Massachusetts - Day 2

On our second day in Massachusetts, a Friday, we visited the Cape Cod area. We piled people and beach gear into the SUV and were on the road by nine. To save time, we had breakfast as we drove. My morning meal consisted of two chocolate glazed donuts, four munchkins and a cup of coffee from Dunkin' Donuts. It was one of the tastiest breakfasts I have ever eaten and one I have no intention of repeating.

Along the way, I enjoyed my first experience with rotaries, those big asphalt circles that suck cars in from one direction and spit them out in another. How vehicles are able to enter and exit without colliding or accidentally ending up on the wrong road is a mystery to me. As I watched the interweaving motion of metal and rubber, I was suddenly very glad that I was a passenger and not the driver. We successfully negotiated the rotary and made it to the mid-Cape town of Dennis.

We were searching for Eden Hand Arts, a hard-to-find jewelry store that is most famous for its unique bracelet. The place was so hard to find that we passed it twice before locating the hidden gravel parking lot, which had enough room for six cars. Although warned about the store's popularity, I was still stunned to see the line of people stretched out the front door of the tiny cottage.

Afterwards, we drove south to Dennisport for lunch at Clancy's Restaurant. We took advantage of the good weather and ate on the patio. I tried the Guinness-battered haddock, which had some flavor, but wasn't extraordinary.

We continued up the Cape to one of Wellfleet's ocean beaches. From the parking lot, it was a steep descent to the sand and surf. I sat and wrote for a bit, trying to jot down the details of the previous day before I forgot them. Then, at some point, I walked towards the water and let the waves wash over my feet. It was an exhilarating feeling.

Evening was approaching, so we left Wellfleet and made a quick stop at Nauset Light Beach so that I could get my lighthouse fix. It wasn't open, but we were able to roam around and take pictures of it. We then decided to visit the town the Orleans to watch a baseball game.

The Cape Cod League recruits players from colleges across the country to play ball every summer. The games are free and played at local high school baseball fields. Families attend and set up lawn chairs or blankets to watch the game. A roach coach in the parking lot serves hot dogs and sodas, while kids chase foul balls into the street despite the PA system warnings not to.

The game we saw featured the Brewster White Caps and the Orleans Cardinals. They must be popular teams because it seemed as if the entire town had come out to see them play. (Random fact: The White Caps' caps are black.) Since we had a long drive home, we ate some pizza at the park and left before the game ended. If the score held, then the Cardinals won 1-0.