The Drama Continues On Nauset Spit!

The drama continues between Eastham and Orleans over the Nauset Spit. Over the years the spit has grown north, from Nauset Beach in Orleans, into Eastham. The rules for driving on the beach differ by town (watch the video), so conflict was bound to happen.



Sharks at Nauset Beach in Orleans

Swimmers were forced out of the water today at Nauset Beach, in Orleans, after a 12-14 foot shark was seen just a 100 yards or so off the beach. Sharks aren't looking for swimmers, of course, but have been known to attack humans while hunting for seals. Seals, on the other hand, have become plentiful these last few years in the Orleans, Chatham area.

Check out this news video from earlier today.

Shipwreck on Nauset Beach - The Montclair?

Shipwrecks seem to come and go on the Outer Cape. This one, thought to be the Montclair, has recently reappeared on Nauset Beach. Another piece of the Montclair washed up this past May. The Montclair sank in March 1927 just off-shore. Five men perished in the wreck. Watch the video from the Cape Cod Times.

Another Shipwreck on Nauset Beach

Another large piece of an old shipwreck has 'surfaced' on Orleans' Nauset Beach. It's believed to be a piece of the three masted schooner Montclair that sank in a storm in 1927.  Another, larger, piece was unearthed last November just a short distance south from this finding.  Unfortunately, there is really no way to be sure which ship this piece is from since there were over 5000 known shipwrecks off Cape Cod.

Check out the story and photo gallery on the Cape Codder's website...Here.

Shifting Nauset Beach - The Saga Continues

As the towns of Orleans and Eastham 'discuss' the ownership and management of the northernmost tip of Nauset Beach, which, many believe, belongs to Eastham, the dialog gets significantly more interesting. Who should control access to that portion of the beach?  Who polices the use? Which town needs to protect the piping plovers? Can Eastham residents get lower priced stickers to drive on the new beach? Will cars be banned altogether? 

I like the quote from the Orleans selectman who suggests that Eastham "should be careful what they ask for".  Local politics can be very interesting.

Read the story in the Cape Cod Times online edition.

Is It Eastham? Or Orleans??

What may be shaping up as a border dispute will be interesting no matter how it turns out. As beaches erode and re-form, the spit of sand that we know as Nauset Beach is growing toward the north, into what some feel is Eastham. Others, however, feel the new beach belongs to Orleans, because that's where it 'grew' from. At stake is resident status for Eastham taxpayers when it comes to the ORV (off road vehicles) permits.  And, a new revenue stream for the Town of Eastham.

This story has been evolving over the last 30 years, but has only recently become interesting.  Read the story from the Cape Code Times... Here.

New Beach Webcam - Nauset Beach in Orleans

Orleans' Nauset Beach is a town owned public beach and is a continuation of the Cape's outer beach that extends from Provincetown to Chatham's Monomoy Island, a distance (my guess) of about 50-60 miles. A beautiful beach and heavily used by Orleans residents and guests. Parking is a problem, but the are many walk-ins from the town of Orleans.  Anyway, they have a new webcam that rotates, on a minute by minute schedule, through 3 different views. Take a look.... here. I captured the image below a few minutes ago. Another beautiful day!

German U-Boat Attacks Cape Cod

That was on July 21st, 1918. A German U-boat surfaced offshore and begin firing on an unarmed tugboat and the four barges it was pulling. Torpedoes set the tug ablaze and injured its crew, while constant shelling sank the barges. Thanks to the skill and courage of Coast Guardsmen, everyone was rescued. Some of the shells fired from the sub landed on Nauset Beach, making this the first time the U.S. mainland had been attacked since the War of 1812 and the only time the country was attacked during World War I. Read the whole story... HERE. Fascinating!