You're Sure To Fall In Love With Old Cape Cod

June 9, 2011
Day #28
Middleboro MA/Cape Cod MA




Cape Cod National Seashore


If you're fond of sand dunes, and salty air
Quaint little villages, here and there
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

If you like the taste of a lobster stew
Served by a window with an ocean view,
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

Winding roads that seem to beckon you
Miles of green beneath the skies of blue
Church bells chiming on a Sunday morn,
Remind you of the town where you were born

If you spend an evening, you'll want to stay
Watching the moonlight on Cape Cod Bay
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

If you spend an evening, you'll want to stay
Watching the moonlight on Cape Cod Bay
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod
You're sure to fall in love,
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

Old Cape Cod   Patti Page



I couldn't say it any better than that...

The day started out a little overcast, which was a very good thing, the weather forecast was for temperatures to be nearing one hundred degrees.  We headed toward the Atlantic Ocean, taking the older, two lane roads and passing through the tiny towns.  Most of the time we traveled Rt 6a, which follows the bay side, not the ocean side.  I can't even describe how beautiful this drive is, around every corner is another great view.  The rhododendrons were a little past their peak, but for one variety that blooms lavender.  The blooms were spectacular.  I don't know if this was an exceptional year for them, or if I've just forgotten how  showy these shrubs are.  Either way, they always seem to thrive closer to the ocean and I certainly enjoyed seeing them again. 

If you are going to be in the area, and have a little extra time, do yourself a favor...get off the highway (which is mostly a scrub pine tunnel) and take Rt.6a.  You will not regret it!


About mid Cape we were getting hungry.  Try as we may, we couldn't remember where (or the NAME for that matter) a seafood restaurant that we ate lunch at a few years ago.  We gave up and took a little side trip to a little known spot, Rock Harbor.  I remember it fondly from the mid 1960's.  It has changed, the charter fleet and parking lot are larger and  the enormous sand bar looked bigger. 

Cooks Seafood in Orleans on the Cape

A lady there told us about a place she likes for fried clams and off we went.  TOMTOM was a little confused on this one, luckily the lady had noted landmarks and we eventually found it.  I ordered a fried clam platter, small size...$23.00, and Jim had a clam strip platter for almost as much.  Clams are expensive these days, but I can't get fried clams with 'bellies' (don't ask) back in Charleston so I always get them when I am  here in new England.  They laid a couple of onion rings on top of the order and I wish I had the room to order some.  Good onion rings are hard to find, and they always seem to have the best where the best fried clams are!

Fried clams!

Continuing on the Cape...we were giggling about how long the trip seemed years ago.  I know the highways are better now, but back then a Rhode Islander very, very seldom strayed more than 30 minutes from home, normally a 15 minute trip for anything was more than enough time to spend on the road.  Tiny state, tiny distances = normal.  Now we know different.

If we go anywhere on the cape, it is always to Provincetown.  Cape Cod is shaped somewhat like an arm, P-town would be around the palm of the hand, and Race Point, at the tip of the cape, would be one of the fingers. 

Narrow streets....why are there so many FUDGE shops in tourist areas?

An old colonial village, with tiny  streets and an artsy community, P-town never changes much over the years.  The store fronts change, but for the most part it is still a historic village where one must walk in the street a good part of the time because the sidewalks are only one person wide in spots.  

Provincetown Harbor

 

We somehow got a parking spot right in the center of town at the Town Hall...that never happens!  Fed a few dollars into one of those new meters that collect for entire lots, and walked toward the pier.  It was a sunny 85 degrees, beautiful walking weather.  We stopped at a couple of shops, bought a Christmas ornament, and walked a little more before sitting on a park bench in front of Town Hall to people watch.  Trust me, there is PLENTY to watch in Provincetown! 

Lastly, we rode out to Race Point, a breathtaking beach that goes on for miles, and is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore.  We reminisced about climbing on these dunes during one of our more memorial dates in high school.  Not too many years later, we were at these same dunes on vacation, with our 3 year old son and 11 month old daughter waiting for the Appolo 11 astronauts to exit the LEM  and take the first walk on the moon.

And that was so very many years ago...



Race Point

Perfect end to a perfect day

Because I am a little behind on the blog, I am writing about Thursday's adventures and trying to catch up.  The lack of good WIFI in some of the camping areas prevents me from uploading photos and getting much accomplished on line...but I'm trying.