Bridge CHALLENGE – Answered
Bridges of Martha’s Vineyard
As I was in Cape Cod for the first time, I wanted to include one of the islands in my wanderings…that is, Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket. Well, I did not have time to visit both islands. So, I choose Martha’s Vineyard. This choice was based on one Merry-Go-Round (subject of another post) and 2 bridges. So, with that preamble, I will now get to our CHALLENGE and provide the promised answers.
Bridge #1 – The Dyke Bridge
Most people would not recognize the significance of the Dyke Bridge. However, if I called it the Chappaquiddick bridge, I am sure my more seasoned readers will know the exact significance.
On the evening of July 18/19, 1969, Ted Kennedy (yes, former US Senator) drove his black Buick off this bridge, killing Mary Jo Kopechne. As the Kennedy name meant something back then, Mr. Kennedy only received a 2 months suspended sentence for “leaving the scene of an accident.” Yeah…I am sure that no alcohol was involved in driving off the side of the bridge. The railing that you see in the current picture was not there in 1969. The railing was added after the 1969 incident to keep Kennedys from driving off the side.
Now, on a related topic, its a pain in the butt to get to Chappaquiddick Island. First, there is the ferry from Cape Cod out to Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard. Then, because Chappaquiddick is also an island, you have to take another ferry out to Chappaquiddick. However, the good news is that the Chappaquiddick ferry can only be described as a local celebrity, operating since 1807. They call it “Chappy.” Furthermore, there are t-shirts and coffee mugs celebrating Chappy. Chappy is a tiny little 3 car ferry that continuously operates throughout the day until midnight. Its actually two ferries in tandem that zoom by each other all day to the delight of onlookers. I sat on the dock (with a Bloody Mary) and watched Chappy at work.
Bridge #2 – American Legion Memorial Bridge
As a youth growing up in the mean streets of Zanesville, there were 3 movies that truly scared the crap out of me. That would be…
- Deliverance…for obvious reasons that will not be discussed
- Planet of the Apes…in the early 1970s, I did not see that Statue of Liberty scene coming
- Jaws…I have never really liked the ocean ever since
So, for those of you not properly versed in the movie classics…Jaws lived in the waters around Martha’s Vineyard. For some geography background, Marthas Vineyard has a small interior body of water called Sengekontacket Pond. The pond is adjacent to the ocean. The ocean and pond are connected by one small opening. This open is spanned by the Jaws Bridge (actually called the American Legion Memorial Bridge). Anyway, in the movie, Sheriff Brody, had his kid and friends try out their new sail boat in the pond to avoid killer sharks. However, Jaws was very smart. Jaws swam under the bridge into the pond. So, rather than eating Brody’s kid, Jaws dined on that guy in the row boat.
Anyway, there was no way that I was going to leave Martha’s Vineyard without tracking down Jaws Bridge. My Uber driver pulled off the road so that I could pay homage to the bridge. Then, much to my shock, I learned of a common youthful right of passage. Apparently, dumb, young people voluntarily jump off the bridge. Actually, its not that far of drop. But, come on man, that’s where Jaws swims. You won’t catch me swimming where Jaws was immortalized.
Wrap It Up
I would like to recognize my awesome UBER driver, Tresha, for getting me around to all my desired locations. It was a very pleasant day in Martha’s Vineyard. Next time that I am in the neighborhood, I will have to try Nantucket. But, for now, I hope you enjoyed my Martha’s Vineyard Bridge CHALLENGE. Have a wonderful day. PT
I hope you have enjoyed “Bridge CHALLENGE – Answered” on Traveling with PugsleyTonks.
Here was another movie set CHALLENGE if you need more https://travelingwithpt.com/challenge-famous-movie-settings/
If you want a full accounting of “JAWS” movie deaths, here you go https://screenrant.com/every-character-who-dies-in-jaws/
