Jeff Shaw

Stop at the Chatham Filing Station

Stop at the Chatham Filing Station

My wonderful wife, Ellen, is usually in charge of decision-making. She has an excellent track record when it comes to choosing contractors, buying gifts people actually like/use, booking great vacation lodging, and many other decisions that require some homework. She also has a run of success with lesser decisions, such as choosing new (to us) restaurants.

Last week, she knocked another one out of the park (a subtle shout out to the Chatham A’s that wowed us with 3 Home Runs later that evening at our first home game of the season). The “home run” restaurant choice was the still-relatively new (they opened Memorial Day Weekend 2017) Chatham Filling Station “An American Roadside Diner” on Old Harbor Road.

Since it was June, we were able to stroll in around 9:30am and were seated immediately. While we were guided to a table by the windows, we could not help but get distracted in child-like wonder by all the cool vintage items, framed pictures and unique theme of a true filling station (both literally food and fuel) on a road trip to a destination unknown.

This only one part of Helen Kelsey’s wall mural. Check out the rest at the restaurant!

My coffee cup was filled within 30 seconds, a balanced medium brew, and I immediately locked eyes on an incredible mural on the back wall. The wall painting, by Helen Kelsey, is an explosion of color with layers of meaning, telling the story of the fondest memories of cross-country travels by owners, Rik and Caren Morse. The painting captures some of those moments as well as illustrates the past history and present culture of Chatham.

Sharks in the Park outside Eldridge Library.

I actually told the waitress that I could not stop starring at the mural (as I was facing it and somewhat couldn’t help it) and felt compelled to take multiple pictures while trying not to disturb other (somewhat oblivious) customers. (I have the same reaction each time I see “Sharks in the Park.”) And that’s fine, art often does not connect to the masses. Even the waitress admitted she discoveries little new details when glancing at the wall every now and then.

The menu is balanced, not too small, and not overwhelming either. Some of the dishes are classic comfort food; grits, biscuits and gravy, and huevos rancheros. While the grit bowl selection was impressive, the shrimp and grits option was only available on the lunch menu, so we’re hoping that can be added to the breakfast menu. I love seafood for breakfast (my wife never tires when I re-tell the story of the most amazing salt fish scrambled eggs at a restaurant in Jamaica) and selected the Fish Cake Eggs Benedict. Ellen went with the Carolina Cheesy Grit Bowl.

Both dishes came out steaming with a slice of fresh watermelon on the edge of the plate for a delightful presentation. The fish cakes were large, packed with flavor and covered in “Come Back Sauce,” a slightly sweeter twist on the classic Hollandaise sauce. It worked. The side of potatoes was a good portion, perfect for a mutual “taste test exchange.” We cleaned our plates and took a quick look at the lunch menu, a preview of a return trip with the nephews from Colorado next week. I am happy Ellen found this gem despite already seeing the future line out the door on weekends in July!

We ended up doing A LOT that day, and thank you to the Chatham Filing Station for keep us full well into the afternoon. We walked the shoreline of Pleasant Bay off the North Chatham town landing, paddleboarded around Stage Harbor (thank you John McGrath at Chatham Kayak Company for bailing me out with the paddle) and White Pond (both with the dog), split a “Salty Llama” (chicken salad wrap) and Beanstock Summer Splash coffee at Chatham Cookware Cafe, toured sharks in the park outside Eldridge Library, grabbed the last pair of QS amphibian shorts in in my size at Chatham Clothing Bar and watched an 11-1 Chatham A’s win over Hyannis at Veteran’s field while enjoying a fresh lobster roll (ellen) and fried clam strips (me) from Chatham Pier Fish Market, while tossing bags in between innings on those custom crafted

Our cornhole boards make their season debut at Veteran’s Field.

Chatham A’s cornhole boards.

It was a great day in Chatham thanks to Ellen and the Chatham Filing Station!

Pride of the Chatham A’s: Cornhole Boards

Pride of the Chatham A’s: Cornhole Boards

About this time one year ago, my friend Matt (well, in this case, “frienenemy” Matt, more on that later), was building his own custom cornhole boards. Three years earlier, I had done the same thing with my neighbor, now friend Tom, when we both first moved into the neighborhood. Side bar: There is no better way to bond with your new neighbor by building your very own cornhole boards together. The combination of playing with power tools, making supply runs, and celebrating small successes with a cold one was plain old fun. I highly recommend building your own boards if you have the time.

Rustic looking cornhole boards fresh off construction.

Now frenenemy Matt’s architectural plans called for a customized paint job of the logos of his, and his wife Kate’s, college alma maters. Since the boards neighbor Tom and I built took a little longer than we told our better halves to expect, construction was our only goal. A paint job would have to wait – 3 years. While I’ve always wanted to paint the boards, I never gave much thought to settling on a theme, logo and colors. At first, I liked the rustically toned, barren wood look; it kind of fit into our woodsy backyard. It later dawned on me while ‘tossing bags’ in our Chatham front yard, to make the theme of the boards the one and only Chatham A’s of the Cape Cod Baseball League. That was one year ago.

Not only was paintings the boards after the Chatham A’s fitting for where they are used most, but due to the uniqueness of appreciation for the Cape League, these boards may literally be one of a kind. Although, Cape League Cornhole Boards were announced for sale earlier this spring on Twitter, so mass production of individual team themed cornhole boards could be coming. But that’s not the point. I made these boards with my own hands, and hands of my wife (ellen) neighbor friend (tom), and frienenemy (matt) – he’s an Orleans Firebirds fan, ugh — and have many humorous stories to tell of each step in the project.

My summer hero, A’s Mike Daniels, 1989 season.

My appreciation for the Cape Cod Baseball League stems from the 1980s while attending one of their week-long youth baseball clinics. The clinics are half-day camp for the 8-14 year old avid baseball players, whose parents needed a deserved break. I loved every moment of that week. I didn’t mind getting up early or running in the heat because the coaches are all current Chatham A’s players. Big Brothers. Heroes. And remember, 1 in every 6 Cape league players gets called up to the show so getting coached by future major leaguers is pretty cool. My dad even bought a dozen donuts for the coaches the last day of the clinic to show his appreciation for returning a happy (i.e., tired) child.

To this day, one of my favorite memories was the conditioning drill at the end of the day where the group is divided evenly; one group on home plate as the “batter,” the other group on second base, as the “baserunner.” On the whistle, the first batter ran down the line, rounded first and ran into second base mimicking hitting a double; while the baserunner did the opposite; ran to third, then to home plate mimicking scoring from second base. Once the runner touches the base/plate, the next person in their line repeats the play until everyone in line is on the opposite side of the infield. It’s race – and I was the anchor in the second base group. When my turn came, our team was a good 2-3 seconds off the pace, and somehow, I dug deep (likely to impress the future stars of Major League Baseball-MLB) and made up the time just to cross the plate before my opponent reached second! My teammates and coaches screamed and cheered, the latter excited likely due to $20 and a case of beer on the line for the winning team. We won. As an eight-year old kid, getting high fives from my teammates, many older than me, and Cape League player-coaches was the best reward. My loyalty and pride for the Chatham A’s is still strong after all these years.

The Cape Cod teams are run by volunteers – amazing when you think about how polished the product. Since games are free to attend, teams rely heavily on donations from fans, merchandise sales as well as a $100,000 grant from MLB. Hold that thought as we bounce back to my cornhole boards…

The big decision that faced me was which logos to paint on the boards. For a quick trip down memory lane, over half of the ten team league used to be or is named after a major league franchise (though in some cases, the Cape team name predated the MLB team name). Why does this matter? Because MLB trademarked the names first. In 2008, MLB decided to enforce their trademark law, preventing Cape teams from using certain vendors for their merchandise sales (merchandise sales count for about 1/3 of their revenue), essentially forcing Cape Cod teams to choose between maintaining a link with the major leagues and remaining true to their hometown heritage.

Three of the six teams caved to the pressure from MLB, including Chatham (formerly A’s, now Anglers), Hyannis (formerly Mets, now Harbor Hawks), and Orleans (formerly Cardinals, now Firebirds). In Chatham’s case, team officials smartly chose “Anglers”, a name with a strong cultural reference to the town’s maritime history and current industry, plus the name starting with the letter “A” provided clever branding similar to how their old “A’s” logo was used. Three other teams, Bourne Braves, Harwich Mariners, and Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox kept their hometown heritage but could not use the full team name in any merchandise sales. Their uniforms/t-shirts could only read “Harwich” or “Mariners,” but cannot be used together. All Cape teams have come to terms with MLB with their logos and names, but must pay a royalty fee on all merchandise sold. That’s right folks, MLB squeezing dollars from an all volunteer organizations! I doubt this is a surprise to anyone, but certainly a good example of what is wrong with professional sports and how the Cape league provides a solid alternative.

Limited edition “lost” Chatham A’s logo, circa mid-90s.

At this point, you may be asking what’s with all the history and background? Because I used a lost Chatham A’s logo for one of the boards. So perhaps the boards will subtly point out or lead to a conversation of the ridiculous MLB trademark issue while providing a fun outdoor activity. Now that I think about it, because of the trademark issue, individual Cape Cod team cornhole boards are probably not likely.

The lost Chatham logo chosen was actually a special edition logo that featured a circus-elephant holding a baseball bat, with the original “A’s” logo on a banner resting on its back. I have no idea who came up with the concept, or what it has to do with Chatham, but solving the mystery is on my summer to do list. Someone at Veteran’s Field knows the answer. The practical challenge of painting this logo on one of the two boards was that there was no clear copy of the image on the internet. I only had my cherished cap (signed by unknown players under the brim). I finally stumbled upon a blurry green version of the logo online. But that was it.

Frenemy Matt enlarged the blurry green logo by using a projector to then trace the image onto the primed board. The same process was used for the painting of the second board, the current logo. The time-lapse series of photos shows below how long and who helped make these boards. I thank Ellen, Matt and Tom for their proficiency with power tools, projectors and paintbrushes. I remain beyond happy with the finished product. The cornhole boards are now ready for prime time at Veteran’s Field for the 2018 season – and will make their game day debut on Saturday, June 16.

Following a final coat of sealer, I posted a picture of the final product on Twitter and tagged many associated with the team – Chatham Anglers media, broadcasters Cooper Boardman and Josh Schaefer and beat writer Peter Warren inviting them for a pre-game toss. While I watch most games from our spot along the bank behind center field in camping chairs, I am open to re-locating to the dugout level with the boards to make it part of the fan activities. Maybe start a fun competition in between innings for a chance to win that MLB licensed team apparrel!

The vintage and current A’s logo cornhole boards. See you in Center field.

There and Back Again – A Cape Codder’s Tale

There and Back Again: A Cape Codder’s Tale

“Life is better on the Cape.” There are no truer words (thank you Ocean 104.7 custom crafted for the Cape) that echo in my head when driving past that glorious sign on Route 25 East leading to the Bourne Bridge, Welcome to Cape Cod! Massachusetts 2018 Cape Cod and Islands.

As soon as I see that sign– and recall that pre-recorded “custom crafted” radio tagline – I take a deep breathe and no matter how bad the drive, my day, the weather, it all evaporates on the exhale and in an instant, I’m relaxed and just a bit happier. I’m on the Cape. Hopefully that will be your experience if you are traveling this Memorial Day weekend.

Splitting my time between West Hartford, Connecticut and Chatham, Cape Cod (Mass.), I’ve come to realize the 3-hour-ish drive is sometimes a journey by itself. Chartering a plane into Chatham Municipal Airport is not going to happen, so highway it is. I’ve also come to learn there are only two and a half ways to get to Cape Cod in that 3 hour-ish window:

All Highways: I-84 (East) to I-90 East (Mass Pike) through Hopkinton to I-495 South;
Route 6 East through Providence to I-195 East; or
Route 2 East through Norwich to I-395 North to I-195 East…

The Bourne Bridge at Sunset (Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge in background).

…and still (only) two bridges await you. Surprisingly, there’s a fair amount of traffic pockets on each of these routes. For starters, Hartford, Grafton, Foxborough, after Mansfield where I-495 goes from 3 to 2 lanes, Route 25 before the Bourne Bridge and random pockets along Route 6 on the Cape. And of course Providence and Fall River on the other routes. So let’s talk about making this 3-hour plus trip bareable, nay, enjoyable…

Ideally, every trip to the Cape would be a leisurely, enjoyable ride with the sun shining, cool breeze blowing, car full of family/friends and multiple “fun” stops along the way. But I’d be lying if this was always how I feel driving to Cape Cod. About half the time, especially in the summer, I like many others, just want to get there as fast as possible. No pit stops. Everyone gets a ration of snacks and a water bottle (hold it). But it doesn’t have to be that way. Having driven to the Cape more times than I’d like to count (hours sitting in traffic, emissions on the environment, wear and tear on the car, fuel fill-ups, you get the idea), quality stops are key to breaking up a long road trip.

All Highways. I-84 to Mass Pike to I-495

Avoid this route during rush-hour, especially in the summer months. If you have time, an early detour in Carlton, MA is worth the stop. You may have heard of this hidden gem called Tree House Brewery (kidding about the hidden part, but gem it is). Don’t even think about it unless you have nowhere to be. The stretch along the Mass Pike to I-495 is not usually stop-worthy, though The Sole Proprietor in Worchester does not disappoint with chops or catch of the day. Wrenthem Outlets off Exit 15 along I-495 may be a must stop for your other half so try to make sure that person is asleep when you drive by. Edaville Railroad in Carver is another classic hidden gem as one of the oldest heritage railroads in operation in the U.S.; it is especially appropriate for families given the Thomas the Train/Polar Express experience during the holidays. Beyond that, you are now on the Cape, so welcome! History buffs may want to take a detour off Exit 3 onto the old Cranberry Highway/Route 28 East. Prior to the development of the current three lane Route 25 expressway to the Bourne Bridge, travelers use to drive on the old one-lane road, with only a few left turning lanes. Don’t be fooled, the traffic was just as bad back then than it can be today. Fortunately, even the old cranberry highway is now two lanes each way, with Ella’s Wood Burning Oven justifying the detour. Now which bridge to take…

I-384 to Route 6 to I-195

Lobster Reubens are on coastal menus up and down I-95

Take it during summer rush hour. Until you get to Providence, Route 6 is a quiet country road through northeastern CT and western RI. Last year, my wife and I got caught in a flash flood/thunderstorm/lightning extravaganza and were forced to get off the road. Just by sheer luck, we pulled into the parking lot of Shady Acres Restaurant in Foster, RI. A friendly staff, inexpensive sandwich platers (less than $10), and ice cream was our immediate future. By the time we finished, the sun was starting to break through. The sudden change of extreme weather still leaves me in awe. Along Route 6, keep your eye out for Scituate Liquors, that comically displays a sign that provides a cheap laugh, “Last Stop Before Cape Cod,” even though you are still 20 miles from Providence. I like humor and can proudly share I’ve stopped to quickly buy a 6-pack to give them a little business over the years.

Route 2 to I-395 to I-195

Fishing off Chatham — Fishing off the Cape Cod Coast

I’ve actually only taken this route twice since it mirrors Route 6 and kind of goes the wrong direction. The only difference to Route 6 being you get tempted to stop at the Connecticut Casinos, or give up entirely on the Cape, and opt for the Connecticut shoreline. But you have nowhere to stay, so keep continuing eastward weary traveler! Once you get on I-395 north, it won’t take you long to meet up with Route 6 in Foster, RI. Once you pass the Mass. border along I-195 East, you have two potential stops, LePage’s Seafood & Grille, which is usually hopping in the evenings, but has a outdoor patio with waterfront view. A few miles down the road in New Bedford, Kyler’s Catch Seafood Market (take out only available Thursday-Sunday), is the place to stock up on reasonably priced seafood for the weekend.

While “beating Waze” is a satisfying feat, it rarely happens on drives to Cape Cod. A side trip or two will make your drive to the Cape a happy one!

Leaving Cape Cod in a Better Place Than You Found It

Leaving Cape Cod in a Better Place Than You Found It

Picking up on one reason I started writing – “I remain inspired by people who not only care deeply about their communities, but take action and give back, so that everyone benefits,” – to highlight people giving back with the hope others will follow. In the spirit of Sydney Sheldon, these people are “trying to leave the Earth in a better place than when they arrived.”

First off, thank you to the Cape Cod Chronicle and Cape Cod Times for choosing to cover this kind of work. The missions of nonprofit organizations – their work enhancing our shared quality of life – brings people together for a common purpose that benefits everyone in the long run. Whether donations of time, money, in-kind gifts, or connections, regular people’s actions have the ability to make a difference. Remember that. It’s hard not to feel good knowing many businesses, residents and visitors are working to improve our community.

CARE for the Cape and Islands – Volunteering on Vacation

Rolling up your sleeves and getting dirty is a great way to give back. Recently, a team of 50 volunteers from CARE for the Cape and Islands spent the day ‘sprucing-up’ the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center (CMMC). Volunteers cleared trails, weeded gardens, removed debris along the grounds as well as painted and cleaned the interior, the half-day of service helping ready the CMMC for another season. For similar clean-up days, CARE choses locations that both visitors and residents can experience, cultivating awareness of natural resources and local history that creates a connection and deeper appreciation of the land and environment.

CARE is designed to empower residents and visitors to take joint ownership in preserving the beauty, ecology and culture of the Cape and Islands. Now in it’s fifth year, the focus on sustainable travel connects the Cape’s fragile ecosystem with its significant place in American history. Both are reasons people visit and chose to stay on Cape Cod, and connecting the two provides a more enriching, if not rewarding, experience.

Here are a few more cool projects you can support with CARE (pun intended!):

Beach Trash to Treasure on Nantucket. Do to growth in amounts of trash
Beach and ocean trash ‘up-cycled’ into artwork for sale.

finding its way onto beaches and into the ocean, a Nantucket-based artist is turning trash into art while raising awareness on up-cycling (reuse in such a way that produces a higher quality of original material) and conservation. Why this is a problem? Plastic is finding its way into the human food chain through micro plastics found in the fish we eat. Everyone should think about that for more than a moment, and appreciate the implications of this reality. Because we can’t see this happening, it’s hard to know what to do about it, let alone think about it. To reduce our use of plastics, we just need to make small behavior changes. For example, choose stainless steel water bottles, use glassware for food storage, pressure your barista to use paper cups (many already do), bring reusable bags shopping (grocery, retail, etc), tell your waiter not to put a straw in your drink, find wood-handled toothbrushes (they exist!), or remember to pack silverware on picnics. We must remove plastic litter from the environment.
Provincetown Sidewalk Buttlers. Worthy goal, keeping cigarette butts off the street and out of the waste stream. Why this is a problem? During International Coastal Clean-Up Day, over 1.8 million cigarette butts were removed from beaches. So-called sidewalk “buttlers” have been installed in high traffic areas in downtown Provicetown to not just collect the butts, but to recycle and compost the materials.
Coloring Book for Kids from the Cape Cod Commercial Fisherman’s Alliance. Learning through coloring is a great way for children (and adults) to become stewards of the ocean. Get yours today!
For visitors, another way to make a difference on your next vacation is to choose your lodging based on their environmental commitment. Some B&Bs, hotels and motels donates a portion of room fees of guests who choose environmentally friendly options (classically, choosing not to have towels or sheets changed), sharing the commitment to conservation. It may take a little longer to book your next stay, but can make a difference.

Indeed, the Cape and Islands provide a character we must preserve. “And it takes change to stay the same.”

Cape Sea Grille Raises Money for Harwich Conservation Trust

The business community is an essential partner in keeping our community healthy, vibrant and welcoming to everyone. A few weeks ago, the Cape Sea Grille hosted the Annual Spring Wintetasting Dinner to benefit the land-saving work of the Harwich Conservation Trust. Land trusts seek to preserve land and open space that protects water resources, scenic views, wildlife habitat, and other natural features that define the environment. It’s hard to imagine the landscape of Cape Cod without the work of land trusts and other environmentally focused organizations. Like many nonprofit organizations, they need support.

While I did not attend the Winetasting Dinner, I learned that it sold out weeks prior to the event and may just quality for an evening not to be missed. While $125 per person may seem steep, the money raised supports a cause that is priceless – our natural resources. Not only are Cape Sea Grille owners Jen and Doug Ramler to be thanked, other local businesses supported the event with donations of food and wine. Extended thanks to Ed and Susan Ring or Ring Brothers Produce, Dave Carnes of Chatham Fish and Lobster, Matt O’Brien of William & CO., Matt Schultz of Classic Wines (Martignetti), Lynne Barnard of Horizon Beverage, Don Mitchell or Ideal Wines, Carol Bosch of MS Walker and Robert Roettig of Ruby Wines. I hope to see you next year.

Nauset Disposal Partnership with The Center for Coastal Studies to Support the Right Whale Emergency Initiative (the Center)

If you want to actually see whales on your next whale watch, please join the 1,000 Friends of Right Whales – right now (pun always intended). The Nauset Disposal and Center for Coastal Studies to Support the Right Whale Emergency Initiative intends to raise $100,000 to help support the Right Whale Emergency Initiative. The North Atlantic right whales are among the rarest of all marine animals, and the birth rate (5 in 2017) is falling well short of combatting the death rate (50 since 2010). With an estimated population of (only) 430 individual right whales, with less than 100 being breeding females, the population is indeed endangered. We have an obligation to take action and the ability to protect the species.

The initiative seeks to address the two drivers of right whale deaths, boat strikes and entanglement. Money collected will be used to locate and monitor right whales in Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, expand slow-down warnings for boaters in areas in which they are located and, knowing where they are, increase the probability of finding and freeing entangled whales. Last year, a marine debris removal project sent divers down into three local harbors to remove old lobster traps, fishing line, trash and other items harmful to marine life. Nauset Disposal provided the dumpsters to collect and remove the debris.

Even small donations make a difference. The is especially true in the case of the 1,000 Friends of Right Whales since Nauset Disposal will match the first 75 donations! Our collective action can help save the North Atlantic Right Whale.

About Cape Cod

About Cape Cod

Having grown up in the northeast, it’s hard to imagine meeting someone who has never been to, let alone heard of, Cape Cod. But alas, it happens. For those who are not familiar with Cape Cod, here is short overview and list of what a visit or vacation may look like, from an admittedly biased observer.

Cape Cod is a peninsula off the southeast coast of Massachusetts jutting out about 67 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. “The Cape” consists of 15 towns beginning at the Cape Cod Canal, two islands (Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket), and the area around Buzzards Bay. While most people experience Cape Cod during the busy summer months of July and August, the shoulder seasons (spring and fall) are increasingly popular times to visit and even winter is becoming stocked with events and activities to keep people coming back throughout the year. About 200,000 people live on the Cape year round, with the population more than doubling in the summer months.

While there are many classic Cape Cod traditions to experience such as, watching a double feature at the Wellfleet Drive-In, riding, running or walking the Cape Cod Rail Trail, enjoying the raw bar at The Beachcomber or chowder at The Squire, exploring 63,000 acres of the Cape Cod National Seashore, climbing the steps of the Pilgrim Monument, catching a Cape League Baseball League game at one of ten fields spread from Orleans to Wareham, or visiting the Kennedy Museum, to name a few (and I didn’t even mention all the festivals and celebrations), these places may not always be there, as we learned painfully with Liam’s due to erosion at Nauset Beach. Take advantage while you can.

Here’s a short list of a few activities that make the Cape, well, the Cape for adults and kids a like:

A familiar sight off Route 28 in West Chatham.

Driving by familiar town and neighborhood sights;
Enjoying fresh seafood where ever you turn (if you’re not into that, don’t fret, the Cape is littered with tasty twists on traditional cuisines);
Packing up for multiple lazy beach days where you often forget what day it is;
Getting dragged with your family on a whale watch only to realize you really enjoyed it, even if you puked;
A few of my beach toys.

Competing with your fellow beachgoers in just about any beach game like paddleball, corn hole, scoop golf, Waboba surf water ball, best sand castle, you name it;
Playing the role of wanna be local fisherman or typical tourist for a day of fishing on the boat or clamming in the flats;
Boating whether charter or some kind of tour, getting out on the water;
Re-discovering your appreciation for a deck of cards, board games and puzzles on rainy days;
Realizing soft serve ice cream cannot be beat;

Veteran’s Field, Home of the Chatham A’s.

Watching a Cape Cod Baseball League is just about the best way to spend a summer evening on Cape Cod;
Treating yourself to something sweet; homemade fudge, salt water taffy and at least one banana split;
Building up the nerve to sign-out a sailfish (single) sail boat and not capsize – or drift out to sea;
Photographing and touring a few of the dozen or so lighthouses spread throughout the Sound and Bay sides;
The majestic Chatham Lighthouse on a clear summer day.
Finding your inner “Tiger” on the back nine during a competitive game of mini golf;
Listening to (my) favorite, Ocean 104.7, custom crafted for Cape Cod’s news and ideas (radio station);
Soaking up summer sounds of the town(s) band concerts on summer evenings;
Going on breakfast run for fresh brewed local coffee and baked goods, returning as a hero to your family or group of friends;
Appreciating nature: beautiful gardens, blooms, sunsets, tides the occasional rainbow;
A bloom in our backyard.
Collecting sea shells, sea glass, and other wash’a shore items; and
Cursing yourself repeatedly for deciding to depart the Cape on Sunday after 10:00am (traffic!).

Whatever you decide to do, slow down just a little bit and you will enjoy your time on the Cape.