We’re just back from five days on Cape Cod (our first trip there) with my aunt and uncle who live outside Boston.
I never really expected to get to Cape Cod, but one of Aunt Nanette’s and Uncle Jim’s four adult children — a son who is an executive with a Hong Kong-based investment holding company — owns (along with his wife) a rental/vacation home on Cape Cod, and it wasn’t rented over the July 4 weekend.
So, the four of us loaded up Uncle Jim’s 2003 Saab — loaded so full that the view from the rearview mirror was completely blocked — and headed east.
I’ve got lots of photos for you, but, for orientation purposes, here’s a map that will help put things in context. (Sorry, you can’t “click on an area to zoom in.”)
My cousin’s house is in Yarmouth, which offers excellent access to the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, via Hyannis Port, which is south of Yarmouth.
I didn’t make it to Martha’s Vineyard, but only because I was so entranced by Nantucket that, after Patty and I spent one day there, I went back by myself for a second day and rode a bike out to ‘Sconset Beach on the east side of the island.
Now, let’s get on to those photos!
Three-fourths of the cast of characters: Patty, Uncle Jim and Aunt Nanette, on the deck of the house in Yarmouth.
About a quarter-mile from the house in Yarmouth was Gray’s Beach, which isn’t all beach.
The boardwalk at Gray’s Beach.
Some kids used a platform and railing at the outer end of the boardwalk as their personal diving platform.
Day One at Nantucket. A section of the harbor.
One of at least three bike-rental places on Nantucket Island. (Note the slogan.)
Downtown Nantucket is quaint…but very expensive!
Main Street and small sections of other streets, including this one, feature the original cobblestone.
From the top window of the First Congregational Church, Nantucket’s downtown stretches out before your eyes…if you’re willing to climb up 97 steps, that is. Not I!
Built in 1686, this is the oldest house on Nantucket Island. An early Nantucket settler named Peter Coffin had it built for his son, Jethro Coffin, and his bride, Mary Gardner. (Note the elongated back roof line, in the so-called “saltbox” style.)
Fast forward to July 3, 2014. That’s Rosanne Cash after an afternoon sound check at the Dreamland Performing Arts Center in Nantucket. She performed there that evening. (Photo by Patty Fitzpatrick)
In the early afternoon of July 4, an ominous sky formed over Chatham Beach, at the southeastern corner of Cape Cod. The tail of Tropical Storm Arthur was closing in. That night and into the morning of Saturday, July 5, the wind howled and rain hammered the Cape.
Two TV news crews that had come over to Chatham from Boston drew a crowd…Before going on the air live at noon, the reporter in the black shirt mentioned that he had not been scheduled to work the holiday…Such is life in the news biz.
By the afternoon of Saturday, July 5, the skies had cleared and people were out in force on Marconi Beach, along the Cape Cod National Seashore in Wellfleet.
In the surf.
Up and down the beach, people were asking each other, “Who is that photographer?”
Day Two on Nantucket…The bike trail to the town of Siasconset and ‘Sconset Beach.
This stand of tall, lush grass along the bike trail brought me to an abrupt halt.
When I saw this guy pushing himself along the shore line on Quidnet Pond, not far from Siasconset, I again interrupted my bike ride. Turns out the man — who’s name is Fulvio — had retrieved the board after Tropical Storm Arthur had pulled it loose from its mooring near his house. He found it deep in the grass on the opposite side of the pond…It’s not a small pond, either.
This house also brought me to a screeching halt…To tell you the truth, I’m thinking about buying it — price is no object — and moving to Nantucket in a couple of weeks. (Watch this space for further developments on that.)
Another part of my plan is to join the Sankaty Head Golf Club, where golfers tee off next to Sankaty Head Lighthouse. The club is private, but I’m counting on them letting me in, seeing as how I’m a famous blogger.
After a two-hour bike ride, I finally made it to the town of Siasconset, where just about everyone would like to be “ensconced,” I would think.
I saw just one member of the “ensconsed” family.
A lone, narrow road leads to the limited, public portion of ‘Sconset Beach.
And then, magically, peacefully, I was there.
…and it was hard to pull myself away.
But two and a half hours later — after catching the bus back to downtown Nantucket and enjoying a late lunch at a brew pub — I was boarding the boat to return to Hyannis and Yarmouth.
…This morning, we packed the car again and departed Cape Cod. Aunt Nanette and Uncle Jim dropped me and Patty at Boston Logan International Airport for the return trip to Kansas City. But in my mind, as you can see, I haven’t landed…
Photo by Patty Fitzpatrick.
There was a young lady from Nantucket…
Thanks for the vacation, Jim. Charming. Fun pictures.
All best,
Laura
Thanks, Laura. I know you how you enjoy my “travelogues.”
Wow, what an experience. On another topic I awoke early to a temp of 44. High today projected to be 70. Beautiful, but a bit more rustic than Nantucket
Readers: Kaler isn’t out of his mind…Those temperatures he’s talking about are in southern Colorado, where he has a cabin.
Next, you’ll be going down to “Cuber” as the Kennedys would say.
Si…Habana for me, Leigh…I want to see ’em make those Cuban cigars. I might even smoke one, even though I gave up cigars last year.