Martha's Vineyard Beach Blanket Bingo!

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It's summertime and time to revisit a very successful summer event from last year. Let's enjoy a day of sunshine and ocean waves on Martha's Vineyard. The Katama Airpark (http://www.airnav.com/airport/1b2) offers one of the most unique flying experiences in the Northeast. Land your aircraft on their well-maintained grass field, taxi to "beach parking" (follow the signs), walk across the street and you're ready to enjoy a day at the beach! Beach parking is at the end of Runway 21. For those unfamiliar with unimproved operations, review your soft-field landing technique, but I assure you that this is a very smooth and well-manicured grass strip. Also, Katama is owned by the city of Edgartown and does charge a landing fee. Don't forget to make your way to the FBO to pay your landing fee before leaving. They frown upon scofflaws.

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For those who don't wish to land on the grass (it is very well maintained and flat), navigate to KMVY, the main Martha's Vineyard airport. From the MVY terminal, you will board the #6 bus to Edgartown. Get off at Church St., Edgartown and the switch to the #8 South Beach bus to Katama. There is a stop right at the Katama airport, but don't get off here. Wait until the bus passes the airport and turns left onto Atlantic drive. Beach parking for the airplanes will be on your left about 1000 feet down Atlantic drive and of course, we will be congregating on the beach directly across from the parking area to your right. This is closest to the "Right Fork" stop. See the bus map here (http://www.vineyardtransit.com/Pages/VTA_Maps/02F80E7C-000F8513.0/VTA%20Map%20Front%20with%20Timetables%202011.pdf). If you think that you will want to see other parts of the Vineyard before returning to the KMVY airport, you should buy a daily pass when you board the bus at the airport for $7, which will cover all of your transportation needs around the entire island all day long. Bring exact change.

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Pack a picnic lunch. Bring your cooler, beverages, sunscreen, hat, towels, and frisbee. There aren't any vendors on the beach. Set up your umbrellas and coolers on the beach as close to the airport path as you can so that it will be easier for everyone to find each other. We've done this once before and everyone had a great time, but some people had trouble finding the group. Hopefully, I've come up with a solution for that this time. Please print out one of these RED NEPG signs (http://files.meetup.com/392518/beach%20sign.pdf) and pin/tape it on your umbrella or towel. You can just cut out the logo or airplane to take up less space if you wish. This will make it easy for us to find each other, particularly for newcomers. It will be our secret calling card. There is no doubt that this qualifies as an NEPG signature five-star family fun event. Bring the kids and the kid in you!

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Be alert to ticks at the airport and in the grass approaching the beach. While they are the larger variety American Dog Tick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_tick) that don't carry Lyme disease, they should be avoided nonetheless. The ticks here tend to remain in the grassy areas and will quickly hop onto you for a ride as you brush past the grass. Therefore, stay on the prescribed paths and away from the grass. They are not a real problem in the sand on the beach itself. When you get back to your airplane, inspect yourself and your gear thoroughly. When you get home, throw your clothes in the washer, shower up and check yourself again! Don't let the ticks scare you away, people enjoy this beach all summer long, but it is nice to know how to handle them just the same.

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