July 28th Terrific day trip to Martha's Vineyard

After taking two days off to work on my Lander classes, Bette and I got to get to a goal site today, Martha's Vineyard, in Dukes County, which also is a new county for me.  

We landed at the Oak Bluffs landing, then took a bus down to Edgartown, where I was able to get 5 stamps for lighthouses, then back to Oak Bluffs for lunch (pizza slices), then a boat ride back to Woods Hole and then a short ride home-  left the house at 0745, Back by 3.  

Here's the boat:

Rode over on the outside stern, rode back on the inside since it was more than a little warm- 

As we were getting ready to set sail from Oak Bluffs, the Research Vessel Atlantis came into port and docked alongside us-  The Atlantis is attached to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and is actually a Navy vessel.  It steered right in and parked like it was a 40 footer. 

This is the only boat that is specifically rigged for Alvin, a deep search vessel.

Here's a log of the last trip before it ported today.  Must have been doing stuff on the Atlantic Shelf.  

 I did a Bill Trinkle today and got a pretty good shot of a gull suspended on the way over- 

On the way over, got lighthouse views for three lights, East Chop, West Chop, and Nobska Point.  

As we got to Edgartown, I was able to get stamps for these lights:

Cape Poge Light 

East Chop Light 

Edgartown Light 

Gay Head Light 

West Chop Light 

I got to just one marker on the Island, but went by some others in Edgartown which I didn't have time to get-  this one was at Oak Bluff, and is the Soldiers Memorial 

Soldiers' Memorial Fountain

Inscription.  This monument depicting a Union Soldier was erected in 1891 by Charles Strahan, a former Confederate who relocated to Martha's Vineyard after the Civil War. Due to lingering bitterness over the conflict, local Union veterans first excluded him from their gatherings. In a gesture of conciliation, Strahan established this memorial in honor of their organization, the Grand Army of the Republic. As its dedication he professed his loyalty to the restored Union and gave thanks for the abolition of slavery. His wish that "more kindness" would be shown toward his "old comrades" was fulfilled in 1925 when a tablet honoring Confederate soldiers was added to the pedestal. Erected 1891 by Charles Strahan. Marker series. This marker is included in the Markers Attached to Sculpture marker series. Location. 41° 27.43′ N, 70° 33.367′ W. Marker is in Oak Bluff, Massachusetts, in Dukes County. Marker is on Seaview Avenue just from Ocean Avenue. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oak Bluffs MA 02557, United States of America.   Also saw these two new plates today: All in all, just a terrific day.  I also got two pins, and a toy boat for the MV Martha's Vineyard, which was our boat- 5 stamps, and good weather to boot! Not sure about what to do tomorrow-  Need to get up to Longfellow House/Washington's Headquarters in Cambridge for some stamps, and a stop at Sudbury Mass for several blue goose stamps- will probably do that.