August 28, 2018 - Nantucket

I turned east and could immediately see Nantucket, only 20 nautical miles away.   There were a couple of small islands along the route:  Muskeget Island in the foreground, then Tuckernuck Island.
   
Passing by Muskeget Island, which is a primary seal colony.  In 2008, more than 2,000 pups were born on Muskeget. With this large seal population, the waters surrounding Muskeget are an important feeding area for great white sharks.  From the air, I figured it would be a nice boater destination.  But, no.  According to Wikipedia, Muskeget is inaccessible to most boats because of shoals and sandbars. Kayaking there can be very dangerous because of rip currents, swells, and whirlpools.
   
The next island is Tuckernuck.  Apparently it is privately owned island by its summer residents with approximately 35 houses.
   
Supposedly, there is a grass airstrip on the southeast corner.  Initially, I thought it might be that gray strip below, but from Google maps, it is clearly that dirt strip running alongside the houses.  It's an airport community! 
   
Now you can the southern end of the grass strip.  Further on there is a nice beach with water on both sides.  Clearly the boaters have discovered it.
   
The next island is Esther Island which didn't look like an island today.  This is the western tip.  Today there is a sand bridge to Nantucket and these four-wheel drive vehicles took full advantage. 
   
From here, the land bridge to Smith Point, Nantucket, is clearly visible.
   
Nantucket also has a towered airport in the south center of the island, so I skirted around the north edge of their Class D airspace.
   
Looking south, at the town of Nantucket and natural harbor, where the ferries from Hyannis Port pull in.
   
Zooming in, you can see the airport in the distance with the harbor in the foreground, packed wiht boats of all shapes and sizes, of course.
   
I continued east until I hit Nantucket's east coast, then turned north.
   
Looks like a nice beach.  To the east is nothing but Atlantic Ocean, all the way to France.
   
Great Point.
   
Passing by the Great Point light house.
   
 
   
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