Cape Cod Vacation 2018

I once wrote on this blog that we had become the type of New England family that vacations regularly in Maine. We tried various summer spots, including Wells, Old Orchard Beach, and further north near Bath. 

But 3 years ago we switched to New England's OTHER favorite holiday destination: Cape Cod. A family member has access to a roomy house there and we all descend upon it for a week. Here are some snapshots of our time there this year.

"Cape Cod State Flag" framed postcard in the bathroom

Nautical needlepoint in our bedroom

I had my very first Buffalo Cauliflower (this being Cauliflower with Buffalo sauce on it, similar to the famous chicken wings).

I had my required lobster roll—this one is from Arnold's Lobster & Clam Bar in Eastham. If you get a kid's meal there it is served on a frisbee.

Like last year, we hauled our bikes with us and biked part of the Cape Cod Rail Trail (CCRT).

We picked up the CCRT at Nickerson State Park in the town of Brewster, and took it east toward Orleans.

Brewster-Orleans line. It's very dry and pine-y in this area.

We stopped at the Hot Chocolate Sparrow for lunch, then pushed onto get a bit further than we did last year.

On another day I fell into a low-tide reverie. I went far out to where the ankle-deep water was, amongst seaweed and mussel shells and tiny submarine snails undulating slowly in the hypnotic sparkle and lap of the water. 

I got close up to a certain beach rock that, at high tide, was mostly submerged. At low tide it is an encrusted symphony of barnacles and snails.

Closer. 

Closer still. A white peony bed, a surplice riot, a drawer of folded ladies' gloves.

Imagine the gentle swish and sigh of the water around your ankles.

Suspended world of snails and sea vegetables, always in motion.

Back on land, the sun-baked roses perfume the afternoon of summer's first full day.

For those who know Cape Cod as the land of JAWS, we also saw this startling sign on the Atlantic side (we went there to take a look around, not to swim. Good plan.) Note that the sign doesn't say great white sharks feed near Cape Cod, or on this side of Cape Cod. It says great white sharks feed AT THIS BEACH. Shudder!

Have you been to Cape Cod? Ever fallen into a reverie contemplating nature close up... and closer still?