Tomcats 2011 Trip to NE America & Canada: June 28 2011 Cape Cod

Left hotel at 9.45am late for us. Still good weather so drove out to Cape Cod for the day. Its just over two hours to get there. We didn't get back until 6.00pm with all our stops and starts. 232 miles.

We couldn't believe all the traffic on a week day all seemed to be heading to the cape whether it be the beaches or going to the furthest town, Provincetown. We were told that its always like this on a good day and triples in the weekends.

Cap Cod has nine lighthouses but we only visited two. Before we got too far up the cape we stopped at an information centre and got some good advise to come off the main highway 6 at exit 7 and take 6a and for about 400 metres along that stretch of road (which they call captains mile) we would see some very old houses that used to belong to sea captains from the big old sailing ships. Many captains operated services between the Cape ,Boston and other east coast ports provided the main transportation for both cargo and people between these ports. The operated until the arrival of the railroad in the late 1800's.

The next three photos are some of the old sea captains houses in Yarmouth on the Cape.
In 1966 the area was declared a national historic district.

Beautifully kept and have so much character

There are about sixteen of these houses along this part of the street.

This is the harbour entrance and bar. The sailing ships were anchored off and smaller ships brought their trade into the landings.

They built a 300 metre boardwalk out over these waterway in the same harbour. You can just see the railing. I walked out nearly to the end. Very pleasant. Saw a hugh bird's nest on top of a pole, probaly an eagle of some sorts.

Further along stopped at one of the many beaches in Cape Cod Bay. Lovely white sand but quite tidal.
Its just amazing how people flock to these beaches and its a week day.What also amazed us it that all the carparks at the beaches are for residence only and they have to have a permit to park. So nobody else can park and use the beaches and it is usuall too far to walk where you would be allowed to park.
A young boy was the gate keeper to make sure only permit cars where allowed in. I asked if we could park for a few minutes to have a look and a photo. He said sure thing. We also noticed all along the shore their was no access for the public to get to the beaches. Up the top of the cape on the western side there were rows of houses on the shores and no acess for the public. Amazing. Wouldn't be allowed in NZ. Except for Hone.

This beach is on the eastern side, surf beaches. You wouldn't believe it but the sea fog came in just before we arrived. You would think that it was following us. Anyone could park at this beach but it cost you $15 for the day but guess what they let us in just to go down and look at the beach for 5 mins. This photo shows the steps you have to climb down to the beach, big high cliffs. Again lovely sandy beach, if you can see through the sea fog.

In the same year two of the lighthouses on Cape Cod were close to falling into the ocean from sand erosion and9needed rescuing. For Nauset Light (above), and Highland light (below), 1996 was the year of relocation.
Highland proved to be more daunting of the moves and it is a much heavier brick lighthouse. Nauset had already been moved once from Chatham-it is a former Chatham twin Light, built in the 1920s, and made out of iron sleeves. Both were successfully moved and continue to be working.
Not sure what happened to the below photo size but will leave as is for now.

Sand dunes on the east coast nearer the top of the Cape.

Provincetown, village at the top of the Cape Very busy.

Looking along Provincetown beach on the west side of the cape. Notice all the buoys made up as a display. We see alot of these. You can even buy them in the touristy shops. People display them round their houses.