary’s exuberance of life. In many she’s still a child and still gets excited over the many things we share together. I hope she’ll always remain that way.

Here’s the official website link…
http://www.mvpreservation.org/carousel.html

Here’s a Wikipedia informational link…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Horses_Carousel

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2010
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.panamaorbust.com

PAINTED LADIES AND DOLL HOUSES

San Francisco’s Painted Ladies have nothing on these beauties in miniature. Painted Ladies with all the rick-rack are common everywhere in New England. Marthas Vineyard is studded with them, but here, in the village of Oak Bluffs, these famous cottages resemble doll houses. Roof to roof in a circle surrounding a Methodist Church and outdoor Tabernacle, this Camp was established in 1835. The Tabernacle was built in 1879. The neighborhood expands and continues the theme.

Oak Bluffs on wikipedia tells all about these cottages and the Methodist Camp.

We weren’t the only tourists looking and taking pictures. I guess its expected. There is a cottage museum, which we couldn’t find, though we didn’t look too hard. It was enough to enjoy them from the outside.

We saw one family unloading their car for a stay in their cottage. Most of them are summer homes. They just smiled and didn’t seem to mind us taking pictures.

In fact, this cottage neighborhood is on the National Historic Register.

In some places the roof lines were joined by fret work, or stand a mere two inches apart.

One fascinating thing about them is that the porch decorations and roof line decorations are all different. We looked over more than a hundred of these cottages and no two were the same. Most had comfortable chairs, benches, often rocking chairs,  on their porches as well, usually painted to match the color of the cottage.

In town, the buildings are just as interesting. In fact,  Jim’s Aunt and Uncle, Jim and Rita Oesting owned and operated a business in this building for many years before retiring to Florida.

Another of Jim’s cousins, Rebecca Nicol, decided to work the island for the summer at Sandy’s Fish Market. Sandy’s was voted as having the best fish & chips on the island, so, of course, we indulged.

This grand old hotel is in the town of Vineyard Haven. We visited and gawked. The day was rainy and gray, but it didn’t diminish our enjoyment at all.

Vineyard Haven & Oak Bluffs On The Island Of Martha’s Vineyard

Jim says:

Yesterday was cool with light rain and Mary decided she wanted to walk through shops. On the island of Martha’s Vineyard don’t look for chain stores like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Costco,…etc…there are none! Most folks simply refer to Martha’s Vineyard as “The Island”.

First stop was Vineyard Haven.

Here’s some photos I took in Vineyard Haven…

There are lots of roads like this on the island.

The main street of Vineyard Haven.

The old hotel.

The Vineyard Haven movie house.

The Bank Of Martha’s Vineyard.

Here’s a Wikipedia informational link about Vineyard Haven…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vineyard_Haven,_Massachusetts

Next we went to the Town off Oak Bluffs about 5 miles distant…

Here’s some photos I took in Oak Bluffs…

The main street of Oak Bluffs.

In the 1960′s and 1970′s, my aunt and uncle ran an ice dream parlor in this shop. Today it’s Sharky’s Cantina.

The Martha’s Vineyard Camp-meeting Association began in 1835 and celebrates its 175th Anniversary this year.

There are many gaily colored gingerbread cottages in the camp-meeting association.

Some of them are very close to one another. There’s only two inches between roofs here.

This Camp-meeting Association Tabernacle was built  in 1879.

The interior of the open-sided tabernacle.

Here’s a Wikipedia informational link about Oak Bluffs and the Martha’s Vineyard Campmeeting Association…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_Bluffs,_Massachusetts

On the way back to our motorhome in a campground near Vineyard Haven we stopped at Sandy’s Fish & Chips (voted best Fish and chips on the island for the last several years) to visit with my cousin Jackie’s daughter Rebecca who works there. I last saw her many years ago when she was just a toddler.

My cousin Jackie’s daughter Rebecca.

Then back to the motorhome for an afternoon nap before happy hour.

Just another peaceful and relaxing day in the life of a full-time RVer!

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2010
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.panamaorbust.com