HappyCapeCod

Lower Cape Friday of Firsts

Author’s Note: While I don’t recall ever truly following through on a New Year’s resolution, my wife and I did create a “choose your own adventure” kind-of-game as a way of forcing us to try new things and bust out of the “routine cycle” that occurs every so often. We’ve made it a point to try “new to us” nearby and not so nearby restaurants, music venues, beaches, hiking trails, etc. The “how to” was quite simple; just write down random travel activities as they come to mind, fold-up the paper, mix it in a jar on the kitchen counter, and regularly pull “an adventure.” Though we never defined “regularly…”

Indeed, variety is the spice of life. For us, it’s not so much trying brand-new things, more of finally getting somewhere we just have not been to regardless of reason. Almost half-way though the year, we’ve discovered some amazing breweries, breath-taking (and mostly deserted) stretches of beach, met warm and friendly fellow dog owners, new trails and paddled in waters previously unknown. And in that spirit, a recent Friday of firsts became a pleasant little adventure on the Cape.

Earlier in the summer, we kept seeing signs in Chatham store windows that read, Where are the whales? We initially were confused; assumed they meant, where are the sharks, and thought little of it. The infamous sharks were cleverly located in Kate Gould park, now at Eldridge Public Library, not to mention the the Atlantic Ocean. Nope, these signs in the windows are not about the hungry, beach-closing summer visitors, but of the lovable, gentle some of which are endangered, whale.

The business community, specifically, the Chatham Merchants Association, created a “Where are the Whales?” Scavenger Hunt to find 35 decorated wood-shaped whales, spread across town – in stores, restaurants, theaters, even the airport. Participants (notice I didn’t say “Kids”) match the whale (number) to the listed locations, submit a completed log to the Chatham Chamber of Commerce Information Booth (and receive a prize) and, if the log book is 100% correct, are entered into a drawing for 1 of 5 grand prizes, to be announced…

A cloudy summer morning seemed a great time for a dry-land whale watch and scavenger hunt to simply be kids again. Over the course of about 2 hours, we found over half of the whales! Most are located along Main Street, the central business district, so it’s convienent for families and of course encourages physical activity between unplanned purchases. About 10 whales are not downtown so you will have to drive around if you are “in it to win it.”

While this activity may seem cute, it was actually a blast. We brought the puppy (all but one store was puppy friendly), met a lot of friendly seasonal employees, and shopped in a few stores for the first time. Quick shout out to Where the Sidewalk Ends (bookstore, cafe, generally happy place); while they made you walk upstairs to find their whale, their shelves have some cool, obscure and quirky books about Cape Cod. (They made end up providing source materials for future posts!) For all you bookworms, they even have story time at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays, Fancy Nancy Tea Parties and Author Literary Luncheons. I can’t believe I’d never been in that store before. The crew at Mahi Gold were also a ton of fun, particularly with the puppy. If nothing else, the whale scavenger hunt forces you to go to new places, meet new people and you never know what you might find.

Hana the Hound watching over our drafts.

All that walking left us parched so Ellen suggested being adults again by trying Devil’s Purse Brewing Company in South Dennis. My craft beer mentor “Jonesy” suggested visiting so we knew it was going to be good. The brewery set up a beer garden complete with cornhole pits, board games, picnic tables and Bob Marley on the speakers.

A seafood basket at Kream N’ Kone never disappoints.

While Devil’s Purse does not do the traditional “flight”, we ordered 5 oz “samples” including: Shiso Berry Ale (delicious on a hot summer day), Skywave #7 Saison (light option), Stonehorse Citra IPA (great balance) and Table Beer #16 (for an experimental, very complete). They also had cans of a Double-IPA Hens and Chickens for sale (it was not on tap) so I grabbed a 4-pack, along with Citra and the Table Beer #16, as their cooler was looking sparse, meaning, this stuff goes fast. If you have never been, Devil’s Purse also does growler, howler and crowler fills. For such a small operation, the brewery has an impressive number and variety of beers on tap. Even better, their beers (especially the Handline Kolsch) can be found at most lower cape restaurants.

Every Cape Cod town should have this street.

On the way back to Chatham, we “saw a sign,” checked out the neighborhood, then made a few more “whale stops” before calling off the hunt. A casual dinner at Kream N’ Kone (never disappointing) awaited us, and then, the ultimate first time experience of this summer, attending a show at the Monomoy Theatre in Chatham for the short-run of Little Shop of Horrors, one of Ellen’s favorite musicals. Once again, I was star-struck (pun intended as many of these young actors go on to Broadway), upon the realizeation that we had only just driven by this place for decades until now.

About a half-dozen shows run daily through the summer with evening performances at 8pm; Thursday matinees at 2pm.

The Monomoy Theater is so Cape Cod, you can’t make it up. Like many of the seasonal workers throughout the Cape, the company is mostly college students (Univiersty of Hartford) on summer break seeking to re-fine, if not enhance, their craft. Theatre-goers park on the lawn. Some of the company is provided housing on-site. Cast members not in the current performance sell concessions in the patio area during intermission. By concessions, I mean $1 water, ice tea, lemonade and cookies. There is not a bad seat in the house. Even the special effects are impressive for a seasonal program. We were so delighted with the experience I’m pretty sure were going to become “Friends of the Monomoy Theater” in 2019. In the end, art wins.

A friendly game of Kan-Jam on a sparsely populated stretch of Newcomb Hollow Beach.

The next day was a much anticipated beach day at Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet. The “usual beach crew,” had a strict agenda of bogey boarding, pro kadima, Kan Jam, and Waboba. Seemed another great time to be kids again!

Do you have any Cape Cod “firsts” this summer?

A View of White Pond from a SUP

On the last day of a mini family vacation, I took the still-new NRS Thrive inflatable stand-up paddleboard (SUP) to White Pond to enjoy some quiet. For those unfamiliar, White Pond is a fresh water pond tucked away in woods between Route 28, Queen Anne Road and the north end of Chatham Municipal Airport, accessed by car off Wilfred Road or by bike off the Old Colony Rail Trail.

The previous four days focused on the 7- and 5-year-olds from Colorado, with a mix of hunting for pincher crabs, pretending to be a pirate in 1717 at the Whydah museum (on the rain out), watching seals feed at the pier, and eating delicious BBQ, lobster rolls and fisherman’s platters, prepared or organized mostly by my better half, Ellen. Also included was a fishing charter, Friday night band concert, stroll through town (sharks in the park!) and of course, a Chatham A’s home baseball game. Ellen actually planned the whole long weekend (the itinerary!) which kept things organized and stress-reduced.

As I “put-in” the SUP at the Pond’s main landing, I turned right and began an unplanned afternoon of discovery, reflection and well, happiness. (Recently, I’ve started carrying a pen and pad with me to capture random thoughts — a calm pond allowed for such writing and paddling without multiple splashes.) What I ended up with was a series of experiences in chronological order. Channeling my inner artist, I organized these thoughts, only slightly edited from the original note, and put them in, dare I say, poem form.

It’s amazing what you see, feel, hear even taste when immersing yourself in nature. Also, standing on water is quite remarkable:

Paddle right, warm sun, gentle wind, smiling,

Birds chirp, a frog groans, ducks emerge,

The water looks like glass.

Red, green and yellow stained reeds sway in the breeze,

Little blue dragon flies skim the surface,

I can see the sandy bottom.

The sun cuts through the still water,

Sound travels across the pond as tourists and locals bask in the summer heat,

Around the bend, a hidden cove is revealed.

Patches of bright green and yellow lily pads surround me,

A school of minnows follow my shadow,

A giant red-black dragon fly guides me back the way I came.

A school of striped fish get spooked from their hiding place,

The taste of salt in the air,

Twin water towers stand watch like sentries in the distance.

Clapboard cottages line the elevated land,

A small weathered boathouse appears,

A pile of drift wood waits to be re-purposed.

A secluded staircase and its tender dot the hill,

An anchored sunfish floats with the quiet tide,

A row of tall trees as if grown from the depths.

Seagulls take off and land as a prop plane passes overhead,

A pair of weathered wooden benches half-submerged,

An inviting clearing with a view of the pond.

I take a moment, have a seat and admire the scene of summer bliss before me.

Oh, the sounds, sights, and tastes of adventures that lay ahead.

On a second pass, purposed mostly for the exercise, I grabbed the camera to take a few pictures of the scenery.

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!