and  A HOLIDAY OF MANY INTERLOCKING CIRCUMSTANCES  When Titanic was found in 1985 a number of things came together to require me to up sticks and cross the pond. Firstly, I am a member of the British Titanic Society and also the American Titanic Historical Society.  My interest in all things Titanic has been with me since the early 70s well before it discovered.    THE EXCELLENT SCALE MODEL  I had met Milvina Dean, the youngest living survivor and wanted to add to the interest by making a visit to the  where Dr.Robert Ballard had his offices. A few faxes were fired back and forth, (I didn't have e-mail yet) and I had the trip organised. It was to be in February but this would ensure that the equipment and vessels would be in port and I could board the very ship that had stood station over the Titanic. I had also got involved with Robert Ballards Jason Project   MAP OF BOSTON It was a lovely flight to Logan Airport, Boston, with a short stop at Bangor Maine to refuel. Everything was white with ice and snow, but the hire car was toasty warm and the only cold we felt was when we transferred suitcases from the car to a warm hotel room in Boston, for two nights. We ate well and took the tours round Boston by Trolley taking in Quincy Market and the famous "Cheers" bar.    We went to Plymouth to see the Rock where the Pilgrim Fathers had landed and went to Brockton to see the Hospital where I very nearly took a job in the 60s. Salem was another port of call where we looked out for witches, and then went up to the border with Maine to see if we could spot some whales. At the end of the first week, we drove west ending up in Niagara Falls. The journey back was via some of the Civil War Battlefield sites and then we were back just south of Boston on out way to Cape Cod. We got to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in a heavy snowstorm and were met by the P.R. who welcomed us and apologised for the weather. I was taken to the Knorr which was in dock and to the ARGO which was in dry and met some of the team. I also saw the Alvin  and the Atlantis 2 which had returned to Titanic in 1986.  The day was our wedding anniversary and we were presented with a signed photo of Robert Ballard wishing us a Happy Anniversary. (see below)  SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH After a superb day we left with lots of souvenirs  and feeling very pleased to have seen so much in a relatively short time. In passing, I had noticed that at Woods Hole there was a ferry over to Marthas Vineyard....So as a second theme, after much persuasion (Carole HATES water) we drove onto the ferry boat next day, and enjoyed a crisp mornings sailing to the "Yard" and drove off again.  Now for what is Marthas Vineyard FAMOUS ? Could it be a Cacharias Cacharidon perhaps ? A Great White Shark that ate a busty young swimmer to the sound of a hammer hitting an anvil and to a tune that would put the willies up anyone.. It put me off taking a bath for a few days, believe me ! Yes, it was here that the film crew and a group of soon to be famous actors and actresses turned this island capital of Edgartown into Amity, and human being was on the menu. It was terrific to see all the sights as seen in the film "JAWS", and we shouted "Shark" across the pond and sang "The Muffin Man" in good tradition. We visted Nemensha, Gay Point and other obscure outposts that saw the film team building strange huts and houses which were all torn down again after the film was completed. It was very frightening to stand where the party began the film and I ran over the dunes (fully clothed of course) where the girl had gone "swimming" to her DOOM.........  THAT'LL LARN YER NOT TO SWIM AT NIGHT SLOSHED |