Strictly on a whim, and with hope of maybe seeing some seabirds, I drove to Hyannis at 4:45 AM to catch the 6:30 AM "Traditional" (read that slow) ferry to Nantucket, a 2 hour and 15 minute trip.
With the exception of a few common and least terns, there was nothing to be seen. My ambition was just to ride out and back, with hope of just jumping off in the 30 minute break before the return, but I changed my mind, hired a taxi for an island tour, and saw so much of what Susan and I enjoyed in our one summer on Nantucket, 1968. That summer, Susan worked in a gift shop, I drove a truck for the Holdgate Laundry, and played in the town band in the gazebo at the foot of Main Street in Nantucket Town.
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| On the 6:30 AM slow ferry, the high-speed one jumping out ahead. |
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| Very foggy morning, stayed that way until almost before I arrived back in Hyannis |
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| Always some interesting marine life |
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| Hmmm, breakfast! |
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| And the local breakfast club |
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| Passing a Hyannis-bound High-Speed |
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| Arriving in Nantucket Harbor, even more fog. |
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| How magnificent! |
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| The famous Brant Point lighthouse, so famous among artists |
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I've heard that a lot of yacht owners, when a yacht comes into harbor that is larger than yours, you
immediately pull anchor and find another harbor where you can be the biggest!
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| This view seems unchanged. |
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| Looking up the cobblestoned Main Street |
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House at the top of Main
Street
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This may have been the bandstand I played in back in '68. I couldn't find anyone that could confirm
how old this was, but it was definitely in the same place.
The band was run by a couple, she the conductor and he the baritone player. They came to New England Conservatory and
auditioned students, and once accepted, found them summer employment on the island, and then played in
the band on Sunday nights.
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This is the little town of Siasconset on the opposite end of the island.
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| Typical view out to the ocean from Siasconset. |
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| Sankety Head Lighthouse |
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Back on the ferry, another look at a very beautiful ship. She reminds me of a
Baltimore clipper
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This very un-interesting shot is of a spot in the breakwater where, in 1968, at midnight, the captain of
the fishing boat I was in decided to race through this at 30 knots, missing the rocks by mere feet, and
scaring the beejusus out of me. By that time, however, I had my 28-pound Striper.
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| Interesting, very fast boat. |
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| Nantucket-headed "Woods Hole" ferry. |
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| Totally un-fazed by the close passing of our huge ferry. |
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| Charter fishing boat |
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Sailing as it should be, in a cat boat, probably a Crosby.
On the island, there was a 32' Crosby for sale. $6ooo. For me it might as well
have been 6 million. Oak, teak, mahogany. Grey inboard engine. Cabin for 4.
Unbelievably beautiful. If I had bought it, my life would have been
completely different. |
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| The lovely, graceful Common Tern |
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| Back in Hyannis Harbor. Couldn't find out whether this was a charter cruise boat or private. |
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| High-speed ferry again. You save about 90 minutes of travel. |
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| Sight-seeing cruise. |
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Back home in Hyannis.
The sun came out in the last hour of return, and the record-setting head for
the week-end is beginning.
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