No, not the depression.
Sorry, not the brothers either.
I’m talking about the colors.
Living in Maine, most of our winters are white. But there’s also a lot of beautiful blue…
And when a storm is moving in?
It’s really quite lovely.
These were all taken through my dirty winter windows last month, so be kind.
But spots and all..
You have to admit winter blues are pretty.
Even the ones that turn out kind of weird.
Even with the milder winters we’re having, we still see our fair share of snow, ice, and sleet. But temperatures are warming and we’re not seeing those epic dumps of the white stuff like we used to.
This used to be a normal February.
Tunneling was a way of life.
Now? We get a few inches and it melts.
Then it freezes.
I am so done with ice.
Yes, it’s pretty.
But when walking to the mailbox means you might slip, fall and crack a rib?
You can have it.
Give me a foot of snow over pretty shining crystals any day.
And with all that snow, melting and ice?
This –
A leak in the roof.
And what looks like an expensive repair to the ceiling.
It’s the worst possible time of year for it.
So from now until spring, when we can get it fixed, I’m going to cringe every time it rains.
Good times.
The tiny village of Woods Hole.
Home to the famous oceanographic institute… where you can visit, but can’t park your car.
Also home to a drawbridge….
And some wonderfully odd ships popping out of nowhere.
Our original plan was to visit the institute but when we realized we’d have to park downtown and walk ( in a 20 degree wind chill, after just hiking the Knob in a 20 degree wind chill) we opted for the aquarium instead.
I’d read it was small and didn’t get my hopes up…
But they actually had a large diversity of marine life….
As well as some fascinating exhibits.
No, not all the fish were pretty.
But it’s the weirdos I like best anyway.
Like this fellow….
And his large friend.
Pardon all the background noise, it was rather crowded the day we went.
Did anyone else realize loggerhead turtles were so freakin’ big?
Here’s someone you don’t want to step on accidentally.
This next guy looks my husband’s grumpy uncle.
Imagine having that stare at you across the Christmas dinner table every year.
Fish scales can be counted like tree rings?
Another thing I didn’t know.
I was beyond thrilled they had Lion Fish.
They’re my favorite!
Okay, yes.
They’re poisonous as hell and would just as soon kill you as look at you…
But aren’t they grand?
I mean come on…
Wouldn’t you risk a little venom…
To sidle up next to one of these beauties?
Yes, you read that correctly.
We visited the Knob.
I admit to being Knob ignorant before a local told us about it….
But it was our last full day on the Cape and it was on our way to Woods Hole, so why not?
Of course I wasn’t exactly dressed for hiking…
But I never let improper footwear get in the way of a good time.
Most of the trek was through the woods.
But there were a few scenic spots along the way.
And a few blisters in the making later…
There it was.
The Knob.
And one adorable…
Very photogenic dog.
Who I made friends with while the husband…
Started talking politics with a nice guy we met along the way.
45 minutes and numerous dog photos later…
I finally got him on the move again.
Did I mention it was freezing cold with a biting wind?
Well, it was.
But we made it to the Knob….
Where I was glad to see they cared about their rocks.
Some Instagram girls were there ahead of us, making the most of the backdrop.
Until the husband promptly ruined it for them.
Well, if you insist.
The view from the Knob.
Knob seen and photographed, we headed back.
With the inventor of Trip Advisor’s house in the distance.
Duly warned against rock theft, we continued back to the car…
And peaceful Quissett Harbor.
The Pilgrims Monument in Provincetown. We came, we saw, we climbed.
And climbed. And climbed. And climbed….
Photo of my husband wondering why we don’t take relaxing vacations on the beach like normal people.
Completed in 1910 to commemorate the Pilgrim’s fist landing in Provincetown on November 21, 1620…. the tower is 252 tall and rises 350 feet above sea level.
(Those are Christmas lights radiating down from the top, not support wires. Because hey, if your monument is held up by wires? Even I’m not climbing it.)
No alcohol allowed? They really know how to kill a girl’s spirit.
This is the tallest all granite structure in the United States, and every single massive piece of stone came from my beautiful state of Maine.
Stairs?
There were a few…
But thankfully there were ramps as well.
And on the day we visited?
It was so cold, windy and damp, the walls were sweating.
We climbed what seemed like forever…. and still had a long way to go.
But there were windows along the way which we opened to peak out.
At which point the wind practically knocked us down.
Granted, looking down was a little nerve wracking.
Good thing my vertigo didn’t kick in, I’d still be there.
Onward and ever upward… we neared the top.
Run my *ss.
Gimme a few more years and I’ll be crawling.
A few more flights….
Yay!
The top…
Where it was raining….
And blowing a friggin’ gale force.
Time for a quick wild haired selfie…
And a walk around the less windy sides with P’town spread out below…
A farewell to the gargoyles.
And we headed back down to collect my sticker.
I’d earned it!
Martha’s Vineyard is lovely.
An oasis of windswept rugged shores…
Small fishing communities…
And marshlands.
But the sun was going down and there was still too much left to see! The husband told me we had enough daylight for one more site, so I knew it had to be Oak Bluffs.
Everyone we spoke to recommended we go there and see the marvelous Victorians, so we did.
Not really sure where we were going, or where they actually were, we found a narrow street…
And a few rows of small houses. Yes, they were cute…. but I figured that couldn’t be what all the fuss was about.
And then we turned a corner.
And the houses got larger.
And larger.
And larger.
And larger still.
In a word?
Stunning.
One after another, lined up facing the ocean.
It was quite impressive.
Naturally, I’m hanging out the window like a crazed canine clicking away, taking pictures of as many as I can.
Pretty close.
Just imagine her holding an iPhone….
I wanted to get out and walk but the husband was having none of it.
Yes, the day was ending….
But… but…
I know I didn’t photograph them all!
( It wasn’t until I returned home and did a little research that I realized we had missed the most famous part!  Next time. )
Sun setting…
We headed back to the ferry….
And got ready to say goodbye to the beautiful Vineyard.
Who doesn’t love a lighthouse? Raise your hand.
If your hand is up, go sit in the corner while the rest of the nice people enjoy this post.
We didn’t have any luck exploring the first lighthouse we’d found since it was on private property, but hope springs eternal.
Decisions, decisions.
East Chop has a lighthouse?
Decision made.
Yay!
A lighthouse….
Boo… a gate that closed it to the public.
0 for 2, we headed to the next one. We’re nothing if not persistent.
Onward!
But apparently not that way.
In case you’re wondering? I’ll take that house, right there.
Oh, alright. I’ll take Idris Elba as well.
So… Gay Head Light.
We found it, parked down below and walked through the gate.
Then we saw it.
It…
And the gate that blocked the entrance to it.
May I just say…. WTF Martha’s Vineyard?
Strike 3. Okay, I give up.
There it is, a perfectly nice lighthouse.
I’m sure it was marvelous inside, not that we’ll ever know.
But the views of the Aquinnah Cliffs?
Admittedly, pretty wonderful.
Wind?
A wee bit.
Goodbye hairdo. Next trip to the Vineyard? I’m wearing a hat and never taking it off.
And because every vacation post must have rocks?
Rocks.
Rocks that mark the sight where the lighthouse originally stood.
Rocks.
Rocks with the late afternoon sun.
You’re welcome.
