Exploring Martha's Vineyard
Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Tue 17 Jul 2012 22:00
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Today was an excellent if rather hot day exploring
part of the island on hired bikes.
The hire shop was conveniently close to the dinghy
dock and we were soon set up with our bikes. Our route took us along the narrow
strip of land between the bay and Lagoon Pond then off the road looping round to
East Chop Lighthouse and on to Oak Bluffs. Here we spent some time at the Oak
Bluffs Campground. It is not what you might expect from the name. started in
1835 by Methodists who set up large tents in the summer around the preachers
podium in a sheep meadow. Numbers grew over the years and the tents became more
elaborate eventually being converted into ornate little timber houses. More
than 300 survive and while not now strictly Methodist, alcohol,
tobacco, loud music etc are still banned. The houses are carefully restored and
very expensive. However Oak Bluffs became a fun place to holiday because in the
late 1800s a secular group liked the idea of a holiday camp and thought it
would be even better with plenty of drinking, smoking and dancing so they built
their own camp next door, which caused a bit of bother at the time. However it
has lead to Oak Bluffs being the centre of the holiday scene on Martha's
Vineyard so after a peaceful shady tour of the little houses, museum and
tabernacle Kirsty and I rode down to town for a very good lunch.
A steady ride down the long road along State
Beach to Edgar Town worked off the excess calories. Here after stopping for a
look at the busy harbour we rode along streets of the old elegant homes
of wealthy whaling captains, most of which bear the name of the original
owner. We looked round a small museum here before heading back to Tisbury by the
more inland route. Although much of our cycling had been along roads they
all have a cycle path alongside and separated from the highway. Shopping and a
meal on board finished off the day.
 East Chop
Light
Taking a rest on the seafront at Oaks Bluff
  Cottages at the
Campground
The 19th century tabernacle
 Bishop Haven's cottage. he campaigned for civil
rights in the
1870's
Oldest operating flying horses in the US built 1876
 Edgartown
Harbour
Edgartown
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