Island Light: Quietest Week
The two brightest planets in our evening sky are Venus and Jupiter. This is a good time to take note of both.
The two brightest planets in our evening sky are Venus and Jupiter. This is a good time to take note of both.
Looking back up the hill at Vanderhoop Homestead in Aquinnah.
Looking back up the hill at Vanderhoop Homestead in Aquinnah.
Bald eagle soars overhead on State Beach.
Bald eagle soars overhead on State Beach.
It's even quiet in this barnyard in Edgartown.
It's even quiet in this barnyard in Edgartown.
Boys high school hockey team shows off blonde styles ahead of postseason.
Boys high school hockey team shows off blonde styles ahead of postseason.
View of the Tabernacle cupola over Sunset Lake in Oak Bluffs.
View of the Tabernacle cupola over Sunset Lake in Oak Bluffs.
East Chop Gems await warmer weather on their winter cradles.
East Chop Gems await warmer weather on their winter cradles.
Ferry makes her way through the thick fog this week.
Ferry makes her way through the thick fog this week.
Tisbury harbormaster boat is tied up along Owen Park dock.
Tisbury harbormaster boat is tied up along Owen Park dock.
Base of the East Chop Lighthouse on a foggy day.
Base of the East Chop Lighthouse on a foggy day.
Neverending waves crash with this week's high winds.
Neverending waves crash with this week's high winds.
Rolling, rolling, rolling.
Rolling, rolling, rolling.
Menemsha dock gate closed for the season.
Menemsha dock gate closed for the season.
Scallop shells pile up in fishing port of Menemsha.
Scallop shells pile up in fishing port of Menemsha.
Oak Bluffs Steamship wharf closed for the season.
Oak Bluffs Steamship wharf closed for the season.
Patriot Quickwater plies the Sound between Falmoth and Oak Bluffs harbor.
Patriot Quickwater plies the Sound between Falmoth and Oak Bluffs harbor.
Still life with shells.
Still life with shells.
Snowy day at the airport.
Snowy day at the airport.
Gay Head Cliffs received a frosting of winter white.
Gay Head Cliffs received a frosting of winter white.
Snow day at Menemsha.
Snow day at Menemsha.
Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs.
Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs.
West Chop Lighthouse.
West Chop Lighthouse.
Snowfence protects the fragile dunes at South Beach.
Snowfence protects the fragile dunes at South Beach.
Up-Island roadside art.
Up-Island roadside art.
Twenty-miler took place on the Vineyard last weekend.
Twenty-miler took place on the Vineyard last weekend.
Both two-legged and four-legged participated.
Both two-legged and four-legged participated.
Cold but paths were cleared of snow.
Cold but paths were cleared of snow.
Katama sunset.
Katama sunset.
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.