Simple Dune Restoration Technique Catches On

A really simple and inexpensive technique has been developed and used very successfully to naturally restore eroding and storm damaged dunes. This technique involves using wood shims to deflect wind blown sand such that the sand collects where it once was, restoring destroyed dune areas. Used in Truro, this technique has been used around the globe. 

Read how a local company, Safe Harbor Environmental Services of Wellfleet, is impacting beaches worldwide.... Here. 

2013 Oldtimers Longboard Classic - This Sunday Afternoon

It's early this year. The 2013 Cape Cod Oldtimers Longboard Classic will be held at 5 PM on Sunday, August 4th, at Wellfleet's White Crest Beach.

This year there will be a few new rules (see below). Since vintage longboards are getting valuable and harder to come by any longboard over 9 foot to be used in the contest (without a leash). Collector boards and vintage items should still be available for everyone to drool over. This is intended to be a fun event - not to be taken too seriously. Enjoy!

The rules...

• Any longboard (9 feet or longer) regardless of age or condition will be allowed this year.
• Contestants must be 21 and over. (Lifeguards under 21 accepted) 
• All boards must be nine (9) feet in length or longer.
• No leashes / No wetsuits - (If it’s too cold – tough!!!)
• Tow-ins by Great White sharks will result in immediate disqualification
• No whining!

This should be a lot of fun, and a good excuse to watch an old art form (and a few old-timers) in action.  If you'd like to compete in this competition, go to the Old Timers website for complete rules and an entry form. 

Wellfleet 250 - A Year-Long Celebration

Wellfleet is now 250 years old - a milestone that's being celebrated all this year through a huge series of events known, collectively, as Wellfleet 250.  Wellfleet began as the northern end of Eastham and was spun off in 1763.

The Wellfleet 250 celebration includes parades, car shows, art exhibits, talks, concerts, post card exhibits, and much, much more. A note - Wellfleet Founders' Week is August 2nd through August 10th, with lots of special events. Check out their website at http://www.Wellfleet250.org.

Shakespeare On Mayo Beach

What could be more cool, and fun, than a little Shakespeare on the beach? Well, on Monday and Tuesday evenings, under the tent on Mayo Beach in Wellfleet, you can see Shakespeare as you've probably never seen it.

On Mondays you can see a two-actor Macbeth. On Tuesdays you'll see "Shakespeare On-Demand" where these same two actors will take requests from the audience.  This Tuesday were performances of Henry VI, Henry V, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Tempest and the Taming of the Shrew!

Check out the schedule of events on the Knighthorse Theatre Company's website. Also on the website you can meet the actors, Amy McLaughlin Lemerande and her husband Tyrus Lemerande. They've been doing Shakespeare in Wellfleet for 7 years now.  Enjoy!

2013 - July 4th Activities - Lots to Do!

Whoever thought holding the 4th of July on a Thursday was a good idea? This coming week, with July 4th as a base, is a big week on the Outer Cape. Check out these activities...

Orleans -

• Monday - July 1st - Fireworks at Rock Harbor (rain date July 2th). These fireworks will be easily viewable from Skaket Beach (Orleans) and First Encounter Beach (Eastham)
• Thursday - July 4th - Parade - 10 AM - from Eldredge Parkway to Main Street

Wellfleet -

•  Thursday - July 4th - Parade at 10 AM (Come early for a Classic Car Parade at 9:30)

Chatham -

• Thursday - July 4th - Parade at 9:30 AM - Main St

Eastham -

• "Old Fashioned Fourth of July Party" - 1-4 PM - Schoolhouse Museum

Provincetown -

• Thursday - July 4th - Parade at 11 AM on Commercial St
• Thursday - Fireworks at dusk (9 PM-ish)

Enjoy!

Photo of the Day - Uncle Tim's Bridge

Super high tide and a foot of fresh snow at Wellfleet's Uncle Tim's Bridge.

Photo of the Day - Uncle Tim's Bridge

Actually yesterday. As I was driving through Wellfleet I was struck by the sun shining on Uncle Tim's Bridge, so I stopped and took this photo. I love how the sun illuminates Wellfleet harbor. Enjoy!

Uncle Tim's Bridge, Wellfleet

Wellfleet Paragliding - High Above the Dunes

I came upon a video that shows a gathering of paragliders above Wellfleet's high dunes. The video, taken before Hurricane Sandy, is spectacular. It's a bit long, and the folks seem to be speaking Portuguese, but the scenes are amazing! 

 

Billingsgate Island - The Little Island That Was

Billingsgate Lighthouse

Off the end of Wellfleet's Great Island are the remains of what was the community of Billingsgate Island. There were about 30 homes, a lighthouse, and even a baseball team, on this tiny island (50 acres?) that was focused primarily on fishing and whaling. The island totally disappeared in 1942, but can still be seen at low low tide, just south of Jeremy Point. The history is a fascinating story of fighting a never-ending battle with the inevitable 'sinking' of the island.

Check out these two articles...

• Billingsgate: The Island that Disappeared from CapeCodOnline.com
• That Was the Island That Was from CapeCodHistory.US

2012 Old Timers Longboard Competition

The 2012 Old Timers Longboard Competition was held last week at White Crest Beach in Wellfleet. The weather was spectacular and the crowds were bigger than they've been in years. The waves, on the other hand, were disappointing.

This is a unique event on the Cape, held the last weekend in August and intended to be an end-of-summer get together for Cape lifeguards, surfing crazies, and 'oldtimers' of any age. Although a light-hearted event, the surfing 'rules' are taken seriously. The key rules are..

• all boards must be at least 9 ft long
• participants must be 21 years old (except lifeguards, who can be younger)
• no wetsuits or tethers
• no whining

Go to the competition's website for the results and for photos of the event.

Wellfleet Harborfest 2012 - June 16th

This Saturday Wellfleet will have its second annual Harborfest. The event will run from 9AM to 4PM, rain or shine and be centered at the east end of the Town Pier, near the bandstand. Harborfest will be a special day to promote the boating, fishing and nautical activities available at Wellfleet Harbor and Marina. This festival will kick off the summer season and showcase what Wellfleet has to offer as a waterfront community. You will find a Nautical Flea Market, an "authors" tent, food vendors promoting local seafood (including Wellfleet oysters), and many exhibits pertaining to the Harbor, and recreational and nautical-related activities. This should be lots of fun.

Get a calender of events, and more information at the Harborfest website...Here.

An Interesting 'Top 7' Award In Wellfleet

I'm not sure what to make of this "Top" spot award, as described on the Fox News website. Wellfleet's Beachcomber Restaurant, which (seasonally) operates in what was at one time a Coast Guard Life Saving Station, is listed as one of America's "best places to drink outdoors". The method of making this determination seems dubious to me, but so what?

Check out the article on the Fox News website.

Rescuers Help Stranded Dolphins

This has been an different kind of year on the Outer Cape with far more dolphin strandings than usual. So far, we've had about 200 strandings, with only half being saved by the dedicated rescue teams that brave the cold and the cold water. The experts are baffled by the sheer numbers. They want to connect the increased strandings to the warmer weather we're having.  One theory (which I think makes some sense) is that we normally have an ice shelf the covers the low tide 'flats', preventing the dolphins from getting too close to land. With the ice missing they stray too close to shore and get surprised when they no longer has enough water to swim in.  Just a theory...

Check out this video from WHDH, Channel 7.

Chicago Tribune - Author Loves Oysters (& Wellfleet)

Mayo Beach - Antique Postcard

Christopher Borrelli, a travel reporter from the Chicago Tribune, spent Labor Day weekend enjoying the sights, smells, and tastes of Wellfleet. He, apparently, loves oysters. The author reviews a number of Wellfleet restaurants, including one of my favorites, the Bookstore, overlooking Mayo Beach.

It is nice that the author mentions the upcoming Wellfleet Oysterfest, October 15th-16th. Read the Tribune article...Here.

Wellfleet Aerial Photos (Eastham too!)

I came upon a wonderful collection of aerial photos of Wellfleet that I feel I need share. They were taken last year by a firm named Maine Imaging. These photos are for sale, but watermarked copies are online for all to see. Check out the Wellfleet slideshow...Here. 

They also have an Eastham gallery .... Here. Cool!

2011 Cape Cod Oldtimers Longboard Classic - August 14th

The 2011 Cape Cod Oldtimers Longboard Classic will be held at 5 PM on August 14th at Wellfleet's White Crest Beach.

This year there will be a few new rules. Since vintage longboards are getting valuable and harder to come by they have decided to allow any longboard over 9 foot to be used in the contest (without a leash). Collector boards and vintage items should still be available for everyone to drool over.

The 'new' rules...

• Any longboard (9 feet or longer) regardless of age or condition will be allowed this year.
• Contestants must be 21 and over.
• All boards must be nine (9) feet in length or longer.
• No leashes / No wetsuits - (If it’s too cold – tough!!!)

This should be a lot of fun, and a good excuse to watch an old art form (and a few old-timers) in action.  If you'd like to compete in this competition, go to the Old Timers website for complete rules and an entry form. 

Sharks In Cape Cod Bay - Oh My!

Sharks are a part of summer on Cape Cod. They seem to follow the seals as they move about. This year we've seen seals in the bay. So, we have sharks here also. Check out this video, shown on NECN earlier today, taken by a local fisherman late last week. Oh My!

2011 - Big July 4th Weekend Ahead!

This coming weekend, anchored by the 4th of July, on Monday, is a big weekend on the Outer Cape. Check out these activities...

Orleans -

• Friday - July 1st - Fireworks at Rock Harbor (rain date July 2th). These fireworks will be easily viewable from Skaket Beach (Orleans) and First Encounter Beach (Eastham)
• Monday - Parade - 10 AM - from Eldredge Parkway to Main Street

Wellfleet -

•  Monday - July 4th - Parade at 9 AM

Provincetown -

• Monday - July 4th - Parade at 12 Noon on Commercial St
• Monday - Fireworks at dusk (9 PM-ish)

The Beachcomber - One of America's Best Beach Bars

Travel + Leisure Magazine has named America's best beach bars. The Beachcomber, originally built as the Cahoon Hollow Life Saving Station in Wellfleet, was named as the 10th "best" among America's beach bars. The Beachcomber is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day with entertainment most evenings and serving food for most lunches and dinners. Check out the Beachcomber's website... http://www.thebeachcomber.com/. 

The America's Best Beach Bars article, from Travel + Leisure Magazine's website can be found here.

Wellfleet Harbor Fest Next Weekend - June 11th

This coming Saturday Wellfleet will have its first annual Harbor Fest. The event will run from 9AM to 4PM, rain or shine.  Harbor Fest will be a special day to promote the boating, fishing and nautical activities available at Wellfleet Harbor and Marina. This festival will kick off the summer season and showcase what Wellfleet has to offer as a waterfront community. You will find a Nautical Flea Market, food vendors promoting local seafood (including Wellfleet oysters), and many exhibits pertaining to the Harbor, and recreational and nautical-related activities.

Come eat and enjoy Wellfleet's unique and fun harbor. Check out the article from the Cape Codder... here.