Island Light: Quiet Island
End of the day sun, seen through bare limbs at Tisbury Meadow Preserve.
End of the day sun, seen through bare limbs at Tisbury Meadow Preserve.
Swordfish tails hung when they were plentiful off Vineyard waters.
Swordfish tails hung when they were plentiful off Vineyard waters.
The livin' is easy with mild February temps, a bike, and a book.
The livin' is easy with mild February temps, a bike, and a book.
Horses spend the day outside at Bittersweet Farm in Edgartown.
Horses spend the day outside at Bittersweet Farm in Edgartown.
All is quiet on the windswept dunes of Katama in February.
All is quiet on the windswept dunes of Katama in February.
No one to go out rowing in Katama Bay this week.
No one to go out rowing in Katama Bay this week.
Bright sunshine reflects off the Corbin-Norton house on Ocean Park.
Bright sunshine reflects off the Corbin-Norton house on Ocean Park.
Colorful mailboxes line Middle Road heading up-Island.
Colorful mailboxes line Middle Road heading up-Island.
Four Kids, dockside at the fishing port Menemsha.
Four Kids, dockside at the fishing port Menemsha.
Working fishing boat.
Working fishing boat.
Sun glistens off Nashaquitsa at the Chilmark boat landing.
Sun glistens off Nashaquitsa at the Chilmark boat landing.
Heading down-Island along North Road in Chilmark.
Heading down-Island along North Road in Chilmark.
Winter school vacation marks the quietest week of the year on Martha’s Vineyard. This is the week when families with schoolchildren flee the Island. For those left behind, the beauty of the Island is somehow magnified by the quiet corners and empty places. For adventuresome winter walkers, this is the best week for tramping unattended, the best week, perhaps, for a little harmless trespassing in some of those beautiful places that were once open to all. It is the best week to pause, look around and drink in the unfettered space of a quiet Island.