Martha kicked our butts

Odometer: 14930


Gas: 2.69


It has taken me a few days to gather enough courage to revisit this day to write the blog.

Well, this day was one of those that seemed like a great idea, and we had to do it, but turned into a relative disaster. It all started with a major meltdown the night before by Zoe, and we are learning it is like a peds GA - she tends to wake up doing the same thing she did when she fell asleep. So around 5:30 Zoe woke up kicking and screaming - and then it all went downhill from there.

The ferry to Martha's Vineyard was an hour drive from the campground. They were all booked up on cars, so we had to hoof it with the kids. OK, fine, lets plan on the 9:15 boat. Well we made it to the port town with plenty of time, only problem was, they lead you into the parking lot only to wait in a car line to be told to drive 10 minutes to the overflow lot. Once at the overflow, you wait in the dirt lot, then hop on the bus for a twenty minute ride to the ferry terminal. Once there, you wait in a twenty minute line for boat tickets. Then you wait for the next boat, which is a 45 minute boat ride to travel a grand total of 7 miles.

OK, we make it to the island. A large island. With not alot of taxis, too few buses, a rental car is $200/day, no golf carts or bikes with trailers. hmmmm. Lets walk around the port town. 10 minutes later . . . ok, how about lunch. Hmmm, walk up pizza, sit down french or south american buffet. We ended up at the buffet for a major Z meltdown. 30 mintues later we had some decent yet overpriced food, but at least we were inside for some air conditioning.



It is already past 1pm by now, but we made it to the island, we should at least see one other town. (at this point we should have taken the car on the available 1:30 ferry, but hindsight is 20/20)

We go to the bus terminal and find the bus, each one way ticket is $2 for a 3 mile bus ride. $8 dollars and 25 minutes later, no bus. Fine, lets get ice cream and just get on the next ferry home - nap time is dangerously close. As we walk away, of course the bus shows up - standing room only and we have now lost our place in line - and New Englanders are like Europeans - tough luck on the line thing. We tried, but no bus to the next town. (we wanted to go because that is where the island carousel was).

OK, lets get ice cream then. Decent, not great, but Zoe was happy. Sat in the shade for an hour until we could get on the ferry home. Another 45 minute boat ride, then 20 minute bus to finally get back in the SUV so Zoe can finally crash asleep. Ah, quiet drive home finally. :)





Anyway, the island, what little we actually saw was nice, but nothing special. Granted we did see some large homes from the ferry and we never saw the far side of the island where the celebrities vacation, so I'm sure if you have money and are in Boston or NY, this is a nice spot. But I wouldn't trade the California coast for it, that's for sure.

I don't even remember what we did that night, I think maybe laundry? and margaritas?

We did have a great campsite in Middleborough - with a patio and table, so that made home clean and nice for this 3 day mini- adventure.


Ok, done rambling - lessons learned: take the fast boat with your car to Martha's Vineyard.