Drilling to Chappy

And speaking of utility lines - I happened upon the crew that was setting up its equipment to begin laying a new conduit in order to repair damaged electrical lines to Chappy the other day, a project which has since commenced (full Gazette story here).

David Scott, foreman and owner of Bay State Piping Co., Inc., explained to me that they would be blasting out a channel (hydraulically, I believe - kind of like pumping for clams with Cy Norton) some thirty feet beneath the bed of the harbor.

Being a techno/gadget/gizmo geek, I found the equipment, as well as the whole prospect of drilling beneath the harbor, quite fascinating. I mean, who on earth invented these machines and devised the method for this kind of project?

So, plan on lower Dock Street and Memorial Wharf being in a mess for a while.











































David Scott












































The drill's entry point.

Norton Point Breach

Katama Bay

I had a hankering to walk down to the opening at Norton Point, to the breach that burst open a couple of years ago down harbor, causing Chappy to be a true island again, and causing the tides to boil on through Edgartown Harbor, just as they did when I was a kid.

The breach has migrated eastward over the past couple of years, so it was a farther walk last week than it was when I first had the idea, back when it was brand new.

 Nevertheless, my friend Fran and I handled it with aplomb - yep, we still "got it."

It was a gorgeous evening - my favorite time of day to walk; a bit cool and windy, but the hike over the sand warmed us up in no time.
 

Fran

South Beach, looking west

Piping plover

Katama Bay in the distance, facing up-harbor, with the opening wrapping around to the right,

Katama Bay, looking west toward Matakeeset Creek