June 11th - That Old Cape Magic

June 11
Okay, I love Boston, but I was not too sad to be leaving. We weren’t actually staying in Boston, rather a blue-color (imo) suburb. And, the weather was still yucky. We loaded up and headed to the Cape. I let Ginny drive, because I know she was chomping at the bit.
Ginny drives fast. I drive fast….so you must know that she drives really fast. It took everything in me to not keep looking at the speedometer, or to make a comment. I really didn’t want to start anything because she was not in a good mood. It seems the prospect of staying with Karen (a long-time family friend) had darkened her mood considerably. I felt terrible, because I’d asked her to stay there (to save money on the hotel). My bad. I can’t figure out why they’re friends, because the side of the conversation I heard was bad. I half joked about the way Ginny spoke to Karen….I was promptly put in my place. I won’t say anything again.
I love the Cape. As much as I love NE….the Cape is really it for me. It’s where I was born, my first house, my first friends, grammar school, the beach, Fourth of July, the Bicentennial, fried clams, ice cream, the Wayside Inn, George’s pizza, go-cart rides, the purple dune buggy, the Melody tent, the jetties, big shells that roar with the sound of the ocean, plump green seaweed that looks like you could plant it in a pot…mom & dad, happy. I just love it here. I can’t for the life of me figure out why I don’t come back more often!
After Ginny hit the Sagamore Bridge’ going 65 mph in a 40 zone, we were there in no time. The hotel is great…old Cape Cod on the beach….we can see the ocean from our balcony. The room is efficiency with a small kitchen, two double beads, and a living/dining area. Perfect. Although….no internet access. So, I’m out of touch for a few days.
Karen came to pick Gin up…and poor Gin looked like she was going to her execution. I felt bad, but I think the break will do everyone good.
The kids and I hit the beach. Hunter and Aud built sandcastles with some other kids they’d met, while Barrett jumped in the pool (which was adjacent to the beach). The air temperature was only 64, so I cannot imagine how cold the pool water was. He was visibly shaking….but kept on jumping. Cammy wasn’t too impressed with the beach….sand was freaking him out. I just sat in our chair looking at the beautiful coastline. Just 100 yards to the east is where the old Belmont Hotel once sat…for 90 years, before some developer brought her to the ground. The Belmont is where my parents met, and where I lived for the first year of my life. I was home.
After the beach, I drove the kids to Chatham, to lunch at the Squire. Along the way, I was happily pointing out all the landmarks I knew, and my five year old daughter told me, “Enough, get us to the Squire.” The Squire is a bar on Main Street, across from the Wayside Inn, where my dad worked for seven years. The Squire is older than I am and is still owned by the same two guys who started it all, Richard Costello & George Payne. In the 1970-80s, they were good friends of my dad.
The Squire hasn’t changed much and the fried clams were awesome! The kids were good and I asked if Richard or George were around – Richard was. I said hi and we chit-chatted before I had to chase the kids, who were heading out the door. I took them to the old candy store across the street and then to the Chatham Band Stand in the park for a candy picnic. We also went in the Wayside Inn, but as I’d discovered the last time I was here, the outside may look the same, but the inside had been gutted. It looks like any ole chain hotel now.
After a gallery and a bookstore we headed back to Harwich. We went to my old grocery store (was Angelos, now Star market) for snacks and then the wine store (which was once Ring Bros. Farmers Market, scene of my first crime…I stole a candy bar and I got the BELT).
Back at the hotel, I had happy hour with Rich, via the phone. I miss him. This would be even more special if he was here. The last time we were here, I was pregnant with the boys….and so very sick. It was awful. But, there’s always next time.

Lodging: The Soundings Resort, Dennisport, MA (Cape Cod)
Traveled: Boston to Dennis, 83miles/1 ½ hours
Quote of the day: “Good for you!” – Four separate strangers on four different occasions, after I confirmed that, yes, all four were mine. Much nicer to hear than, “You’ve got your hands full.”
Silly Band: Bear-Bear