Blog #17

Blog#17

 

Happy 4th of July!

 

May this day be a symbol of peace, prosperity and happiness in your lives.  God Bless America and the people who live here!


Greetings from Cape Cod!  The photo below gives you and idea of where on earth are Brian and Ruth.  X marks the spot, Eastham, MA.


We have beaches on both sides of us, Cape Cod Bay and the Cape Cod National seashore on the Atlantic side.  Though now that we are in our Peak season, some beaches Bay side are only open to locals,  all other beaches require passes or permits, or a daily visitor fee.   National Park beaches on the Atlantic are dog friendly and we have a National Parks pass.  ( but get there early, if you want to find a parking spot) 
We miss our Oregon beaches, who for the most part are free to all, with easy access.




                         Rock Harbor beach Cap Cod Bay




Coast guard station at Coast Guard beach


Teddy at Coast Guard Beach, his first time seeing the ocean.


Looking out towards the Atlantic from the Cap Cod National Seashore Visitors Center.


Our Atlantic Oaks Campground adjoins the Cap Cod Rail to Trail walking / bike path, its 27 miles long, Wellfleet to South Dennis.  We have enjoyed walking and biking the path and hope to explore more.








Yes, its an E bike, on our first 26 mile bike ride, ECON.  (that means the lowest setting, Yes I peddled all the way)



We took a day trip to Sandwich about a 40 minute drive south down the Cape.  Sandwich is the oldest town on the Cape. 
The town was settled with the permission from the Plymouth Colony in 1637.  It is named for the seaport town of Sandwich, Kent in England.  We visited the Heritage gardens and car museum, then the Sandwich Glass Museum.  Here are some photos from our day.












Heres a 1965 Ford Country Squire Wagon at the Heritage Gardens Auto museum.  Looks very familiar to my 1967 Ford Galaxy.


They also had a 1933 Packard 633 Runabout.  The first 5th wheel.  Pretty Cool!

After the Gardens we went to the Sandwich Glass museum.   Deming Jarves a wealthy businessman from Boston felt the area would make a good factory for making glassware. 


History

Town of Sandwich

Settled in 1637 and incorporated in 1639, Sandwich is the oldest town on Cape Cod. Originally settled by the English, Sandwich became an agricultural community, the main export of which was timber sent back to England. Even during the American Revolution, it remained a primarily agrarian community, supplemented by coastal fishing. But in 1825, the landscape of Sandwich would drastically change because of Deming Jarves, a Boston businessman and former agent of the New England Glass Company of East Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Deming Jarves

Deming Jarves, the principal founder and manager of the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, did not choose Sandwich as a site for the glass factory because of the beach sand that was readily available. Beach sand is too impure to make glass, which requires pure quartz silica. The Company shipped in pure silica supplies first from New Jersey and New York, and later from the Berkshire Hills in western Massachusetts.

Jarves chose Sandwich because of its proximity to a shallow harbor and the possibility of a canal being built through Cape Cod that would allow for the shipment of goods. The local availability of timber could be used to fuel the glass furnaces. Even the salt marsh hay and grasses could be used for packing material.

Jarves brought master glassblowers with him from the New England Glass Company. He also recruited workers from England and Ireland. English and Irish glassmakers were considered the foremost craftsmen during the early 19th century. They were very skilled in making blown glassware with high lead content, the most desirable of the period.

Sugar Bowl c.1830

The glass company also produced mold-blown wares. Many of these designs mimicked English and Irish cut glass patterns, but mold-blown pieces were more easily made and required less skilled labor.










Charming Homes




Love Wins

Here are some random pictures, Hikes, Parks, etc...

Brewster Windmill at Drummer Boy Park on the Bay

 


Great island hike, up out of Wellfleet

Teddy got tired, he was so excited he wore himself out!

We have been super lucky to be the beneficiaries of some absolutely delicious seafood here on the Cape.   Thanks to our boss Captain Dan, and Roman, Silas and Scarlet too!  Who go out regularly and catch tons of fish.





Thanks for the Striper bass!                                                    

 Mango, Avocado, Jalapeno, Ceviche!





Captain Dan and his Blue Fin Tuna!




LUCKY US!


We are working hard here at Atlantic Oaks Campground learning the computer system on how to make, cancel, and adjust reservations, plus do departure and arrival reports.  Making a reservation is a 3 step process involving, computer screens,  a credit card machine, and a cash register with a computer screen.  All the computers are either touch screen or touch pad or mouse.  It's very good exercise for our 60+ year old brains.  We are finally getting it, after 2 months.  Plus learning all the ins and outs of the Campground, the Office, ( cleaning, stocking shelves, etc..) and the Cape.  
We are the late shift, 3-9 for Ruth, 4-11 for Brian, 5 days a week.  Brian and I Close the till and lock up the store at 9:00pm.( Hopefully everything balances)  Then Brian makes his rounds of the Campground by golf cart until 11:00, when he lets the Campers know, Fires Out, with water poured over.  Eastham City ordinance. 
 Our other Camp Hosts ( 7 in all )  are super helpful and everyone works together to have a successful campground.  Almost everyone has a dog and its a very dog friendly place.  Teddy comes into work with us at night.







Here I am fixing dinner for fellow Host, Dave and his little ShiPoo, 
(Shih-tzu/Poodle), like Teddy.  Her name is Maui.  Shes little, maybe 12 lbs.  We hoped our ShiPoo Teddy would be small, but hes getting close to 20 lbs.  And his fur is turning polka dotted.  He is turning out to be a wonderful Camp Host himself, hanging out in his penned in area, under the shade tree during the day.  Greeting all who come by.



One last photo ;-)

Have a Happy 4th, and Happy Trails to You till we meet again.

Love,  Ruth & Brian

 

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