Erosion in Wellfleet?

Yesterday we finally made it to the beach! First we checked out Newcomb Hollow, but the erosion did not seem too bad although I had overhead people in town discussing it. Then we stopped at Cahoon, where the dune was definitely steeper, above. On we went to LeCount Hollow. There the beach had descended, so that it was about 10 feet below its previous level. We walked down to Marconi and at last saw evidence of real beach erosion from last week’s storm. (Note to regular blog readers: there will be no post tomorrow as I will be away from my computer.)

How to Avoid Poison Ivy: Don't Touch the Plant!

For some reason, the pop tune “Poison Ivy” by the Coasters has been running through my mind for several days:

“Measles will make you bumpy
Mumps will make you lumpy
And chicken pox make you jump and twitch.

A common cold will fool you
And whooping cough can cool you
But poison ivy, Lord’ll make you itch.”

This morning I decided it might be time to write a post about poison ivy, since I have some on my left hand, and the rash is spreading. For once, I forgot the rule: do not look up at the trees while outside. Look down. Besides watching out for ticks and mosquitoes, rural living requires vigilance with regard to low vegetation. While clearing weeds under a cedar at the edge of the property last week, I saw the cursed plant with three shiny leaves but too late. Darn! The rash broke out the next day although I had washed my hands with very hot water. Wellfleet does have poison ivy in its woods. Staying on paths will help you avoid getting the rash. This is only the second time in a dozen years for me. As a child, I got awful poison ivy and apparently still have an allergic reaction. Years ago there was a great salve but it has been taken off the market. I went to the CVS pharmacy last week. The pharmacist suggested alternating hydrocortisone cream and calamine lotion. In my humble opinion, I do not think he knows what he’s talking about, because the few bumps I had have spread. No “ocean of calamine lotion” does the trick. The Web now offers lots of options, and I will now try several. Here is one such site.

Let's Learn from the Frogs ...

All's quiet at Chez Sven on this drizzly morning. I still have not been able to get to the beach to photograph the erosion, although everyone is talking about it. While waiting for our latest guests to arrive, I went upstairs and found Sven watching television. I picked up the New York Times Week in Review, which he had just discarded. "There's something you should read first," he told me straight away. "Nicholas Kristof's column." So, I turned to the last pages. The information Kristof provides is always interesting, but today's column sent chills through me. Sven and I have been following research in this domain for quite some time, and I am glad Kristof has brought the issue to the nation's attention. When I check guests into the cottage, I routinely show them how our PUR water filter works. I always say, "There's nothing wrong with well water, but we suggest drinking filtered water anyway." Perhaps there is something wrong, very wrong, with the water most of us drink. I am afraid PUR filters do not remove any endocrine disruptors that may have seeped in. Michael Jackson dies and all there is on the news for the weekend is trivia about his life. I wish television would focus on more important matters, like this column by Mr. Kristof. What can you do? Read the column and tell everyone you know about this situation. Parents protect the children swimming in Long Pond as best they can. Do they ever think about all the industrial chemicals our world shovels into the environment and how different our children's lives will be because of them? We are reaching a tipping point here, too. Spread the word: as Kristof urges, let's learn from the frogs.

Preservation Hall Holds Garden Tour

Wellfleet Preservation Hall held its first annual garden tour this afternoon, and it was a rousing success. Five extraordinary gardens were on display. Despite days of rain and one of the cloudiest Junes on record, flowers popped open just in time for the event. I attended with my friend Virginia Grey. After picking up a tour map, we strolled up Main Street to Baker Avenue to view Claudia and Bruce Druckers' “enchanted garden.” Alliums and roses dominate the front yard, which has been completely turned over to nature. Brick pathways meander through flowerbeds. I spotted lots of love in a mist, which made me envious, and perennials paired with annuals in a loud declaration of gardening enthusiasm. The Druckers obviously spend hours with their plants. There were numerous species I did not recognize, but the resulting chaos was glorious: we stood in plant heaven. Then it was on to Jean Nelson and Brailsford Nixon’s new garden behind their former bed & breakfast on Main Street. The two ladies longed for tranquility in retirement, so the parking lot was removed and a garden soon rose in its place. The evenly spaced plants were a joy to see. Docents Tracy Plaut and Susan Weeger greeted guests with lemonade. The renovated doors to Preservation Hall were also on display beside two raised vegetable beds. We drove onward to Simone Reagor and Mary Grace Smith’s garden, which surrounds their new modern house with ribbons of color. Live flute and clarinet music serenaded visitors while Simone showed off her caged vegetable garden of tomatoes, squash, peas, and lettuce, off-limits to wildlife thanks to netting. We proceeded on to master gardeners John and Celeste Makely’s highmeadow paradise. Queen Elizabeth roses, old lilacs, apple trees – there was lots of color and rare plants to admire, like a guacamole hosta sharing a bed with a new variety of yellow-leafed coral bells. It was fun chatting with Celeste who posed beside her dogwood, a favorite tree, and seemed extremely knowledgeable. Last but not least, we drove down Long Pond Road to Sharyn Lindsey’s fairytale home, surrounded by whimsical gardens and rolling hillside. Sharyn is, of course, a professional landscaper and it shows in the way the gardens are laid out. Her lovely house was open as a special bonus, since many of the flowers are not yet in bloom. I caught son Caleb in a tender moment with friend Kristen Shantz. Caleb, apparently, helped his mom get their garden ready for visitors. The self-guided tour was a blast. Later this afternoon, participants are invited back to the Makelys for sangria. The $35 fee for the tour benefits Preservation Hall.

A Dozen Things to do in Wellfleet

We have been cleaning, and cooking, and shopping, and now waiting, waiting, waiting for our guests to arrive. I hear there has been much erosion at the beach, but have not been able to get out to see. In the meantime, here's a countdown of a dozen things to do in our great little town during the summer (and please let me know if you have a favorite activity that I have left out):

Twelve: See what the Cape used to look like at the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail (apply bug spray for the mosquitoes).
Eleven: Watch birds at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (apply bug spray for the ticks).
Ten: Fly a kite on one of our great beaches (apply sun screen if the sun ever comes out.)
Nine: Participate in an activity with a park ranger from the National Seashore or take a guided cruise of Wellfleet Harbor, above.
Eight: Explore Wellfleet’s art galleries and, if it’s Saturday night, attend the opening of an exhibit.
Seven: Sip sangria on the terrace at Winslow’s Tavern or a smoothie at The Juice and watch the people go by.
Six: See a play at Wellfleet Harbor Actors’ Theater (WHAT)
Five: Pick up pretty shells at Duck Harbor Beach.
Four: Go to the Flea Market during the day and come back for the drive-in movie at night.
Three: Rent a kayak or canoe at Gull Pond and visit three ponds.
Two: Swim in the bay at high tide.
One: Have a picnic at the one of our Atlantic beaches and enjoy the waves at low tide.

Sol Brings Flavor to 15 Kendrick Avenue

2008 guests mentioned the discovery of Sol, a restaurant tucked into the WHAT building, in a space where Uncle Frank used to hold sway, beside Wellfleet harbor. Kurt and John operate this new ethnic eatery, which offers flavorful food in a casual setting. Hawaiian and Costa Rican influences make Sol stand out from other Wellfleet restaurants. It's open seven nights a week and serves not only dinner, but breakfast and lunch as well. Sol is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat before the show at WHAT’s harbor stage, next-door. The combination of exotic flavors makes up for the fact that the portions are not super-sized and come in plastic baskets. It was obvious to me that care had gone into both the menu and the modern decor. I enjoyed my “spiced giant shrimp over noodle and rabe stir fly with red curry coconut sauce," but Sven was not crazy about “Kahlua pig over garlic steamed greens and coriander noodles,” although it sounded amazing. Since the town has not yet produced Sol’s liquor license, for the time being, Sol remains Bring Your Own Wine and Beer – oh, and a corkscrew to avoid the $5 charge for uncorking the bottle.

Guest-blogger Prefers Wellfleet's "Dreary Side"

I am fortunate to have a brother who's a journalist, and, whenever Nick comes to Wellfleet, I get him to guest-blog. Without further ado, let me turn this keyboard over to him: "When we came to Chez Sven on Monday, the rain and drizzle had gone on for days, and were expected to continue. You might think that this is not a good time to visit Cape Cod, but we found special charms that would have been absent under sunny skies. With the wind coming in off the ocean, the smell of the air was enchanting. When we went to the beach, it was as if it was our own private temple, with the waves enhanced by the storm offshore. We remarked on the black sand high up on the beach and wondered how it got that way. We saw the dead crabs at the waterline, an uncommon sight in Wellfleet, and wondered if they were sent here by the storm. We enjoyed the solitary walks to Dyer Pond. Even indoors, there are restorative joys to a rainy Cape holiday. We spent a good deal of time reading and doing crossword puzzles, visiting with the innkeeper (who happens to be my sister), and I got to watch a Red Sox game on TV (rare since I gave up cable). We visited a clothing store where everything is free. Now, as we prepare to go home tomorrow, the sun is coming out. As the weekend approaches, there will be the crowded beaches, the traffic jams, the sense that this is a tourist spot. I think I prefer its dreary side, when the rain soothes you to sleep, instead of the roars of the highway."

Wellfleet's Annual Beach-Sticker Requirement Goes Into Effect

Often returning non-residents, here for the summer, rush to the ocean upon arrival to soak up some of its incredible power. Starting yesterday, stickers were required for anyone wanting to park at Wellfleet’s beaches. This obligation will continue through Labor Day. To obtain a beach sticker, a visitor needs proof of accommodation. Residents already have placed seasonal stickers on the left-hand side of their windshield. It is possible to pay by the day at White Crest: $15. There were not many cars in the beach parking lots when Sven and I drove up to LeCount Hollow yesterday. We saw lots of kids playing in the sand and surf. One was even flying a kite, and we admired her skill, especially considering the lack of wind. Two young men tossed a Frisbee back and forth by the water’s edge. The lifeguard, in fine spirits, watched these activities from his perch high above the rest of us mortals, but then no one had ventured into the water, which made his job a lot easier. There was mist in the distance, down beach. We did our usual walk to Marconi, and returned. If the beach seemed practically deserted, it may be because the National Seashore was having one of its “Fee Free Weekends.” Two more are scheduled, July 18-19 and Aug. 15-16. Not all B&B guests want to pay for beach stickers and prefer to go to the beach early or late in the day. The beaches used to be free after 4 pm. For several years, the beach-sticker requirement has been in effect until, which, in my opinion, is a bit extreme. If guests decide not to pay for a three-day pass, I am always willing to drop them off at Cahoon, two miles away.

More on Cape Cod Ticks and Other Bugs, 2009

One out of three Internet searches, leading to my blog this spring, has been about bugs on Cape Cod: mosquitoes, bed bugs, deer ticks. For info on bed bug prevention, see my earlier blog on the subject. I can predict that there will be lots of mosquitoes in Wellfleet this summer, due to all the rain, so bring bug spray. Apparently,the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail already sports a cloud of mosquitoes, awaiting lunch. Everyone has been saying the ticks are also really bad. I had proof the other night. Energetic guests from New York included the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in their power schedule. After their departure, I remade the bed in Liberty Coin Suite, but did not vacuum the floor prior to sleep. In the morning, I found a nymph in the crook of my left arm. It must have come in on their clothing or purse and, by the time, it had made the trek up the bedpost, I was sleeping in the bed. Eek! Get the dreadful thing out! I careened into the hall and down the stairs, towards tweezers. Over to the window I sped for more light. Impossible to tell where the head was, so I grasped as best I could and pulled. Nymphs are so teensy-tiny that the result was less than perfect. From my sewing box came a needle to dig into my flesh. Tiny legs emerged. I applied alcohol but was not satisfied. When Sven got up, I had him dig around some more to be sure we had removed the head. Then, my friend Tracy Plaut took out a final leg with her dandy new TickedOff spoon, which you can order here. I now have a hole in my arm and much trepidation as to whether the tick had time to transmit Lyme. There is obviously less chance that a nymph would be carrying disease than a mature male or female deer tick, but the risk does exist. I always, always school guests on the danger ticks present, since I had Lyme three years ago. I had told the New York guests to be especially careful at the Wildlife Sanctuary, since deer ticks also travel on birds, but it is mighty hard to stop a speck the size of a poppy seed, in search of a first blood meal. Beware, beware! Would someone please invent a satisfactory way of combating ticks and a cure for Lyme disease?

A June Day in the Life

How green is your garden? Very green, thank you. It even boasts a green canoe, courtesy of our cottage guests, who have not used it so far. June is already half over. My day began by making breakfast for our Green Room guests: fresh organic strawberries and yogurt, with toast, as they had requested. Then off I went to Orleans for a haircut. One should not underestimate the benefit of a good haircut, and Sarah does a superior job. What's more, she always has great new slang to share: vacation, apparently, can now be called simply “va-kay.” I made quick stops at the bank, the veggie store, the pharmacy, and the health food store. I always try to patronize Phoenix when in Orleans, because it is open year-round and has excellent fruit and veggies. Ditto for the health food store where I buy organic oats for granola. Then it was on to Agway for more flowers. I treated myself to a pilon geranium, now the focus of attention in our parlor. Twenty minutes later, back in Wellfleet I gobbled up a quick lunch of leftovers and made my 1 o’clock appointment for massage with Tracy Plaut with minutes to spare. An hour later, Sven joined me in preparation of Liberty Coin Suite for guests who arrive this evening. The UPS man delivered a shipment from Dancing Deer, yummy coffee cake for cottage guests over the next three weeks. The rain stopped long enough for me to do some planting and to notice the grass needs another trim. Sven and I drove downtown to purchase fish at Hatch’s. What a lot of people there were, looking disgruntled at the weather, although by then the main downpour was over. That is what everyone has been joking about all day: how the lack of sunshine affects moods, delays the growth of flowers, ruins your “va-kay …”

Cold Ocean & Future Bike Trail

Yesterday beachgoers actually ventured into the ocean, which was still quite cold according to my toes. This young boy caught my eye as he seemed to express the excitement of facing the ocean for the first time so well. People on vacation come to Cape Cod for its amazing beaches, but also to enjoy nature and ride bikes. This morning, on Cape & Islands NPR, the announcer interviewed Sue Harrison at the Banner who described a project to establish a safer bike trail through Truro. Negotiations are under way with the National Seashore to turn Old King's Highway over to bikers. This is exciting news because, in the past, the "continuation" of the Cape Cod rail trail, through Wellfleet and Truro, was made up of regular roads, including Route 6. The Wellfleet portion of Old King's Highway, closest to the Truro line, does not feature car traffic. Sven and I have walked it, starting out from our home, and continuing across Long Pond Road, Gross Hill Road, and Gull Pond Road. I do not know whether Wellfleet will associate itself with this project but I will certainly try to find out. Stay tuned!

Where to Find Everything You Need to Know About Fishing Off Cape Cod

Yesterday I complained about the weather. This morning the temperature on nearby Martha’s Vineyard was only 35 degrees! Imagine leading finfishing expeditions under such circumstances! At least the sun is out this morning. In the spring, the fish are apparently hungrier, so it is the perfect time to go fishing, which may explain the number of fisherman at LeCount Hollow Beach yesterday. Sometimes guests inquire about what the best fishing opportunities here are, and I would love to hear suggestions from blog readers who know. We often see fishermen and women pull bluefish out of the ocean. Beachgoers enjoy watching this activity when it is too cold to go in the water. I discovered a new blog, written by Captain Jeff Smith, who offers amazing photos of fish caught during Fin Addiction outings. Fin Addiction Charters also has a great Web site with all kinds of fascinating information about fishing off of Cape Cod. Check them both out!

Where is Summer?

We have a date with summer on Sunday, but will summer arrive? The weather is important to us all, but innkeepers, who make their living in a region of seasonal activity, must surely fret more than other people when they look out at the gray sky, while brewing coffee for guests, and check the thermometer, a chilly 50 degrees this morning. It is tough to have to tell guests the weatherman does not expect any improvement for two weeks. There’s warmth elsewhere, but not here in New England. Mid-June’s usually reliable weather is a thing of the past. Yesterday afternoon, when the sun peeked through for half an hour, the temperature shot up 10 degrees, and we got in a quick walk to Dyer Pond. Today we walked at LeCount Hollow where the three-colored ocean was quick to tell us who was the boss and a cool wind was blowing. The garden also has been affected by the lack of sun. Flowers languish, vegetables grow more slowly. The trees, however, are flourishing. From my window, I can almost see the branches of our old maple grow day by day, increasing the shade on the eastern side of the house. Oh, for some sunshine! When I lived in Paris, the daily drizzle was something French natives had grown accustomed to. I could never manage to adjust to gray skies, which is one of the reasons I came home. Let’s hope summer will soon arrive!

Sven’s Sneakers Get Washed!

Sven's sneakers looked so amazing on the line drying that I had to take a picture and share it with blog readers. Here is his explanation: “I had been working in the garden with my wife. I have different kinds of shoes. Some are working shoes, and some are not. After we had entered the house, she started complaining, “What is that weird smell?” I realized it was my shoes. Actually, the same thing had happened to me in Paris many years ago when two of my sons and a Canadian friend came back from a three-month trip through Asia. I picked them up at the airport, drove them home, and then – they – took – off – their – shoes! I said, “What on earth is going on? Is there a dead animal in your rucksack?” Apparently it was their shoes. So, yesterday, after Sandy did three loads of laundry, I washed my sneakers and hung them up to dry.”

Biking in Wellfleet

One of the most frequent questions I get is a request for information on biking in the area. Some people want to know what bike trails exist. Others come from further away and are interested in opportunities to rent bikes. To the first group, I explain the Cape Cod bike trail was created in the old railroad bed, that it offers a car-free experience, except the part from Wellfleet on where the railroad bed was divided into lots and sold to developers. (People do bike here, however, as these intrepid bikers, above, proved on Commercial Street yesterday.) I tell future guests that there’s a challenging bike trail in Provincetown, which allows views of incredible vistas in the Provincelands, and that it is possible to bike in Wellfleet, as long as you are very careful. The ride out to Great Island is one of immense beauty. As to bike rentals, Idle Times, in Eastham, open year-round, has a shop in Wellfleet, on Route 6, within walking distance, and bikes are available there for the summer by the day. The Eastham shop will even deliver bikes in off-peak months, upon request. Check out the view from Chequessett Neck Road, below, Sven's favorite place to bike.

New Shop Opens on Main Street

It is with pleasure that we observe the creation of new businesses in Wellfleet. This year, over the winter, we watched the complete renovation of a building on Main Street, opposite Prudential Cape Shores Real Estate. A few months ago, the final paint job really made the Newcomb Hollow Shop stand out, and, when planters full of purple petunias materialized, I decided it was really time for a visit. Then, this week, a hat stand appeared out front. I love hats, so off I went with my camera. The shop belongs to Judith Newcomb Stiles, who is responsible for the pottery, and Sadie Green, a jeweler. There are lots of fun gadgets, as well as pottery and jewelry, a nice selection of watches and cards, and much more. The shop is bright and full of good cheer. I have no doubt that the Newcomb Hollow Shop will please tourists and natives alike. Welcome, Judith and Sadie!

Why I Decided Not To Renew CEDC Membership

I spent the morning doing research for the proposal for my book. Three hours in front of the computer. The afternoon’s activities were a bit more varied. Here is a summary: Put sheets and pillowcases in the washing machine. Clean Seagull Cottage. Rush, rush, rush. Hang pillowcases out to dry. Polish three additional paragraphs for the proposal. Respond to e-mail. Run, run, run. Fetch the mail. Pick peonies for bouquets and arrange flowers. Answer more e-mail. Rush, rush, rush. Send confirmation and thanks to folks who sent in checks. Collect pillowcases from the line and put them in the dryer since it rained. Run, run, run. Drive downtown for additional ingredients for fruit salad. Vacuum Liberty Coin Suite. Rush, rush, rush. Exchange emails with my agent’s assistant. Speak to guests who appeared at the door without reservations. Call around to find them available rooms. Rush, rush, rush. Iron pillowcases. Hug Sven. Run, run, run. Make the bed in Seagull Cottage. Welcome guests who did make bookings. Show them Liberty Coin Suite. Rush, rush, rush. Respond to booking request for September from folks in England. Cook dinner, eat dinner. Write blog. Run, run, run. Bake banana bread for breakfast. Collapse exhausted into bed.

Advice for Innkeepers: Avoid Complication!

I was already in bed last night when the phone rang shortly after ten p.m., 10:13 to be exact. “Got any availability next Monday and Tuesday?” an impudent voice demanded. “Do you know what time it is?” I answered back. Innkeepers, beware of such behavior! If a prospective guest does not care about waking you up, he or she will be the type of person, who will make life difficult once a room is booked, canceling or showing up late, for instance, drinking wine in the room and spilling it, clogging drains, etc. I run this business according to rules I establish myself and one guideline is “Avoid complication.” We do accept reservations by phone during the day, but prefer not to have the phone ring at night, for obvious reasons: most guests are sleeping. The caller had probably not taken the time to read we prefer initial communication via email, stated clearly on the Web site. The fellow made some crack about the way I run my business before hanging up. I felt like saying, “Yes, and today we made four different bookings, via email, so our business is doing just fine, thank you.” There are very few openings left until mid-August. Availability can be checked here.

Wellfleet Restaurant Rundown 2009

The Juice will not open until Thursday but Wellfleet's other restaurants are already gearing up for high season. Eating out can be expensive, which is why more people than ever before seem to be choosing to picnic or buy take out at Wellfleet Marketplace although our little town does have some great dining options. There's Wicked Oyster, of course. Mac's Shack, already described a few weeks ago, and in photo, above. Mac's Seafood, on the harbor. Winslow's Tavern I featured in this blog last month. We had dinner at Winslow's yesterday because owner Tracey Berry Hunt also went to Vassar, and I wanted to encourage her to come to reunion in 2014 while I was still brimming over with enthusiasm for the experience. Winslow's is a great choice for lunch, too, with tables on the front lawn. Moby Dick's is run by Tracey's brother Todd. The two restaurants remain sensible choices for anyone who is trying to reduce expenditures while on vacation. Our future French restaurant is not ready for dinner guests yet due to financing difficulties in this tough economic climate. Pearl, the newest eatery, was constructed on the site of Captain Higgins, and the owners used recycled materials, which is great. However, we had guests who decided not to lunch there, finding the menu a bit too pricey. I noticed a sign for Sol in the building where Uncle Frank once held sway. Guests praised Sol to me last year. In the center of town, the Lighthouse still offers Mexican night. Flying Fish dishes up a great pizza. A new pizza place has opened on Route 6 at the spot where Eric's Seafood once stood, and we have not had a chance to go. Across Route 6, PJs always draws a crowd. And, Finally JPs still offers Prix Fixe and needs more kitchen help. We had guests journey to Truro for Terra Luna, my favorite of all, and report back that the meal had been delicious, but expensive. Sven still has not experienced Blackfish, in Truro. Another restaurant on my personal must-try list is Cafe Edwige's in P-town. For the time being, we will be having soup, using the organic leeks and potatoes from the garden after my five nights in a row of dining out ...

Back Home!

How lush the garden looked upon my return this morning from Poughkeepsie! Rain fell in my absence, but also Sven watered thoroughly. The peonies and poppies add splashes of color. I had a great time, but it is nice to be home. Sven did well with our guests from Denmark, whom I was not fortunate enough to meet. I was away four days, a most unusual occurrence. Now what I want is to go up and see the sea ...

Shipwreck Disappears!

Guests went looking for the shipwreck at Newcomb Hollow last week and could not find it, although they walked down the beach to the right, which leads me to think the sand must have covered the bones again. Also, a blog reader contacted me with the same news. Here is a photo taken a couple months ago. I do not have time to go searching myself right now, as spring is always very busy with garden planting, etc., and, of course, guests. Over the next few days I will away on a brief vacation to attend a college reunion and Sven will be in charge of the B&B. Read what it feels like to return to Wellfleet next Tuesday.

Ticks, Mosquitoes, & Bed Bugs on Cape Cod 2009

With all the late spring rain mosquitoes will be out in force this summer. I just heard from my guests that a cloud of mosquitoes hovers over the Atlantic white cedar swamp boardwalk. Yesterday this blog received a visitor searching for information on HOW TO GET BED BUGS OUT OF LUGGAGE. My answer is best not to let bed bugs IN luggage, by keeping suitcases zippered up while out of a hotel room and using luggage racks. (See May 19 blog.) Another recent search has been TICKS ON CAPE COD. I wish I had some good news to report on this front. Unfortunately, the creepy crawly critters are already on the move, not only in the woods but in Cape towns, having traveled on the backs of birds. While the problem is not as bad as on Nantucket, we still need to worry about getting sick from tick bites. Dyer Pond is very beautiful, but getting there involves passing through tick territory. I also always recommend to guests that they use insect repellent and check themselves after a visit to the Wellfleet Wildlife Sanctuary, with its large bird population. Those of us who have already had Lyme are especially wary. I always check myself before bed. In May and June, the teensy tiny nymphs are looking for a first meal. Deer ticks can be considered, unfortunately, one of the major hazards of living on Cape Cod & the Islands.

Very Old Coin Found in Truro

Our Liberty Coin Suite is named after the Liberty Coin, above, which Sven found while tunneling under the house four years ago. In the past, carpenters would place coins in the corners of buildings for good luck. Or, our coin could have dropped through the floor boards at some point. It is also possible to find old coins in the garden. Apparently a resident of nearby Truro, who lives beside a cemetery, did exactly that. The coin he unearthed is one of the oldest ever found on Cape Cod. Read more about it in today’s Cape Cod Times.