BRAD WOODGER

508-627-4216

(ibwsgolf@aol.com)

No doubt you’ve heard the news. This past Sunday, a multitude (more than three, less than a million) of Chappaquiddick residents gathered for a group photo at the Chappy Ferry. The crows, most assuredly, were confused. No booze or fireworks — what was the occasion? As if we Chappy people need a reason to meet in communal goodness. Actually, we do.

In this case Peter Wells had beseeched folks to converge on the Chappy side for a calendar photo-op at 1 p.m. Sunday. Kim and I arrived at the scene on time, but later than most. What we witnessed was part Children of the Corn, part Amish folk meeting and part EYC snack bar waiting line. That’s our Chappy. We are who we are. Skip Bettencourt snapped a few pictures from his vantage point atop the catwalk (I am fairly sure that his lens excluded Annie, Maddy, Kim and me from our peripheral position — but who could blame him?) It was all over in a couple minutes. We returned to our Smart Cars, Navigators and Volvos, quietly so not as to disturb the early afternoon slumbering of the clams. Sweet dreams my beautiful bivalves. And we went home. See you next year.

Both Kim and I have noticed how well Captain Charlie seems to be faring after his health battle. If he is in pain, he does not show it. A smile, a wave and a nod. Nice to have you around, Charlie.

The unseasonably warm weather this past week allowed for swimming past my birthday — a first. We also took advantage of the calm clear seas and low tide by paddling leisurely over the vegetation and sea life on our SUPs. Like Spielberg spacecraft, we glided above the underwater jungle below us. Very cool. Kim mentioned hoping to see a miniature giraffe galloping amongst the kelp. No such luck. But many crabs, pincers ready, and several whelks — their insides spilling out of their shells onto the sand like an overturned bucket of tar. Floating above as we were, I was reminded of our dominance over nature and humbled by that role.

I saw Kevin Keady at the ferry photo-op. We don’t see one another as much as we once did (I was known, in years past, to open for Kevin’s music stylings with my comic stylings. Kevin, I’d say, was the more stylish of the pair). But Kevin changes little in character year to year. An ode to simplicity and honesty, Kevin is a folk artist, the real-deal singer-songwriter. He lives what he sings, and sings what he lives. Congratulations, Kevin, on a rare authenticity.

Cousin Annie was also at the gathering, greeting me with tears over another day gone by. And she would have been remiss if she did not take advantage of such a large confluence of Chappy bodies by announcing many family secrets to the masses. She was not remiss.

Peter Wells wrote to me once again to further illuminate the paring of ferries down to one: “The Packer marine railway will probably become available the beginning of next week. The On Time 3 will head for Vineyard Haven for maintenance and Coast Guard inspection, probably on Tuesday. The ferry line extension onto North Water street will be set up the day before. There will be dashed lines and stripes laid out on the pavement to safely guide traffic. Signs will inform drivers of the new use of that portion of North Water street. Basically, all traffic to Chappy should enter the ferry waiting line via Simpson’s Lane. The line will continue along the right hand side of North Water street and then on down Daggett street as usual. The current parking spaces in front of the Edgartown Inn and the library will be blacked out to allow for through traffic. Vehicles waiting in line or crossing over from Simpson’s Lane will need to be careful not to block the through traffic on North Water street.

Sadly the last day of the summer ferry schedule is this Saturday. On Sunday the winter schedule goes into effect with abbreviated nighttime runs.

Please remember that for emergencies requiring the police, the fire department, the ambulance or the hospital emergency room, either during regular ferry hours or after, always call 911 (dial 508-693-1212 from a cell phone). They will call out all the emergency services necessary, including the ferry. Remember that many of your neighbors are trained emergency personnel.

Until next Friday, I remain your loyal columnist.