Island Light: Mariner's Compass
Morning sun illuminates Vineyard's main port, Vineyard Haven.
Morning sun illuminates Vineyard's main port, Vineyard Haven.
Relic from fishing past still moored at the ready in the Lagoon.
Relic from fishing past still moored at the ready in the Lagoon.
Snowscape atop Telegraph Hill with East Chop Light to guide mariners.
Snowscape atop Telegraph Hill with East Chop Light to guide mariners.
Moorings ride the storm out waiting for fairer days to come.
Moorings ride the storm out waiting for fairer days to come.
Erford Burt designed Vineyard Gems spend winter above sea level at East Chop Yacht Club.
Erford Burt designed Vineyard Gems spend winter above sea level at East Chop Yacht Club.
Wesley Hotel greets a new day above the Oak Bluffs harbor.
Wesley Hotel greets a new day above the Oak Bluffs harbor.
Summer rides in a winter wonderland.
Summer rides in a winter wonderland.
Edgartown harbor frozen in time like a Currier and Ives scene.
Edgartown harbor frozen in time like a Currier and Ives scene.
All is calm from Edgartown piers beyond to Chappaquiddick.
All is calm from Edgartown piers beyond to Chappaquiddick.
Geese head for safe haven on West Chop shores as day ends.
Geese head for safe haven on West Chop shores as day ends.
The full Ice Moon's high tides creep up on Lobsterville Beach.
The full Ice Moon's high tides creep up on Lobsterville Beach.
You know it's cold when Aquinnah's artesian well freezes.
You know it's cold when Aquinnah's artesian well freezes.
The wind blows around Island houses these days, rattling old panes and knocking at front doors as if it, too, would like to come inside and get warm by the wood.
There are eight principal directions for the wind to blow, but mariners divide the distances between these directions into four others, making thirty-two points, also called rhumbs. Thirty-two rhumbs on a circle, in the form of a star, is known as the mariner's compass.
No matter. The howl and rattle of the winter wind is a sound that says a pot of hot tea with a delicious book and a warm wool throw snugged around the legs on the couch.
It's a good and comfy sound.