Of course not every picture I took while hanging out with my dear wife Karen and Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle the pre-touring explosion week in and out of the Happy Cottage on Cape Cod fit right into my posts-of-the-moment.
That’s what these ruminating recaps are built to encompass.
And so I give you one last look at what made us smile.
Somewhere off the Mass Pike.
That first Friday, after leaving our home New York state and entering the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we needed some stretch and relief on the Turnpike. While Karen went inside, I walked Ellie B and thought this was one heck of a place to catch up on important history.
A Saturday afternoon with Brian Wilson.
Saturday at the Cape Cod Cinema turned out to be a most marvelous discovery. Brian Wilson’s life story Love & Mercy had a safe keeper this week.
Sunday we decided to walk the street of Chatham.
Really rock around the clock.
In one shop, I admired a clockmaker’s relationship to both time and vinyl.
During the very pleasant week in the Happy Cottage, I decided to take my great blogger friend Hollie up on her suggestion to try the wine label 19 Crimes. At last.
Bad times made for a colony and a tasty wine.
MDW Karen and I decided to drink our goblets of the fine-tasting Red Blend on the back patio.
Hollie emailed me about the history of the Crimes, and I told her what we got on our cork: “Setting Fire to Underwood.”
Who’s the culprit?
What’s a vacation without a selfie, right? Do you think it was a crime to email this photo to Hollie, who suggested the wine label, of course, but was not on vacation? Alas, in the spirit of all good people getting their due, I have since read over at her place that she’s on a much-deserved vacation with happy son Owen right now. Happy Birthday, Hollie!
We had our longest walk of the trip at Nickerson State Park, where Ellie B learned how to swim in Cliff Pond.
Nature’s gift.
I’m not sure if I gave you enough scenic shots of Cliff Pond and its shore without Dogamous Pyle prancing the first time around.
You stumped me.
On a trail, we spotted this toppled tree, and I wondered what had come through to fall something of this girth.
Simple but comfortable.
MDW Karen alerted me to a furry head sticking out of a bird house affixed to a stick tree out yonder.
Not even a cameo?
By the time I swooshed to the zoom, either I or Ellie B had made too much noise, and the head had retreated inside the home.
On our walk in the opposite direction as our days dwindled, I made sure we knew our way.
Click on any gallery photo for a description. Click twice on the right photo for an enlarged slide show.
It works better than bread crumbs when birds and beasts are hanging around.
Three-flag household.
Just off the newly discovered lake/pond sat this lovely house, under the American, Canadian and Massachusetts flags.
Next best thing, ESN?
And even though I missed out on the live little guy in the treehouse at Nickerson, I did discover the ornamental version above while walking this new route. What do you think, Bill? Evil Squirrel’s Nest worthy?
The Pacific is thataway from P-Town’s oceanside eatery.
Finally, always take a second to point your camera phone away from the water for at least one shot.
We hope to see you again 51 weeks from now, Happy Cottage.
If you missed any or all of the action hinted at above, you can find my week-plus of Cape Cod posts most easily by clicking the tag Cap Cod below.
Where would you like to visit and what would you like to discover in Cape Cod, and why? What was your favorite adventure I shared of our trip, and why? What’s your favorite photo here, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
I love your photo navigation system, Mark. 🙂 But I admit I’m a little disappointed that you didn’t make it back to the yummy breakfast diner while you were there. That place looked so good last year! 😀
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We made it back, Rachel! I just didn’t take any pictures there this year figuring I didn’t want to repeat them two years in a row!!
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It us always sad to go back home from vacation. I don’t like leaving my escapes from work and hectic life. You sounded happy to be getting back home, though.
your trip looked even better than last year’s with more variety of events and 2 fellow blogger meet-ups, too. Happy trails to you. . . .
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I was happy to get back to our Little Bitty, Robin. But the vacation was really great this year. And to meet Ann and Maria was fantatic, you are correct. 🙂
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i would like to visit all of the little towns and villages and see what makes each one unique – )
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Let’s go!
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This is what happens when I only have time to pick and choose through my reader… I miss the good stuff! I absolutely covet that ornamental squirrel! I love the eyes and those markings on it! Thank you for making sure I didn’t miss this!
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I cheered when I saw it, making MDW Karen and Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle look at me even more curiously than usual, Bill. “Evil Squirrel’s Nest,” I declared. It’s a wonder I’m not in a jacket that keeps me from swinging my arms, you know? Anyway, I’m glad you like it as much as I did! 🙂
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Tic Toc…Can’t wait to get our butts over there next weekend! Nice pics!
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I hope you guys have such a great time, Mrs. B. I want to see pictures, please and thank you! ❤
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Yes, I will have evidence of our shenanigans to share. 🙂
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I’m game for seeing anything I haven’t seen before. When it comes to “places” any way! 😉 And I enjoyed ALL of the pictures!
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Thanks so much, MBC. I loved taking ALL the pictures in all the places. ❤
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Terrific wrap-up of a well-deserved vacation. 😀 The pictures are m.a.r.v.e.l.o.u.s.
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Thank you, Tess. We had f.u.n.
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I can tell. 😀 😀
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i would definitely go to the beach you photographed and the pie shop. I think that after your pie shop post i selected blackberry – but now I’m going more towards gooseberry. 🙂
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I say you need both berries, Rachel! 🙂
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Great vacation Mark. And awesome photos. Thanks so much for sharing your week off with all of us. It is greatly appreciated. 🙂
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Glad to, Paul. 🙂
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Definitely loving those vinyl records transformed into clocks….but is that any real surprise?
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No surprise, Marissa. They are waaaay cool!
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Everything looks so crisp and clear. I remember as a teen, romanticizing what Cape Cod would be like, thinking it would be fun to “summer” there. I don’t think I’d want to drink even one crime.
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The wine if fabulous, Kerbey! And Cape Cod wants you to visit, still. Preferably the same time as MDW Karen and I next June. Man, I can pitch, my friend. ❤
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Although, it was a tad nippy there for you – you had the place virtually to yourself…How nice was that!! Until next year in Mass. enjoy your summer in Syracuse! Cheryl
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Thanks, Cheryl. We’ll make do right here at home, sweet home. :-0
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How true Mark there’s no place like HOME!
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MG and I were in Nickerson State Park last summer. Now I really have the itch to get back there…!
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Quite a nice park, we thought, Jim. 🙂
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Next round, consider coming on up to the “other cape” in Massachusetts — Cape Ann, north of Boston. It’s smaller but largely undiscovered yet exudes a similar charm.
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Thanks for the tip, Jnana. It’s now on our new things to discover list!
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I feel like I was there, Mark. (Well, kind of.) Thanks for sharing.
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Lucky you. Last year my vacations were: time off to get a new puppy and acclimate her to our household, followed by time off after breaking my foot because of said new puppy. This year my vacation will be sitting in an under-renovation house keeping an eye on said puppy (now Big Dog). Maybe next year, I’ll get a “real” vacation.
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Oh, CM, I had a vacation gap in my life until MDW Karen came along. So all the credit for these adventures goes to her. 🙂 As for you, circumstances sometimes prevail, which explain that vacation gap in my life.
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Have a safe trip home
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Thanks, Gary, and home we are! I have this habit of getting 13 days of posts out of a nine-day trip. 🙂
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While next month’s vacation means visiting our kids and my parents in the heat of the south, I did suggest to The Mister that a trip northeast would be preferable next summer. He’s never been up that way, so there is much to choose from. I haven’t been up that way in 20 years, and I loved it! I’ve enjoyed your shares, Mark 🙂
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Talk the Mister into Cape Cod, Joey. You will love it! Thanks for following along, my great friend.
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I think a day in Provincetown, but there are other places I long to return to as well 🙂
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The cool thing about where we rent is that it’s so central, we can drive off to anywhere in an hour. 🙂
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Oh I’m sure!
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Great photos and summary. It sounds like an idyllic vacation!
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I had a great time, Merril. My dear wife Karen looked at me as I blogged, though, and said: Are you on vacation? Uh-oh …
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Haha. Ooops. I better get to work! 😉
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Ha! Do what you will, Merril. 🙂
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