Beautiful Nantucket

Polpis Road winds in front of us as we head towards the Lifesaving Museum to park. It is a beautiful day out, with a nice breeze and the sun shining overhead. As we get out of the car, my dog Lucy bounds down the drive towards the main road; she knows exactly where we are going. We walk down the road until we come to the sign that says "UMass Field Station" and take a left. The road is dirt for a little while, and then on the right it splits off onto a path. The path is windy, and has some steeper uphill parts to it - a good workout. Lucy's black and white fur contrasts against the green of the grass and the trees. She can be seen darting in and out between bushes and trees, running ahead to explore the smells of nature. 

As we continue on the path, the scenery continues to change. We come out of the wooded area, and are greeted by a magnificent view of the harbor. There is a ledge to the right, covered in flowers, and an entire field of flowers to the left. Needless to say, Lucy has a field day jumping in and out, exploring like a lion on the savannah. 

The great thing about the UMass Field Station is the wide variety of scenery. After leaving the ledge overlooking the harbor, the beach comes into view. There are rocks, and scallop shells everywhere. The sand is nice and soft, making it somewhat difficult to walk, but the view and the fresh-air make it impossible to complain. Further down the beach, the path comes back into view and winds its way along a series of small, marshy ponds. Lucy splashes in and out, chasing rocks into the water that she knows she will never find. 

At the end of the ponds, there is a LOT of mud. We try our best not to step in it, but inevitably I end up stepping right in the middle of a very sticky spot. The mud sticks to my shoes, creeps up over the edges, and threatens to take my shoe right off. Luckily, I notice my shoe slipping and curl my toes to keep it on. The scenic part of the walk ends, and we trudge back down the long dirt road, and find ourselves back at the Lifesaving Museum. Lucy is happy, and thirsty after our adventure. The walk was absolutely beautiful, and the early fall breeze made it perfect.