Hither and yon

Today was my last day on the Cape, and I wound up traveling back and forth across practically the whole expanse.  My first stop was 30 minutes east (lower cape) to pay my respects to the National Seashore beaches.  Then I went 30 minutes west (upper cape) to check out Heritage Gardens.  Last, I took just a short jaunt down the road from Brewster by the Sea (mid cape) to enjoy the Paine’s Creek sunset one last time…  Allow me to take you along.

Coast Guard Beach
Those of you who have followed me on these many trips to the Cape know that my favorite place in the world is Marconi Beach.  Unfortunately, the storms back in February tore away the “stairway to heaven” and there’s no access to Marconi Beach just yet.  I decided to wing it, though, and see which of the many other National Seashore beaches might be accessible.

I wound up at Coast Guard Beach, which was beautiful.  I had stopped in the park visitor center first (to see which beaches were accessible), and, while I was there, I took in a quick movie that told of the origins of Cape Cod.  The cape was formed by a retreating glacier which also dropped huge chunks of ice that became the freshwater ponds that dot the landscape here.  The film also explained the constantly changing beachfront here… the Atlantic storms alternately take sand away and deposit it back on the beach, incessantly resculpting the landscape.  Powerful.

The documentary also showed film of some gale-force waves pounding the dunes and the shores – those aren’t the kind of waves I like to see!  It made me consider that maybe Ethan is right that I should be just as concerned with a transatlantic trip via ship as I am via airplane!

It was late morning when I got to the beach and I had an inspiring walk.  I could feel the heat radiating from the dunes counterbalanced by the gorgeous, soft, salty breezes off the ocean.  I went to hear the pounding of the waves, and I was not disappointed.

Seen at Coast Guard Beach…
 
  

Heritage Museums and Gardens
Given my experiences with Longwood Gardens, I would say that Heritage is more museums than gardens, but it was worth the trip.  A number of famous people lived on the property over the years, and the museums were founded by the Lilly family (of Eli Lilly fame).  There’s a huge antique car exhibit and collections of carved birds, weather vanes, toy soldiers, and carousel animals.  (Some people’s collections get quite out of hand. 🙂 )  One of my favorite parts was the labyrinth, which was laid with a simple crushed seashell path, but it wound its way under a canopy of huge trees, and it was quite peaceful.

My favorite car was the red 1919 Pierce-Arrow.
But the picture didn’t turn out. 🙁
  

Carousel animals
  

Lots of flowers and nature paths
  

The Windmill and the Labyrinth
 

Sunset on my Cape Cod vacation
A few weeks ago, one of our priests (Jennifer) gave a sermon on the theme of “liminal time.”  Liminal time is that time-between.  Jennifer was specifically speaking about the time between the Jesus’ Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, but she also referenced the time between graduation and college.  I could add other liminal times – that early September period that marks the time between summer and the new school year – the time between ending one job and beginning another – the time between end-of-vacation and back-to-work.

Liminal time is a time of anticipation, excitement, and great expectations.  It’s a contemplative, looking-backward, looking-forward time when all is put in order, resolutions are finalized, and plans are laid.

I’m leaving the Cape in the morning, but I remain on vacation – suspended in liminal time – through the Memorial Day weekend.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

A Cape Cod sunset in liminal time…