Vacationing with the Foehls on Martha's Vineyard

Three days of the best of life on the island

My first month here in Hamden, CT has flown by. Maybe it's because I'm working--and working a lot--or maybe it's because spring is finally upon us. It's been difficult at times, but there's been plenty of fun to go around. Still, when I made plans with our family friends, the Foehls, to visit them on Martha's Vineyard over their April break, the trip immediately became something to look forward to. 

Just like that, my visit with the Foehls has come and gone. Seeing Martha's Vineyard for the first time was special, but sharing it with friends made it one of my favorite adventures of the year. The island was still waking up from a quiet winter and nowhere near as busy as the summertime, but from what I experienced, I can see why MV is an incredible place to be at any time of the year.

A view of the sailboats anchored in the bay from the ferry

I spent months in Germany "catching" trains; this past Sunday, I felt the same urgency as I did in Germany, when I drove towards Woods Hole, MA to catch the outbound 10:45 ferry. I hurried, because like all of my travels in Germany, I was excited about my destination. To me, Martha's Vineyard always seemed like just another place to spend a vacation on the ocean, and the only context I had were stories from the Foehls and images from Jaws. As I rode on the top deck of the ferry, however, each new glimpse of the island made me more and more excited. I sat in the same place two days later, heading back to my parked car, wishing I had a day or two more to spend on the island.

Wiffle Ball, Backgammon, and Nighttime Walks

The Foehls have a pretty incredible set-up in Edgartown--one of three main settlements on the Vineyard. Their house--which they share with extended family--sits just a minute's walk away from the ocean, the tennis courts, and the main streets of Edgartown. I'll compare their house to our Storey Farm up in Westport, NY, just because it seems that in both places, there's always enough beds for another visitor. Outside, the yard sets up well for some epic home run derby wiffel ball games. In my first day, we packed in back-to-back sessions of tennis and wiffle ball. Along with Jake, Brady, and Toby Foehl, we had three more boys to fill the batting order--Nate, Zach, and Chaz Orluk, which made for some competitive innings, especially when the younger ones were pitching. 

At Flying Horses with the MV crew; L-R Toby & Brady Foehl,
Rick & Nate Orluk, Jake Foehl, Chaz and Zach Orluk, and myself

When we weren't playing outside, backgammon was the game of choice. Jake taught me to play the first night, and I think he regrets it, because I won five in a row against him in the following two days. We'll see how well my brother Sam fares in his visit with the rest of my family. (It was a shame we couldn't line up our visits, but work got in the way for me, and I'm just happy I was able to make the trip). 

Another staple of a good Vineyard day is the nighttime walk. I came at the right time, because the clear skies yielded starry views that rivaled the most perfect nights up at Camp Dudley. The streets were quiet and dark on our walks, and when we snuck through backyards along the water, not a single light could be seen. It was a far cry from how the place looks in the summertime, but that was alright, because we could have all of the stars for ourselves. I took nighttime walks while in Florida with Mommom and Babo as well. I guess when you are somewhere beautiful, it's nice to appreciate it all hours of the day.

Mini-golf, Flying Horses, and Long Runs

My one and only full day with the Foehls was packed with fun and excitement. After a morning walk through the main streets of Edgartown with Brooks and Jake Foehl and Rick Orluk, we prepared for a mini-golf competition. Three teams of three in a best ball match. I was paired with Jake and Chaz. Though we got off to a slow start, I thought our score of sixteen on the back nine would be enough to take the grand prize. Even Chaz, just a first-grader, came through in the clutch and aced the eighteenth for our team. I thought my 41 would hold up as the best individual score, too, but it was Brady Foehl who carried his team to a one-stroke victory, shooting an incredible 37 all by himself.

The next phase of our outing was truly a MV specialty--a trip to Flying Horses. It's the oldest carousel in the country, and you ride around grabbing silver rings from a little holder while the music plays. When the music stops, you know the one-and-only brass ring has been dropped in the chute, and it's only a matter of time until the lucky person grabs it. Some people are talented enough to grab two, three, or more rings each time they pass, which increases your chance of getting the brass ring. Though it seems like complete luck, getting the winning ring can be more of a science if you ride it enough. Yeah, I'm talking about you, Black Dog and Little JoJo. Don't ask. But maybe if you ride on the Flying Horses, you'll see them, and you'll know what I'm talking about. It was easily the best two carousel rides that I can remember. And a side note: my favorite band, Dispatch, sings a song about the Flying Horses and stealing the brass ring. It's a great song.

Stopping for an ideal photo-op on our run

I found myself running a lot while on MV. A bunch of us went out for a sightseeing/trespassing run later that afternoon, which included stops on the Edgartown golf course and in someone's lawn to snap a photo overlooking the ocean. Still, it's my run with Brooks on the following morning that I'll remember every time I think of MV. We left the house and the town early on Tuesday morning. By the second mile we were following a bike path heading towards the southeast tip of the island. At the four mile mark we stopped to climb the dunes and look over South Beach--twenty miles of picturesque sand and dunes. During the sixth mile we made the turn homewards. Each mile we increased our speed, until the ninth and fastest mile dropped us off back at the house. It was probably the longest run of my life, and definitely longer than anything I've done since last summer. I could feel the muscle soreness setting in right away, but it was worth it. And so was my breakfast, the "B-52 Bomber" plate at the Airport Diner. I certainly earned my final meal, though I may have indulged in a cup of chowder on the ferry heading back to the mainland.

I wish I was still vacationing on the Vineyard. I can't thank the Foehls enough for hosting me and showing me around. Everything I saw--from the house to Edgartown to the beaches--was even better than I expected. I can only hope that my family enjoys the same amount of fun during their visit. Though it's back to work for me, I'm so glad I had the chance to spend a few days with the Foehls in their favorite place. MV is definitely one of my new favorites, too.