View of Woods Hole as we left it.
He then cautioned us about many issues. The cut through there it seems is much like many of the passages in the Bahamas. They have trick currents, confusing navigational marks (if they have marks) and hidden obstacles that could pose severe risk. So we spent a bit of time studying the charts and determined that slack water would be about 1130 in the morning so we would cross then. We did and the weather was perfect so we had an uneventful passage and saved probably 15 miles from going through the next good passage through the chain of islands that extend southwestward from Cape Cod.
The Edgartown Light.
We motored the short 11 miles from Woods Hole to Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard because there wasn't much wind and a menacing looking storm cloud that could present serious issues if the sails were up. About half way to Edgartown we got into some heavy rain that lasted about 20 minutes and then cleared off. But between Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard there was very heavy commercial traffic and large pleasure craft running back and forth so constant lookout was required.
Views around the Sound.
We arrived in Martha's Vineyard and took our assigned mooring. We planned to be here or a few days to let a front pass and explore this legendary place. After walking through town it was obvious a few days would not be enough but that's true everywhere. The streets were thronging with tourists and summer residents. This is where many of the scenes for "Jaws" was filmed portraying the legendary town of "Amity."
Today we took our bikes to shore and the rode the ferry over to Chappaquiddick Island where there was far less traffic and beautiful unspoiled rural scenery. We biked out legendary Dike Road and across the bridge where a young woman named Mary Jo Kopechne died in 1969 while allegedly in a car with Ted Kennedy. The beach is part of a natural preserve and was our first beach since the Bahamas. Since we got north this is the first water warm and clean enough to swim in.
When we entered the Cape Cod Canal we saw a boat that we had seen elsewhere. We saw it again when we approached Woods Hole and they called us on the radio. Turns out they have retired but still live in Reston probably less than a mile from where we lived and they kept their boat in the same marina we used to use. So Monday night we met them for happy hour and tonight they invited us over to their boat for drinks with some other friends who we met several years ago when we took our 380 south and also kept their boat at Herrington Harbour. Cruising is really a small world and yu get to know folks fast.
Tomorrow on to Nantucket.
The Chappy Ferry.
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