Have you read Part 1?

If not do that NOW!

No batting out of order – okay.

 

Wasn’t that little ferry ride just the reward you needed?

Cool sea breezes and hot coffee on the top deck while you people watch and flip through the MV real estate guide featuring lavish properties very much out of your economic reach.

Alright, get the hell off the boat and start islanding.

 

 

First thing to do is…

 

 

 

Nahhhh!  Plenty of time to sleep later.

Start taking in the sights around the ferry dock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After you’ve had enough preliminary gazing.  Pedal your tired ass over to the campground and get the tent up.

You’ve got plenty of time tomorrow to bumble up island, down island, or where ever.  You’ll be on an unloaded bike and free to maneuver.

Be prepared to share bike paths with vacationers that think it’s a total novelty to bike a 1/2 mile into Edgartown center for an ice cream.

 

 

If only they knew all of the detailed riding trials you’ve had just to get to this same point on two wheels.

 

I’m going to leave the finer points of your MV experience alone.

No Julie McCoy here.

There’s plenty of info online and on island about what to see and do.

It’s magic for sure.

My job in this post is to show you the magic of coming and going – Because no one is talking about that stuff except me!

So take in the sunrises.

 

 

 

And sunsets.

 

 

Maybe even take a Biplane ride.

 

 

 

Drink you’re dark roast coffee and craft beer.

Stroll on the beach.

And dream about living the slow paced island life.

Ready to head back now?

Playtime is over….Load up the bike and get an early morning ferry to the mainland.

 

 

You’re going to retrace the same 20 miles back to the Bourne Bridge.

But, don’t worry about it being redundant….There’s always something charming and new to see from the seat of a bicycle.

 

 

 

After the bridge, you’ll turn East then North for a different route back to Boston.

 

 

 

Now, I know you think you’ve seen it all on this ride.

Plenty of tranquil scenery and feel good pedalling moments, but you are about to ride one of my top five all time favorite roads.

Once you cross into Plymouth and bang a left on Old Sandwich Road…

 

Slow down the cadance and appreciate the oldest public road in the United States.

 

 

It’s pure touring bliss.  The dense forest swallows you up in a quiet energy of shade and solace.

 

 

The dirt lasts for 5 miles or so.

Nary a car to deal with.

Only the residents who live along this gem drive here.

And there ain’t too many of ’em.

Old Sandwich Road…

 

 

The dirt ends and you are back on the pavement.

Things stay pretty calm for another 5 ish miles until you get to Plymouth Center.

Yeah, that Plymouth – with the rock and all the Pilgrims.

Hopefully the Mayflower replica is at the dock.

 

 

If you’re riding in the rain, Plymouth Harbor will greet you with a rainbow.

 

 

 

The journey North continues on the lightly used side roads of the South Shore suburbs.

It’s a look at the good life for sure.

 

 

Soon after you’ll hit the town of Weymouth and you can feel the energy shift to urban.

Boston is 15 miles away.  Just keep pedalling because the novelties are fewer and the cars volume is greater.

But, thank you urban planners for a couple bike lanes along the way.

 

 

Good job getting home safe 🙂

 

Thank you my Readers for following along on this Instagram-y post.

Yeah, low on the text and high on the pics I know.

As always, my goal is to inspire you to get out and ride – to get out and appreciate the details of the journey.

Any fool can go to Martha’s Vineyard.

It’s the only the bike tourer that savors the ride to and from.