Jonathan Livingston Seagull

7:30 am, destination: Steamship Authority, Woods Hole, ETA: 10:00. Temperature: 94. It's a hot one today! Excursion to the Vineyard...the yearly car ride, boat ride, bus ride and jaunts to the picturesque seaside towns on Martha's Vineyard. This year it's the three of us, Jane, Dennis and I. We jump into the buggy and off we go. Our parking lot was moved from Gifford to the Thomas Landers Lot which we were unaware of and which is a bit further away...a small change in timing but we still "get to the boat on time". Forty-five minutes and several photos later we arrive in Vinyard Haven. The scenery and atmosphere are just beautiful...always. Every year that we come to "The Vineyard" I'm just as excited as the year before. The glistening water, the soft colors, the warmth of the sun, the smell of the sea, the views of the shoreline and the entry into the dock as we approach for "debarkation" ...breathtaking. I have countless snapshots from years past of the same landscape, but, that doesn't stop me from taking just a few more. These photos are embedded in my memory as well as my computer, but I snap a few more just the same. It's a good thing I have "lots of film". Denny is already off the boat, having a smoke and waiting for us.

We walk up the street and start our tour at Mix, a little shop with a bit of everything. On we go through Vineyard Haven where see small changes here and there. A shop or two that we loved in the past no longer exists and is already replaced with another.... new and just as exciting. Some gorgeous boutiques with gorgeous prices....these are our "quick stops" while Dennis patiently waits on the nearest bench. Bus passes are purchased on the bus and we are, once again, on the road to Oak Bluffs, our next stop on this day trip. By now, hunger has set in.

We wait about half an hour for a table at a restaurant Jane and Dennis discovered in the Spring. They really liked it and thought it would be a great place for our lunch today. We stop in and wait for a table for three.....no air-conditioning at this restaurant. The heat is sweltering. Not only are we melting, we are parched! The place is packed with summer tourists, so we wait...patiently. Enough is enough ... Dennis takes control and makes the decision to try another place. We walk into Giordanos on Main Street and what a relief! The AC hits you when you walk in the door...and, a sight for sore eyes....an available table! Perfect! Tall glasses of ice tea all around and nice fresh salads for lunch. Fueled and hydrated, off on foot again to check out our favorite shop, Laughing Bear. Not much to be had this year but it's still fun to look.

Next stop Edgartown...Janes favorite stop every year. Edgartown, home of Bryan Walker, home of the Jane Lucas wardrobe! This shop has beautiful linen fashions and accessories in every color. Jane has every color and every style Brynn Walker ever made. She could open a Brynn Walker store. She comes here twice a year. Just ask her...she'll tell you! The first visit is her birthday trip in April where "Brynn" has 70% off..." so how can you not stock up"?! The second trip is in July, our day trip, which this is, to scout out the new selections, purchase an item or two and wait for April and return for the motherload. Bright orange pants beckon from the window...."ooohhh, look at those! I love that color, I'm going to try those on", says Jane. The next thing you know, we have a top and a scarf to go with it! Happy as clams, we are! There is Dennis, once again, patiently waiting on another bench And informs us that if we want to visit Menemsha, we need to get rolling. Unfortunately, the time has gotten away from us and the round trip travel to and from Menemsha would not get us back to the ferry until very late. This hot sun has taken its toll on the three of us and we decide to head for home.

We suddenly realize we are on the wrong bus and heading for the wrong town to catch the ferry. Next bus should be coming along shortly but will not get us to Vineyard Haven on time so we decide to jump on the car carrier and head back with the semi tractor trailers. It was actually a great idea. We did this once before and it gets us back to Woods Hole quicker than the regular ferry. Part of the fun of the ferry ride is capturing Dennis feeding the seagulls in flight, which is another happening every year. Dennis is the birdman...it's either pretzels or cookies which he shares with the seagulls. This year we have one gull which I call Jonathan Livingston. Dennis is feeding the cookie to him by hand. Jane and I are clicking away with our cameras and capture some great photos, if I do say so myself. What do you think??

We hop into punch buggie and off we go, top down, scoot out of town and once we are on the road, Dennis starts to play the music! Jane and I start singing along with Van Morrision, Simon and Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Elvis! Best part of the day! Great night for a buggie ride. We stop at Sundae School for sundaes and a "leg stretcher" then back on the road which brings us home at just about midnight. The "house" is asleep.

It's been a great adventure...I'm already looking forward to next year...

Can't wait to see everyone in the morning and hear all about how they spent their day...but for now, sweet dreams ...