When one is at Martha's Vineyard, one keeps an eye on the weather. One week, many years ago while we visited, it rained each and every day. Some beach holiday that was. And I've heard similar horror stories from friends and acquaintences who've visited.
So we've been watching the weather. On our second day, watchng the weather, we decided to make this our traditional one day to watch the sunset at Menemesha, a little port town on the western end of the northern shore of the Vineyard. Showers and clouds were threatening the latter part of our week.
Menemsha is about the most perfect spot to watch the sun set. At the end of its pier, lined with a couple of lobster and fish stores, is a lovely little beach and then the gentle waters of Vineyard Sound, much calmer than the south shore's Atlantic Ocean. The sun sets directly off the beach, framed by the sails of passing boats and the silhouettes of children playing in the sand - picture perfect. Part of our tradition is a lobster dinner. We prepare the salad and other accompaniments and Larsen's, one of the two takeup/fish stores on the pier, provides the lobsters, steamed to order and ready for one's pre-sunset dinner on the beach. Not bad.
Menemsha faces directly into the setting sun.
Sun Goddess at the beach in Menemsha.
Menemsha bathing beauties.
Sculpture at Menemsha Beach.
Menemsha is an idyllic place. The backdrop to the beach and harbor is beautiful panorama of dunes covered with long grasses and hills dotted with beautiful Cape Cod beach houses. A bicycle ferry takes cyclists across the narrow harbor opening so they can continue along the south shore to the western end of the island at Gay Head.
Menemsha pier and houses.
A long view of the beach and surrounding hils and homes.
The culmination of our day at the beach comes at sunset. The sky and sea are filled with changing shades of blue and red as the sun reaches for the horizon. More people have arrived to watch the last few moments of daylight. As the sun finally sets, applause breaks out and then we linger for a few minutes more before setting off for the return trip to our house, now sitting in the dark of a Vineyard evening.
Setting the sun at Menemsha - our ritual.
People have gathered to watch old Sol say goodnight.
Stacey and Al in the fading sunlight.
End of day - Menemsha.
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