Island Alpaca
While on vacation this summer, Evan and I ended up taking the ferry from Falmouth Harbour to Martha’s Vineyard, where we spent the day walking around exploring, and navigating the bus routes to arrive at Island Alpaca. If you are ever in the area, it’s worth a trip.
image source: islandalpaca.com
I was really excited to see alpaca, and was eager to get my hands on some luscious spinning fiber. Evan had never seen alpaca before, and couldn’t really understand why I was so excited, but he got pretty excited himself when he saw the cute animals frolicking in the fields.
They make whining and grunting noises, and one of them let our a real squack! When they run, their thin long necks seem oddly misproportioned. The first field we saw had a self guided tour of posters on the fence posts. As we took our time reading all the information (good English practice for Evan), we noticed several of the young male alpacas with necks tangled, wrestling each other into the dirt, biting and spitting at each other. Boys will be boys I guess!
image source: islandalpaca.com
We followed the signs to the barn and saw more alpacas inside. They were way too busy eating, or moved too quickly to photograph well in the dim light.
Next up was the lovely farm store with yarn and roving and knitted things of all shapes and sizes. I think Evan got a kick out of seeing me totally hypnotized by the soft fiber. 
I met Philippe who showed me where the roving was hiding. He’s a spinner too, so we had a good time chatting about spinning things as I tried not to drool over the superfine jet black alpaca roving. It was so gorgeous that I had to buy 8 oz worth, and probably should have gotten more when I had the chance. I’ve started spinning it, and it spins like a dream!
Philippe and the girls
Through another doorway, and we were out with the female alpacas and the HUGE guard llama. We could get close enough to pat them as they were eating. They are the softest fluffiest creatures I’ve ever met. Evan kept repeating a phrase from Despicable Me: “It’s so fluffy, I’m gonna die!”. I think that in this case, it is a valid statement.
Philippe and a cria
Philippe picked up one of the babies (young alpaca are called cria), and this one was even softer than the other older alpaca.
On our way out, we purchased alpaca fiber, and some white wool fiber to dye and spin back at our campsite (more on that later!).
Everywhere on the island is so pretty. Here are some of the more beautiful views we saw that day.
|
|
|
 |
|
