Friday Morning After the Rain

I was inspired by the clearing skies on Friday morning following Thursday's big rain to get off the couch and out of the house before sunrise, hoping to find interesting skies and seas, and I was glad I did. My mission also included testing the new G7. So, off I went, loaded for bear with two EOS Rs, the 70-200, the 15-35, and the G7 (mostly to check out its video capabilities). My first stop was the Edgartown Reading Room, where I found an inner harbor still full of boats, and a view northeast towards the yacht club, the light house, and the rising sun; then onward to South Beach, where I found a flooded parking lot, a congregation of seagulls, a lone fisherman, roaring surf, and a misty sunrise.

This Changes Everything

January 26, and finally a wee bit of the white stuff. Having lived in Maine and Vermont at various times in my life and having experienced real winter, I have to say I do miss it. This little dusting will have to do. I love how snow changes everything, even if only briefly (because we all know this will turn into rain in very short order).

 

What's the Difference?

So I'm not seeing a lot of difference between the Corona lock-down of March, April, and May and the lock-down to avoid the tourists and traffic that we Islanders are forced into every June, July, and August. This is the time of year when Islanders go nowhere, except between the hours of 6:00 - 8:00 a.m. (the only time it is even barely tolerable to go grocery shopping, tying in nicely with covid-19-designated geezer hour), and mostly live on spaghetti, tuna fish, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I am hunkered down at home, mostly in the back of my house due to the traffic on Main Street being faster and louder than ever, and the massive (truly obscene and completely out of scale for this neighborhood) new house going up across the street (my third straight summer with major construction going on next to me, but this one takes the cake). I do get out on my bike most afternoons and ride up to the Bend for my swim, and if I manage to get up early enough I'll take a walk or bike ride through town before it gets busy. Today was such a morning, and here are the results (and this bright summer's day will also get me back on my bike this afternoon for my swim).




Early morning light, Edgartown Harbor. Today will definitely be a swimming day.

Steaming out to the fishing grounds.

Chappy Ferry, doing her back-and-forth thing.

George Joubert, prepping horseshoe crabs for the conch pots. Did you know that horseshoe crab blood is used to treat cancer?

Whiling Away the Hours

Sometimes, walking while talking on the phone makes my brain function a little better and the conversation flow a little smoother, and before I know it, I've walked a couple of miles. And, with my hands-free gear, I can also grab a few photos along the way. Nothing terribly new here - same path, different day, different light.



The Vincent House, widely acknowledged to be the oldest house on Martha's Vineyard. The town clock tower a-top the Beautiful Old Church of Whaling Days is to its rear, over on Main Street. These fruit trees will be popping into bloom imminently.

Sheriff's Meadow field - the spot-free sky confirming yesterday's dust-removal victory.







Town wharf, with fishing gear stowed and nary a soul. 
Remnants of by-gone days.

The scallopers are also packed up for the season.

I did discover one new thing - the recently revamped Edgartown Yacht Club now includes a public observation deck, part of Edgartown's ongoing plan to ensure that our harbor and its views are open to all. 



A seagull's-eye view.

Washashore

(above) Ramol(below) A sign for our time. 

Around Town, October 2019

I'm making a concerted effort to get out more, and to remember to take my camera with me. Today was a gray day - kind of blah for the spirit, but just the kind of day I like for photography. Not a whole lot going on, to be honest, but I was glad to run into a little local color - Michael and Clinton - while continuing to acclimate to a new camera.













I was happy to see Michael down at the docks, and, as always, he was eager to sing me a song. 



Clinton, a Fisher in name and in trade, in search of bait fish. 











                                                   Signs of the times.