| When I was making plans to visit Cape Cod, in | | | | rust problems and is covered with pollen and |
| my mind I always saw my goals as having fun . | | | | mildew. Peg took a ride with Al in his |
| . . and eating lobster. In the end we had | | | | Mercedes and she compared it to one of my |
| lots of fun and I had lots of lobster. Sorry, | | | | favorite cars from our past, my old 1955 |
| but we saw a 17 pound lobster in a preview | | | | Rambler . . . it wasn't a compliment. Peg |
| tank and didn't eat him. We were there for | | | | always referred to my '55 as "that dirty, |
| the funeral of many of his relatives, | | | | ratty, stinky, loud little Ramber." You can |
| however.For nearly ten years, our friend Al | | | | take a bus out to the Cape, but I do suggest |
| Burrage of West Seattle has been asking us to | | | | that you do need a car to take full advantage |
| join him in his cottage in West Dennis at | | | | of the Cape's wonders. We rented a car from |
| Cape Cod. We were finally able to schedule a | | | | Alamo at Logan (the Boston Airport) and |
| trip to Massachusetts and not surprisingly, | | | | exceeded a thousand miles on it in just over |
| we loved it. Al rents his cottage, The | | | | a week.As I mentioned, I felt it was my job |
| Mainstay, out during the "season" but visits | | | | and goal to eat lobster while in New England. |
| Cape Cod before the season and then again | | | | Al took me to Swan River Seafood Restaurant |
| after the season to first prepare the cottage | | | | and Fish Market. Their lobstermen catch fresh |
| for guests, and then to close the cottage for | | | | lobster daily on Cape Cod. You could eat at |
| the winter.The cottage is a three bedroom | | | | the restaraunt or buy from the market, but |
| home that features a glassed-in porch as well | | | | even at the market you could order your |
| and an outside shower for getting rid of sand | | | | seafood cooked. For example you could tell |
| and salt before entering the house. The home | | | | them which lobster you wanted and tell them |
| has a crushed shell driveway and walkway. | | | | when you wanted it cooked. You could then |
| Typical of Cape Cod homes it has a cedar pole | | | | stop in and pick it up and take it home |
| fence across the front and down one side of | | | | thereby enjoying your lobster in your own |
| the yard. It's painted a fresh looking aqua | | | | kitchen or dining room. Swan River had a |
| with maroon shutters. One bedroom has twin | | | | great selection of fresh seafood AND they |
| beds and two bedrooms have a double bed. The | | | | also offered cooked lobster meat. While we |
| kitchen has a dishwasher, range, | | | | were there it was priced at $29.95 a pound. |
| refridgerator, and microwave. We can attest | | | | This seemed a little pricey to me, but we |
| that it is very comfortable. The Mainstay was | | | | went to some other market and they offered |
| our center of operation, while we were on | | | | cooked lobster for $5.00 more per pound. I |
| Cape Cod. Each day we would venture forth to | | | | thought about the possibilities for several |
| places like Boston, Wood's Hole, Provincetown | | | | days and then we returned to Swan River on |
| and then return to The Mainstay.While Al | | | | the way to lunch. I pointed out which tail I |
| lives in West Dennis he has plenty of | | | | wanted and Peg did the same. She picked a |
| opportunity to visit with people and scout | | | | smaller one . . . a much smaller one. I sat |
| out good places to go. Once we arrived Al | | | | in the car and ate mine. Peg had two bites, |
| kept up a steady litany of places we could go | | | | shared a bite with Al and then took the rest |
| and things we could do and should do. Even | | | | of her lobster home. This was the second best |
| when we ignored him he still made | | | | lobster I had in Massachusetts. It was big, |
| suggestions. We took him up on most of them . | | | | tender, and sweet. The snack costs us about |
| . . and never found a bad one.One of the best | | | | twenty dollars, but it was well worth it.The |
| places to find reasonable priced local goods | | | | open sign seemed to always be in the window, |
| is at the local thriftstore. We scored big. | | | | but they were only open if the owner's green |
| Al bought a miniature brass cannon for $2.00, | | | | van was in the parking lot. The owners of |
| and Peg bought two framed handmade lace | | | | Marathon Seafood (Peggy and Teddy Stoilas) |
| collars. She was thrilled. Al finally | | | | are Greek, hence the name. Like many places |
| prevailed on a suggestion and took Peg to | | | | on the Cape you order at the counter and then |
| Cuffy's of Cape Cod. The two of them brought | | | | the food is brought to you. Since I had just |
| back purchases of a couple of hundred dollars | | | | eaten a lobster tail I chose the fried |
| . . . or so it seemed. Eventually we had to | | | | oysters. They were small, but there was a ton |
| purchased another suitcase to accommodate | | | | of them. Al chose his usuall scallops and Peg |
| souvineer shopping.I managed to confine my | | | | ordered lamb . . . she likes lamb and it's |
| souvineer shopping to The Music Meister and | | | | always best to order lamb at a Greek |
| the Christmas Tree Shops. Al loves bargains. | | | | restaurant. If we had been back in Tacoma, |
| For the wives of my friends I bought Tee Pee | | | | Peg would have taken the bones home to make |
| Dreams herbal tea. I bought my golfing | | | | broth. As it was, the bones were picked |
| buddies a Cape Cod golf ball each and a box | | | | pretty clean. Teddy and Peggy were friendly |
| of rattlesnake repellant, which contained | | | | and happy to please.I can generally find |
| some odd little bundles of aromatic herbs and | | | | where I am going. If I've got a map I can get |
| spices. I'm not sure what they do, but I | | | | there. This philosophy doesn't lend itself to |
| never saw a snake nearby. I gave a box to the | | | | traveling on Cape Cod. Confusion reigns. For |
| son of a friend on his way to a party in | | | | example the town of Dennis is made up of five |
| Seattle. He held one of the bundles up to his | | | | villages: North Dennis, South Dennis, East |
| nose. I warned him, don't let the police | | | | Dennis, West Dennis, and Dennisport. Towns |
| search you. I don't know that either the | | | | and villages blend together. We set off on an |
| herbal teas or the snakebite repellant had | | | | adventure one day to visit NOAA's National |
| anything to do with local Indian heritage, | | | | Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries |
| but the gifts were bought in Massachusetts, | | | | Science Center at Woods Hole. We wanted to |
| which should count for something.Generally, | | | | see the NOAA Aquarium. We knew where Woods |
| each day started off the same. I would rise | | | | Hole was. We could see Woods Hole on the map, |
| earlier than Al or Peg. I would turn on the | | | | but like NOAA on the ocean, we had to |
| coffee maker and then sometimes go for a | | | | submerge ourselves in the countryside to find |
| drive or a walk. Returning I would knock on | | | | Woods Hole . . . only to find the aquarium |
| Al's door and he would be up in a jiffy and | | | | closed.We enjoyed our drive in the country. |
| ready to go. I knew we would probably have a | | | | We saw many rock walls, which reminded us of |
| big lunch and a big dinner, so breakfast I | | | | Minute Men and Lexington and Concord. We saw |
| wanted to keep light . . . but within reason. | | | | many shops and Inns. The road through the |
| My first breakfast in West Dennis was at the | | | | country side dipped and climbed through |
| Good Friends Cafe, which is only a few yards | | | | lovely cool, green lush growth. The only |
| from the local post office.I never like to | | | | frustration was the long search.Once we found |
| eat at national chains. I prefer local | | | | Woods Hole, we still had trouble finding the |
| establishments. You never know what you'll | | | | aquarium. We ended up following an arrow out |
| find. Al had eaten at the restaurant before | | | | of town half a mile into a residential area. |
| under its old name, but never at the Good | | | | We drove back and found the arrow again. It |
| Friends. I saw on the menu something called | | | | was on the building where the aquarium was! |
| "grilled bread" and I asked the waiter, a | | | | We peeked in the windows, and Peg walked out |
| young man named Tchigo (I hope that's spelled | | | | to the harbor behind the facility for a few |
| correctly, I'm not sure with the accent and | | | | pictures. It just never occured to us that an |
| all) what it was. The bread is homemade by | | | | aquarium would be closed on Saturday. We |
| his father, who was a cook at a different | | | | should have visited the internet site for |
| restaurant before the purchase of the Good | | | | details. We enjoyed the ride back and ended |
| Friends where he is now cook and owner. It | | | | the evening with a movie.I don't know how |
| was excellent. A good hefty slice is cut and | | | | many times I drove past this sign that greets |
| then grilled until warm and aromatic. It's | | | | visitors to West Dennis. The sign promises |
| served with a dollop of butter on top. There | | | | $12.99 lobster at Sundancer's. Everytime I |
| are three kinds of grilled bread: apple, | | | | saw it I thought to myself, we should eat |
| cinnamon raisin, and cranberry. I ordered | | | | there. They have a deck that looks out to the |
| both the apple, and the cranberry. The bread | | | | water. They have music several nights a week. |
| was good without the butter. It was | | | | They have a river cruise most afternoons. Oh, |
| delightful with the butter. It was good | | | | well. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices . |
| dunked in coffee. It was good just plain | | | | . . and leave adventures for the next |
| grilled. I shared the apple grilled bread | | | | visit.Al was determined that we would eat in |
| with Al, but never offered the cranberry to | | | | one night. Like Peg and I, he loves to cook. |
| him. I REALLY liked the cranberry. Sometimes | | | | Al was in charge of a simple meal. I bought |
| they use the bread in their French toast. | | | | salad makings, and some fresh greenbeans. We |
| I'll have to try that another time.I ate at | | | | had prawns, scallops (cooked to absolute |
| the Good Friends my last day in West Dennis | | | | perfection), seafood pate, clam stuffing, |
| by myself. Again, I just wanted a little | | | | rice and white wine. We stuffed ourselves |
| something. I ordered the corn beef hash | | | | silly. We ended up with scallops and prawns |
| expecting something from a can. What I got | | | | leftover. There was food everywhere. Al |
| was homemade corned beef and onions. I don't | | | | looked around and said, "It looks like the |
| think there was even a potato anywhere in | | | | food fairy visited my home and puked." We |
| sight with it. While I was wolfing it down, I | | | | sipped a little more wine. Two days later Al |
| almost ordered some hashbrowns to mix in. | | | | got up at five in the morning and made |
| When I walked in and sat down, Tchigo asked | | | | himself a rice and scallop snack . . . then |
| if I was waiting for my friend. It had been a | | | | went back to bed. He didn't join me that |
| week since I had been there and he remembered | | | | morning for breakfast out.I really loved the |
| me and Al. Now, that is why I like small, mom | | | | mornings on Cape Cod. The bogs and estuaries |
| and pop, family run cafes if I can find them. | | | | change with the tides and the fog. I would |
| Another meal or two and I would have been | | | | visit the same places day after day and was |
| behind the counter helping my good friends | | | | never disappointed. I was also rarely |
| Tchigo and his papa out at their Good Friends | | | | disappointed in our choices for meals. Al and |
| Cafe. Very nice.As we left the restaurant a | | | | I dropped Peg off at a laundromat one morning |
| couple drove up and asked us directions to | | | | and then returned as she was finishing |
| Dennisport. Al complied. I think this is | | | | folding her clothes. There are two shops |
| funny because as we drove all over the cape | | | | nearby we decided to visit and tucked in by |
| we often had to consult maps and get our | | | | them was a little cafe. The waitress was |
| bearings. Driving is a constant state of | | | | funny and friendly. The food was excellent. I |
| confusion on the Cape. When I left the | | | | had a tuna Ceasar salad. I asked if it was |
| restaurant a week later by myself I saw a man | | | | from a tuna fillet or just out of a can. |
| with his car parked and the hood up. The | | | | "Tuna salad made from a can," was my answer. |
| license plate showed that he had been an | | | | It was excellent. I might make it on my own |
| American POW (I'm guessing in World War II). | | | | one day. Al had a Reuben sandwich on a |
| I drove up beside him and asked if he needed | | | | "bulky" roll. He had to ask about the bulky. |
| assistance. He said he didn't need any help. | | | | It was chewey and yet soft. The corned beef |
| He had the engine belts replaced and his wife | | | | and cheese spilled out. He managed to eat it |
| complained that they were squeeking. The Vet, | | | | all.It's always tough to live up to high |
| with two hearing aids, couldn't hear them, so | | | | expectations. Al highly recommended Captain |
| he had to open the hood and stick his head | | | | Parker's Pub for dinner. He raved about it. |
| down near the engine. We had a nice chat. If | | | | We saved it for our final meal in Cape Cod. |
| it hadn't been my last day, I would have | | | | The food was good, but the restuarant was |
| begged him to tell me stories of his military | | | | loud, we were seated by the door, and the |
| career.One of Al's favorite places to stop is | | | | waitress was abrupt. She also forgot to serve |
| the Music Meister. Owner Lew Taylor has | | | | us bread with our meal. On the plus side, |
| access to DVDs galore. He only has some in | | | | however the food was good. I followed Al's |
| stock, but can order almost whatever you | | | | advice and ordered the seafood pasta. The |
| need. Knowing how much I love classic TV and | | | | seafood included lobster, prawns and mussels |
| movies, Al wanted me to meet Lew. I was | | | | in a heavy cream sauce. I wouldn't have |
| reluctant. Al told me what a great guy he | | | | thought the mussels would work with the cream |
| was. He told me how Lew used to be on the | | | | sauce, but they were excellent. I had to walk |
| rodeo circuit. I didn't care. I had other | | | | over to the service counter and retrieve a |
| things to think about. I pulled into the | | | | table dispenser of cheese. This irritated me. |
| driveway of the local library instead of the | | | | Al's scallops were great. He knows what he |
| Music Meister because I saw that they had | | | | likes. Peg ordered mussels, which surprised |
| WiFi. Unfortunately, they were closed. I was | | | | me. Like mine they were wonderful with a nice |
| disappointed. Al said, let's go visit Lew. | | | | broth. I had to catch the waitress, though |
| He's the board president for the library . . | | | | and ask for bread, so Peg could enjoy sopping |
| . small towns . . . don't you just love 'em? | | | | up the broth with the bread. This is one of |
| We pulled in to the parking lot of The Music | | | | the joys of ordering mussels or steamed |
| Meister. It was after closing hours. Lew and | | | | clams. Broth and bread are major |
| his wife Kathy, an expert seamstress, were | | | | requirements. The three of us shared an apple |
| still there.Lew confessed that I could | | | | crisp with vanilla ice cream.After finishing |
| connect in the library parking lot with my | | | | our meals at Captain Parker's Pub, we walked |
| laptop, but I didn't bring my laptop to Cape | | | | behind to the parking lot to the ZooAquarium. |
| Cod. I was hoping for a WiFi Cafe. Lew said, | | | | Peg sat on Flipper to rest in the cool |
| "I don't think you'll find one on the Cape. | | | | evening breeze. Our eight days on Cape Cod |
| We're kind of low-tech out here." Peg and I | | | | had worn us out. Even though we had cut our |
| consoled ourselves by looking over some | | | | activities to almost nothing for the last |
| Celtic CDs that Lew had for sale. Peg bought | | | | day, we were all still tired. I think we were |
| three and headed towards the car to listen to | | | | all a little sad that it was almost over as |
| Maura O'Connell (one of our favorites), while | | | | well.We returned to The Mainstay and packed |
| I talked to Lew about Celtic singers and | | | | our bags. I dropped off to sleep about |
| groups. I went outside and Al and Peg were | | | | eleven. My alarm was set for 3:30 AM. We left |
| looking at a tree with long pods on it. None | | | | West Dennis about 4:15 AM and left the Cape |
| of us knew what it was.Al went back in to | | | | in the driving rain. We left Cape Cod, but |
| talk to Lew. He didn't know what the tree was | | | | our memories will take us back anytime.I |
| either. Later Kathy called with the name, | | | | think Al was a little lonely when he woke up |
| Catalpa. We stopped in to see Lew several | | | | to an empty house (I think there was still a |
| more times. Once before he opened, once after | | | | full refridgerator, however) that Thursday |
| he closed and twice when he was actually | | | | morning. We hadn't even picked up our baggage |
| open. He was always friendly and always | | | | at Sea-Tac when we had a call from Al on |
| helpful. I was looking for a song I had heard | | | | Peg's cell phone. The flight on Alaska went |
| in the background in the feature film, Saint | | | | well. Excellent service from friendly people |
| Ralph. It was a Canadian film and I thought | | | | . . . just like most of our stay in West |
| the singer was probably Celtic. Lew searched | | | | Dennis on Cape Cod.Don Doman is a published |
| and gave me the news: Jack Ingram from Texas. | | | | author, video producer, and corporate |
| The song was Goodnight Moon.Al keeps a car at | | | | trainer. He owns the business training site |
| West Dennis. He loves (and tolerates) the car | | | | Ideas and Training ( which he says is the |
| and when he leaves for the season he parks it | | | | home of the no-hassle "free preview" for |
| between trees so anyone wanting to steal it | | | | business training videos. Don and his wife |
| would have a tough time towing it away. I | | | | Peg also travel in the Pacific Northwest |
| think Al's car is safe. The car has a few | | | | writing of their fun and adventures. |