Return to Martha's Vineyard - Part III

If Oak Bluffs is the Vineyard's rough-and-tumble, no holds barred town, then Edgartown is its representative of staid elegance. Beautiful inns, old sea-captain mansions, upscale restaurants and shops, it lies at the southeast point of the island. Just across a tiny body of water lies famous Chappaquidick island, only two minutes away via the On Time ferry.

Stacey and I rode our bikes, via a lovely forested bike path, eight miles into town for lunch at the Seafood Shanty, a restaurant with deck overlooking beautiful Edgartown harbor.

Our bike trip to Edgartown via the bike path running through the state forest. The yellow push pin is our house and the green arrow, Edgartown. Click for a more versatile Google map.

Here's the kitchen and dining area in our lovely MV rental.

Edgartown has wonderful old homes -- elegant and classic. We didn't spend much time this year looking around...so not so many pictures of the town's beautiful homes. But if you're visitng, this town is worth a several-hour walking tour to discover its beauty and charm.

The Old Whaling Church (1843) of Edgartown was designed by Fredrick Baylies, Jr., and was built for Edgartown's Methodist whaling captains. It's regarded as one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in New England.

Beautiful and interesting old house on Winter Street.

Stacey relishing clams at the Seafood Shanty.

We walked the town a bit, poking around the shops and I got an ice cream from a shop where the young girl was from Poltava in the Ukraine. I asked her if she knew the town where my dad's parents came from, Hadiach (pronounced Ga'-dyech in Ukrainian. And she did! The first time I've ever met anyone who heard of the place. After our walk we biked back home, retracing our route in.

The bike path crosses the W. Tisbury road and bikers have to stop and wait for the traffic.

An interesting note: On the entire island there is only one traffic light and even that one doesn't turn red and green. It simply blinks a warning to traffic approaching a crossroads in the middle of the island. Everyone refers to it as "the blinker."

Most of the time the bike path runs straight as an arrow. The section above is an exception to the rule.

You like the smell of pine needles? Take a ride on an MV bike path -- pine scented heaven!

Tomorrow - we visit the farmer's market and ride up-island to Gay Head for some beautiful ocean views.