Summer People, Some Are Not

"Summer people, some are not" is graffiti-ed under the Woods Hole drawbridge. On the hour, the drawbridge raises to allow boats to pass through the Eel Pond channel. But I am getting ahead of myself.

On Sunday, we moved our...yacht...from Taylor's Point Marina in Bourne, MA to Eel Pond, Woods Hole. The Town of Bourne closes the marina for the winter on October 31 and the up-coming weekend forecast called for rain, so we decided to move the boat a little early.

Leaving the marina

Chad plotted our voyage using navigational charts downloaded to his iphone. The voyage plan charted a little over 16 nautical miles to Eel Pond, which would take between 1.5-2 hours. Navigating the channel out of the marina and into Great Harbor (Woods Hole) is difficult. Navigation hazards like submerged rocks, sandbars and old shipwrecks dot the area and strong currents can push or pull ships into them. To mitigate these navigational difficulties, we left with the tide coming in. I'm sure there's a nautical word for "in-coming tide," but I don't know it yet. I heard from a few friends...it's called flood tide (thanks!).

It was a glorious afternoon to go boating with clear skies, bright sun, and a slight breeze. While underway, I took a few cool photos of a life at sea.

Invertebrate marine growth on one of our buoys. The blob-y things are young tunicates (sea-squirts). Tunicates are primarily sedentary and feed on plankton and other suspended particulates by siphoning. They are complex invertebrates with separate internal organs. Larval stages also have notochords, which all chordates (including humans) form as embryos. Notochord cells in chordates later develop and form the spinal column. Tunicates lose their notochord once they become sedentary. Weird! Tunicates: not simple creatures at all!

Integrated tug and barge full of cargo heading to the canal and probably North Shore refineries.

Tug escort for the integrated tug and barge. It's from NYC.

Our friend and Malevolence engineer, Jamie, as taken by Chad.

Cleveland Lighthouse, named after Pres. Grover Cleveland, marks Cleveland Ledge. Photo credit: Chad Smith

Woods Hole at sunset by Chad

One of the ferries to Martha's Vinyard pulling into the Steamship Authority in Woods Hole. Behind the ferry, you can see Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and RV Oceanus. Chad Smith

Oceanus at sunset

We arrived in the channel, hailed the bridge operator, and after several failed attempts, realize they switched to winter hours and we were too late. Instead, we docked at WHOI's pier overnight and passed through the channel in the morning.

Oceanus at dawn.

Going under the bridge!

Finally! At 8am sharp (the next day) we motored through the channel and into Eel Pond.

Passing through the channel and looking down Water Street.

Looking back through the passage. You can read the graffiti slogan under the bridge.

Eel Pond! The marina is to the left, and you can see our open slip!

We're still getting adjusted to our new location - especially the wind, which howls at night. Chad walks 150ft to work, while I have a 1.5 mile commute. Not Bad!