Day 32 – Cape Cod’s Sandy Shores

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Day 32 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

The weathermen predicted a storm overnight and into the morning, and they were correct!  The wind howled as the waves crashed against the shore until finally…pow…a transformer blew and the power was out!  George has a gas stove though, so we still enjoyed blueberry pancakes, and I made the coffee just in time!

Prouts Neck, Maine

Once the storm quieted around late morning, George and I walked out to Canon Rock again.  Only a few days ago the ocean was calm, the sky was sunny, and the visibility reached for miles.  What a transformation!  Today, the fog blanketed the sky, making the islands across the way hardly visible.  The waves pounded the rocks as ocean spray rocketed into the air. 

I can imagine the sounds coming from Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park which I visited two days ago.  I’m glad I had a travel day scheduled today, so I didn’t have to sightsee in this weather!  Instead, it became a Cape Cod museum day.

Sandwich, Massachusetts

It took me about four hours to get to Sandwich, Massachusetts, the oldest settlement on Cape Cod and one of the Oldest in North America.  Incorporated in 1639, according to Reader’s Digest, “it later became the site of one of the largest glass factories in the nation”.  The first Cape Cod museum I visited was the Sandwich Glass Museum which boasted a comprehensive display of cut, beveled, enameled, and blown glass.  I focused most of my attention on three items: witches balls, a lighting display, and Josh Simpson’s glass galaxies.

Sandwich Glass Museum

Witches Balls

The witches balls are of interest to me because my mom collects them.  The Boston & Sandwich Glass Company began making witches balls in 1826.  Because a hollow glass sphere is simple to make several glass companies throughout America and England produced them.  Hung indoors, it was believed the balls’ beautiful colors attracted the witches who came inside, became confused and could not escape, thus the ball provided good energy to the household.  Additionally, sometimes the balls were filled with herbs to ward off evil spirits.

The Progression of Light

I found the lighting display interesting as it included a three minute demonstration of lighting progression in America… from candles, to whale oil lamps, to two burner lamps, to camsene lamps, to kerosene lamps, to gas lamps, to the electric light bulb.  I never really thought about how a lamp progressed over time or why they were shaped particular ways.

Josh Simpson

Finally, one room in the museum was devoted to glass works by Josh Simpson.  They were truly amazing.  I don’t think I could really describe the techniques he uses to create his galaxies, but his globes appear three-dimensional inside an outer layer of glass.  The planet looks textured with oil paint, yet it is made with different colors of glass and metal.  One piece, pictured here, is only one of four made.  I believe it took 15 attempts and nine months to complete.  Neither my picture nor my explanation does this work justice.  I really enjoyed this exhibit as well as this Cape Code Museum.

Thornton W. Burgess Museum

My next stop in Sandwich was the Thornton W. Burgess Museum.  Thornton Burgess, once a resident of the town, is the author of Peter Cottontail. The original manuscripts and illustrations are displayed in the museum, a restored house that was built in 1756.  Unfortunately, this Cape Cod museum was closed for the season, but it was right by a small pond, so I took the dogs for a brief stroll.

Yarmouth Port and Captain Bangs Hallet House

Since it was 4:30 pm, and I had hardly exercised the dogs, I continued on to Yarmouth Port as Reader’s Digest  recommended a nature trail that crisscrossed through 50 acres of woodlands.  It was a great place to let the dogs run around for 20 minutes or so.  The trails were nearby a giant weeping willow and Captain Bangs Hallet House, “a Greek Revival structure crammed with treasures acquired by the good captain on his many voyages to the Far East.”

Unfortunately, this Cape Cod Museum was also closed.  That’s alright. I needed to get to Brewster no later than 5:45 anyway as my friend Page hooked me up with a place to stay!!! Her friends Eric and Lise, who have never met me, kindly lent me a room for the night.  They had a previous engagement scheduled at 6, so I needed to at least meet them before they gave me the run of their home.

Page knows Lise from a ski instructing clinic they completed together several years ago, and she introduced Lise to her now husband Eric.  Lise teaches health and fitness at the local school, and they were attending a function for the school’s Italy abroad program.  Hopefully, I’ll get to talk to them a little longer in the morning.  I tried to get to the house by 5:30 to leave a little time, but I took a small detour along the way so we made a brief introduction. ETB

Map of My Road Trip Across the USA

For a summary about my road trip across the USA, click HERE. For the interactive map, see the below link.

Other Articles About Massachusetts You May Like

• Day 23 – Mohawk Trail Massachusetts
• Day 33- Cape Cod’s Sandy Shores Part 2
• Day 34 – Cape Cod’s Sandy Shores Part 3

Shop

Check out the photographic note cards and key chains at my shop.  Each card has a travel story associated with it.  20% of proceeds are donated to charity.

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