Cape Cod Vacation 2007

Sunday June 24
Today was my driving day. Took seven hours to get to Orleans in Cape Cod. I listened to the audio book Angela's Ashes on the way there, about a childhood in Limerick, Ireland. Got to the Cape and viewed the beautiful sunset from Rock Harbor Beach.

Monday June 25
Getting into relaxing vacation mode. I do some yoga most mornings and nights while I'm here. No TV or internet for me(yaaayyyy!!). Breakfasts here are fabulous of course. Today was ginger pear pancakes. The hosts at the Parsonage Inn, Ian and Liz, are very gracious and have many suggestions for fabulous things to do. Today was my beach day. I went to Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Beach, and later in the day to Marconi Beach. Every evening we have appetizers on the patio and I get to meet the other guests.

Tuesday June 26
Went whale watching from Provincetown today. This truly was one of the highlights of the trip. Saw several pairs (mother and baby) of Humpback Whales. Also enjoyed roaming around Provincetown.

Thar' she blows!!!!!!

Close enough to see the scratches on their skin....

Baby whale breached several times. It was hard to get a good picture because by the time I noticed it, she was almost finished with her jump. But the view was amazing, this only begins to capture how magnificent they are.

Momma whale was slapping the water with her fin (on the left). Caught a picture of mother's fin and baby doing a back flip.

A whale of a tale...

Splash!!!!!!

Wednesday June 27
Took the high speed ferry to Nantucket. Weather was choppy and it was a rough ride on the way over. Took a historic walking tour of Nantucket, and then took the bus to Sconset beach.

These next two pics are for the book group (we read Ahab's Wife, set in Nantucket, this year).

First woman astronomer, Maria Mitchell, discovered a comet from an observatory on this rooftop.
Typical Captain's house. Could Una have lived in a house like this?

View from the harbor.
The "art shot", an architectural detail.


Rose covered cottages of Sconset Beach.

Thursday June 28

Rented a bike today and biked the Cape Cod Rail Trail. This is a fabulously maintained trail that runs the length of the Cape. Rode to Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Beach, saw the Nauset Lighthouse and the Three Sisters Lighthouse, then rode back in the other direction and saw Nickerson State Park. Returned the bike then went back to Coast Guard Beach for some late afternoon relaxation.

Later that evening went to see a rowboat which Charlie Girard will row across the Atlantic Ocean to France. You can follow the trip at http://www.atlantique2007.com/. You can even send him email. Will he break a record?

Friday June 29

Blueberry pancakes this morning, yum! Today I went to the Audubon Sanctuary in Wellfleet. It is absolutely beautiful and provides a good view of the natural environment of the Cape. The trails are well maintained with many natural features labeled for a walking tour. I walked through woods of pine, saltwater marshes with fiddler crab nests, and around a salt pond. I saw fourteen species of birds including a Greater Yellowlegs (wading bird), beautiful view of a Snowy Egret, and views of a Green Heron hunting for fish.

A saltwater marsh..

Then I spent all of the afternoon on Nauset Beach. The day was a bit cooler, I even wore a long sleeved shirt! The water was rougher (which was beautiful), and there were many surfers. A very relaxing day, reading, watching waves, dozing on the beach! Possibly my favorite way to spend an afternoon!

Saturday June 30
Cherry cheese blintzes for breakfast and a long drive back home. But first, took some garden pictures. The Parsonage Inn was a fabulous bed and breakfast, the room was just beautiful, breakfasts were fantastic, and there were plenty of opportunities to chat with other guests. Liz and Ian made sure I had a good time and had lots of information for me about the things I like to do.