Dark gray clouds scudded low overhead, pewter waves slapped Windbird’s hull as it heeled in a gust, and a fine, cold mist obscured the low black line on the horizon that defined our island destination, now 7 miles away. Given the sullen weather, you wouldn’t know it was July 5 if not for the steady stream of post-holiday vessel traffic headed in the opposite direction.
Airport at the End of the World
Key Takeaways:
- The author recounts an adventurous 2012 flight to Nantucket in a borrowed Piper Warrior, navigating the island just ahead of Superstorm Sandy and making a hurried departure as the storm's outer bands approached.
- During that initial visit, the author observed a quiet island preparing for the storm and noted the impending loss of local institutions, signaling the start of Nantucket's changing character.
- Eight years later, a subsequent sailing trip to Nantucket amidst the COVID-19 pandemic revealed a significantly more tourist-heavy, developed, and expensive island, a stark contrast to the earlier experience.
- The author reflects on the intensely variable conditions of New England travel by both air and sea, concluding with a newfound, heightened respect for severe weather.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
