Cape Cod Day 7

I woke up this morning to a text from G3 that he sent last night after I had gone to bed. He asked if there was any way we could do the breakwater today if he was willing to get up early. I had planned to check out a different hiking trail, but I am always happy when he wants to do something with me and a trip to Cape Cod would have felt incomplete without a walk across the breakwater. So, I woke him up and within ten minutes we were heading north into Provincetown. I found parking easily on the roundabout with the plague commemorating the Pilgrims’ landing. The breakwater also begins at the roundabout.

It was a beautiful morning to be out and walking and at 7:30 there were hardly any other people about which was lovely.

Early morning is always my favorite time of the day when I am away. Most people are still asleep or at home so I don’t feel crushed by crowds. I like the quietness and aloneness.

When we used to come out here during Family week, G3 and I  always walked the breakwater the day we arrived. It became a tradition of sorts. This time we walked it on our last full day. My legs are not as agile as they once were and walking in the rocks was not as easy, but I still enjoy it. Mostly, I enjoyed being out with G3 even though he walked—as he now often does—several strides in front of me. The water was calm, the only sounds were the sea birds. Across the way, one of the Cape light houses was visible. When we turned around, we could see P-town stretching out along the water, the Pilgrim Monument rising in the distance.

We met a New York Times reporter on the breakwater. She was on assignment doing a story on Provincetown and Anthony Bourdain’s relationship with the town in advance of the Bourdain movie being released. I seriously want her job. I want a job where someone pays me to travel and write about a particular destination. But I am too old to start at an entry level. There just isn’t enough time to work my way up.

Mom took us to the Flying Fish, a restaurant in Wellfleet, for breakfast. We at outside and the food was good. I very much enjoyed the home fries that accompanied eggs. I think we all liked our food. I definitely recommend it if you are ever on the Cape.

We spend a peaceful and relaxing day at the beach. G3 and I went swimming. He had fun on his boogie board. I chatted with my brother about Philmont and John Irving’s novels. I’ve only read two but I learned Irving is one of my brother’s favorite authors. Both Gs are now playing chess. Mom was just happy sitting on the beach people watching and listening to the waves break on shore.

Tonight, our last night on the Cape, we drove into P-town again. Tomorrow is the first day of Family Week, the week we used to come out here, and it seems families have already started to show up. There are several families walking along Commercial Street. It’s making me feel nostalgic.

For dinner, Mom took us to the Squealing Pig. I didn’t care for the food. The Gs seemed to like what they ordered, but Mom was not a fan of the pulled pork sandwich. It was too sweet. And my shrimp tacos weren’t great. The ones I had our first night at PJ’s were much better. The ones tonight upset my stomach.

After we ate, we walked down commercial street. Mom got the Gs and herself some ice cream which they ate on the beach. I didn’t have any because I knew there was ice cream in the freezer at the house and I didn’t want to waste it. I figured I’d eat when we got back. Commercial Street was more crowded—more like the Commercial Street I remember—than it was the other night, probably because it is a Friday night.

Of course G3 and I played ping pong. He won the two games before we went out to dinner. I won the two before bed.

I am sad that tonight is our last night. Today was our best day here. I am not ready to leave. I certainly don’t want to go back to Jersey, but I am looking forward to seeing my cats.