Nantucket

Frieder and I traveled to Nantucket this weekend along with some friends (Pat, Bill, and Tine).  We've been to Martha's Vineyard multiple times, but had yet to visit Nantucket.  It is a bit more difficult to get there, since it is a good deal farther offshore and there are no ferries out of Woods Hole.  The journey involved driving to Hyannis (about an hour away) and then taking an hour long ferry ride on the fast ferry- the slow ferry trip is two hours!  Here we are on the ferry, eagerly awaiting our arrival with lots of energy.

Frieder and Bill had some of the worst coffee I've ever tasted- they were wishing they had a beer like me!

Once we got there, we spent some time walking around the quaint town, complete with cobblestone streets and narrow one ways.  Here is a photo of Main Street.

We had some nice coffee and treats in town before loading up on our bicycles and hitting the road.  Nantucket has a great network of bike trails, making it possible to access most of the island without having to share space with vehicles.  The paths usually parallel the road, and are wide and flat.  The center of the island was beautiful- low trees and lots of bushes.  There were some grape vines growing along the side of the path in one area, but no one was brave (or silly) enough to taste any.  We biked from Nantucket town to Siasconset, a village on the eastern most portion of the island.  There, we went for a quick swim in the Atlantic (it was very chilly!) and spent some time lounging on the beach.  Someone abandoned a wiffle ball and bat, so we played around a bit in a sort of 4 person (Bill was sleeping) makeshift ball game.

We took a route along the northern half of the island, our next destination being Cisco Brewers.  Once we made it there (a long, hard ride later), we enjoyed some beer and chips in the yard, with music in the background and kids and dogs playing around.

We hopped back onto our bikes, although a bit grudgingly as we were already tired, to head back into Nantucket town.  We eagerly grabbed some dinner, a few more beers, and then loaded back up on the ferry to go home.  We managed to see a good portion of the island (biking around 20 miles), go for a swim, eat good food, hear fun music, play wiffleball, and generally have a gosh darn good time!  I'd recommend a trip there to anyone who has the time (and money- it is pricey!) to go; it is definitely a special, unique place.  To sign off, I'll post the only photo of yours truly from the day- I spent most of my day behind the camera!  Till next time,

Liz

Happy Friday everybody!  I do like my job at WHOI, but I'm always glad when Friday rolls around, for a couple of reasons.  One is that the weekend is finally here!  Another reason is that we splurge on Friday and drop Prancer off at "doggie daycare".  It is a bit silly, but she gets to spend her day playing with other dogs out in a big yard with tons of toys in it, instead of spending another day at home waiting for us to return from work.  I drop her off in the morning, and in the afternoon when I pick her up, we go to the nearby conservation area for a nice long walk.  The walk is not necessary for her (she's already pooped), but since I've been cooped up inside all day (most of the week actually!) I look forward to a walk through the woods and meadows that make up Crane Wildlife Management Area.  The place is huge, and I have to be careful to pay attention to where I'm going- I've missed a turn before and gotten us a bit lost!  Fortunately, Prancer doesn't mind since she is at her happiest when she is running around, enjoying the "wilderness" (it is about as wild as it gets on Cape Cod).  The trainer that we've been working with has helped us achieve the ability to let Prancer run off-leash, and she couldn't be happier.  She comes when called, knows how to heel, and is generally great company when you leave the sound of the road behind, exchanging it for birdsong and the sound of the wind in the trees.  I've attached a photo of her about to enter one of her favorite meadows on our route- there are usually lots of birds that fly away as soon as they catch sight of her, but she keeps on dreaming that one day she'll catch one.

Since we got home, she's been conked out on her bed, showing no signs of life except the occasional deep breathing and paw twitching that tells me she's having a good dream.



I'll be trying to post photos often, even if it is just one at a time.  This weekend should be an exciting one- we have plans to go to Nantucket on Sunday!  We have never been there, but the island is supposed to be very beautiful, and a lot of fun.  Stay tuned.
-Liz

Hello all,
I'm starting this blog as a way to communicate with friends and family. I'll share stories and photos about my activities and adventures!

First up: we recently traveled to a small cabin near Manchester, Vermont and stayed for a long weekend to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary.  The cabin was wonderful- it was in a great location and had a fun rustic style.

Prancer (she's on the left) and Frieder (to the right!) enjoying the drive up.

This is the cabin we stayed at for 3 days- Prancer loved hunting frogs and minnows in the pond.

Hike to Lye Brook Falls one afternoon. The scenery was beautiful, and the trail wasn't a bad workout!