14-16 September 2022, Wednesday-Friday
14 September 2022, Wednesday
Wompatuck State Park
Wompatuck State Park is set in the middle of Hingham, a suburb just 30 minutes south of Boston. We drive through streets of stately New England houses to the unexpectedly nice park. Our campsite is a bit cramped with Vincent, our tent and a picnic table, but once we rearrange the “furniture” it’s quite nice. There is an electric hook-up which we use to keep our fridge running and to recharge our battery for auxiliary power. We receive a text from K’s parents and arrange to meet them for dinner tomorrow evening at Trident Raw Bar and Grille in Hingham. They have just returned from their six week visit with S, K, and A.
15 September 2022, Thursday
Hingham
After a morning of chores, we head to Trident a bit early, to ensure we can find the restaurant and parking. We have no problems with either. There is a large lot behind the stores and restaurants. The evening is a bit windy and cool. O and I order hefeweizens and a small plate of mushroom tacos while we wait for K’s parents. Lucy gets lots of attention from the staff. K’s parents show up soon after our arrival and we have a lovely, but chilly, dinner together.
16 September 2022, Friday
Cape Cod
Today is a beautiful sunny day. As neither O, nor I have ever been to Cape Cod, we decide today is the day. I read online that one should get to the bridge to the cape before 9 am, so we rise early and drive to Brewed Awakenings, in Hingham. The line here is long so it must be good. I acquire two coffees, 4 scones, and a fresh apple-cranberry strudel. We will eat as we drive. I figure whatever we don’t finish today will be tomorrow’s travel breakfast.
O drives toward Cape Cod while I navigate and hand him bite-sized pieces of apple cinnamon scone to munch as we proceed towards the cape. Traffic is moderate and is moving along well. We have no delay at the bridge. After a brief stop at the Visitor Center near the Nauset Light, we drive to the lot near the beach, walk down to the shore and back to the van. Next we visit the lighthouse and then head to Wellfleet and Duck Harbor Beach, for some sight-seeing.
After Duck Harbor we proceed to Provincetown near the end of the cape. We visit Provincetown Brewing Co for a late lunch. The restaurant is billed as dog-friendly, with an outdoor patio. O enters the brewery to see if we need to wait to be seated. He is told we can sit anywhere outdoors, but as we are eyeing tables another waiter informs us that the entire patio has been reserved for an event. We are told we can choose a table inside. We point out that we have our dog with us.
“She’s a service dog, right?” he says.
“No,” we both reply. The waiter looks at us with a twinkle in his eye. “She is a service dog, isn’t she?”
“Oh! Oh yes! She provides lots of service to us.” O replies.
We walk into the restaurant and choose a table near the wall. Lucy does her best imitation of a service dog – curling up under the table and snoozing for our entire lunch. O and I share a large grain bowl with quinoa, toasted garbanzos, pine nuts, olives, pickles, capers and tomatoes with a tahini dressing, along with a black bean burger. All is delicious. Ah yes, and we have one of the brewery’s “queer beers.” It’s a delicious ale with a fruity flavor.
After lunch we walk down to the national seashore on the other side of Route 6. Then it’s time to return to camp where O reads and I actually get to fiddle a bit.