Yippee!! Snow! What a way to finish up winter. Mother Nature put on quite a show for us last Sunday. We had samples of all types of snow. We had some of those big wet flakes the size of a quarter that seem to go right for the eyes. Then she unleashed a couple of white-out displays. Fortunately they were quick. Just long enough to impress upon you that she’s still the boss. She threw in a big temperature drop and gale winds that created little tiny snowballs that looked just like the fake snow of a movie set. Finally she put up a crystal clear night sky and set to work freezing prematurely turned on outdoor showers and the water in buckets left upright during the weekend downpour.

I know that not everybody loves snow like I do. But there was no shoveling of walks or scraping of windshields involved in this, perhaps her final escapade of winter. We so quickly take the mild days of early spring for granted. Then along comes a chilly wet morning and the clothes that kept you warm enough last week are just no match for a freezing breeze. Cold toes, cold fingers, cold everythings. Just Mother Nature giving you a chance to appreciate one her best inventions — warmth.

Don’t put the gloves and long underwear away just yet. We still have many nippy mornings ahead of us. Summer always seems just around the corner to me at the beginning of April. Probably because it feels like there’s just too much to do to be ready for the intensity of summer on the Island. But the Fourth of July is still a quarter of a year away! I have to remind myself to not miss out on the treasures of one season because I’m dreading the unpleasant parts of the next one.

Just over a week to go before school vacation week in April. Remember that’s the week when the repairs to the Chappy slip will take place. For a period of eight days the ferry will carry only passengers. No vehicles will be carried on Sunday April 17 and continuing through Sunday April 24 at 6 p.m. However passengers will be carried during the entire time. The ferry ramp in town will remain intact. Passengers will walk aboard there as usual. On the Chappy side, the ferry will land in the extra slip where the second ferry is berthed when not in use. We have a short ramp with handrails to make it easy to get off and on the ferry from the pier.

If you have two vehicles and want to leave one in town during that week you will be able to park without getting a parking ticket for going over the time limit, as long as you are parked in a legal space. The town parking lot at the foot of Main street and the other one next to Among the Flowers are not too far from the ferry. I wouldn’t park on Main street. North Water street beyond the old library isn’t too far either.

The superintendent of The Trustees Of Reservations has allowed that you will be able to drive Norton Point beach to and from town without permits during that week. But you will have to follow the rules for over-sand vehicles. Reduce your tire pressure to 12 to 15 psi. Carry a shovel, tow strap and a board to set your jack upon if you should need to change a tire or lift up a dug-in wheel. There will probably be a pretty steady flow of traffic on the beach so you won’t be stranded alone for hours if you get into trouble. If you have never driven the beach before, try to make your first trip in the daytime. The beach looks very different at night.

To get on the beach route to town from the Chappy side go over the Dike Bridge and turn right. To start from the Edgartown side take the left fork to Katama. Drive to the very end and just before the beach you will see an entrance to your left. Remember to deflate your tires before you drive onto the sand and end up stuck in a spot where you block the way for others. If you’ve never driven on the beach before this is a great opportunity to try it for free! If you have any questions call my cell phone number at 508-627-1577.

Send Chappy news to peter@chappyferry.net.