Day 34 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways
Cape Cod
What a glorious day…60 degrees and sunny! I started out with a soft boiled egg and toast compliments of Eric and Lise. Before we headed to Wellfleet Oyster Fest, I walked the dogs down to the neighborhood pond, Long Pond. It was nice mile walk just to take the edge off the dogs so they could enjoy a rest in VANilla while we tried out the local fare at Wellfleet’s Oyster Fest.
Wellfleet’s Oyster Fest
I’ve never been to a festival where oysters are shucked in booths out on the street. It was quite fun to see the shuckers in fishing gear and to hand pick the dozen oysters I wanted. Wellfleet oysters are fantastic! We tried a few more food booths as well…an order of fried clams from one and a sea dog from the other.
None of us had ever heard of a sea dog which was basically a lobster fried in corn breading and stuck on a stick like a Fletcher’s corn dog. It reminded me of the State Fair of Texas which takes place in Dallas every October. Every year there is a contest among the vendors establishing the best fried food. I vote for the fried oreos.
Great Island
After consuming thousands of calories each, we took a walk along the beach on Great Island a peninsula off of Wellfleet Harbor. The beach was laden with scallop shells from yesterday’s heavy surf. Scout tasted one of them…crunchy!
Pilgrim Memorial Monument
I parted with Lise and Eric for the late afternoon and headed up to Provincetown. In Provincetown, I visited the Pilgrim Memorial Monument . The monument, constructed between 1907 and 1910, was built to commemorate the first landing of the Pilgrims in 1620. After 67 days at sea, the Mayflower anchored here while the Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact, the first democratic document written in America. After exploring the area, the Pilgrims moved to Plymouth where they established the first permanent settlement in the Northeast.
Provincetown
While in Provincetown, I also completed a micro cache. Micro caches in urban areas, in my experience, tend to be magnetic. Thus, as I turned the corner and found some benches, I presumed it would be magnetically attached to one of them. Attempting stealth in my hunt, I nonchalantly sat on the bench while craning my neck around to glance at the back of the bench. Additionally, I slowly ran my hand under the seat without looking.
Jay, a Jamaican who previously lived in Florida and is now living with his aunt while he cooks at the Red Inn commented, “You look like you have a lot on your mind.” I responded, “as a matter of fact, I do. I’m trying to find a geocache without looking like a crazy person peering under benches.” After providing a short lesson on caching, I sat down on the next bench, ran my hand behind the back of it, and found the black magnetic case. I planned to drop the Texas geocoin I found, but the container was too small.
Marconi Station
After strolling through Provincetown, I visited Race Point Beach for a view before returning to Brewster. Along the way, I stopped at Marconi Station to see the site where the first U.S transatlantic wireless telegram was sent to Edward VII King of England from Theodore Roosevelt. Construction on the wireless radio station began in 1901, was destroyed by a storm later in the same year, and rebuilt in 1902.
Guglielmo Marconi transmitted the message for which he received the Nobel Prize. The station was demolished in 1920 and at least half of the shore where the station stood has eroded leaving only a few remains.
The Marconi Beach also features lovely sunsets. I enjoyed the pink sky, before I joined the Wellfleet Oyster Fest traffic on my way back to Eric and Lise’s.
Brewster
Back in Brewster, Eric and Lise prepared a salad and shrimp scampi…DELICIOUS! It was certainly 100 times better than the Cowboy game. Thankfully I only had to suffer through the last quarter.
This weekend in Cape Cod was quite enjoyable. Eric and Lise couldn’t be nicer. They spontaneously hosted a complete stranger for an entire weekend. So generous, so kind! Oh will it be hard to leave! It was really nice to tour Cape Cod with locals. I hope I will have the opportunity to host them in the future. And THANK YOU Page for making the 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 of Massachusetts
- Day 32 – Cape Cod’s Sandy Shores
- Day 33 – Cape Cod’s Sandy Shores Part 2
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.
It sounds like you had the BEST time!! What a treat to see the sights with such gracious people. And, to finally have a gorgeous day!
How exciting to be there for a festival — some local flavor! Glad the oysters were good, but the fried lobster is more up my alley. Yum — sounds so good!
Please tell Lise and Eric “thanks from your Mom” and a big thank you to Page!
Miss you….safe travels….xo’s M
The fried lobster sounds good. I would like to try that some time. The big winner at the State Fair of Texas this year was the fried frito pie. I didn’t try it, but the ones that I know that did say it was good.
I think it would have been better with a different batter like tempura. We were a little surprised by the corn batter. Very rich. Fried frito pie…hmmm…I’m not sure about that. Like a chicken pot pie with beans, meat, and fritos I guess?
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I want some oysters and lobster on a stick!
At our state fair they had a burger, the bun was a Krispy Cream do-nut! I could resist! Pretty much like the fried stick of butter I hear they have at the Texas state fair.
So was meat on a donut good?
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What is the picture of the two sticks, the rock and the chain?
That is part of the radio station. The chain anchored the tower and wires.
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great sunset
I am glad you had fun. I knew you all would get along…but fried lobster!?! I am sure Lise told you that I am a lobster-a-holic, but that one might do me in! Have you ever tried fried butter at the State Fair. I have not but have heard they have it in Texas.
Page
Been meaning to send a text to thank you for hooking us up. We had a great time…fried lobster was fair…we decided we wouldn’t get it again, but it was a must try…I haven’t had the fried butter…I hear it is flavored, covered in bisquit dough, and fried (all about the marketing)!