| When I was making plans to visit Cape Cod, in my | | | | took a ride with Al in his Mercedes and she compared |
| mind I always saw my goals as having fun . . . and | | | | it to one of my favorite cars from our past, my old |
| eating lobster. In the end we had lots of fun and I | | | | 1955 Rambler . . . it wasn't a compliment. Peg always |
| had lots of lobster. Sorry, but we saw a 17 pound | | | | referred to my '55 as "that dirty, ratty, stinky, loud |
| lobster in a preview tank and didn't eat him. We | | | | little Ramber." You can take a bus out to the Cape, |
| were there for the funeral of many of his relatives, | | | | but I do suggest that you do need a car to take full |
| however.For nearly ten years, our friend Al Burrage | | | | advantage of the Cape's wonders. We rented a car |
| of West Seattle has been asking us to join him in his | | | | from Alamo at Logan (the Boston Airport) and |
| cottage in West Dennis at Cape Cod. We were finally | | | | exceeded a thousand miles on it in just over a |
| able to schedule a trip to Massachusetts and not | | | | week.As I mentioned, I felt it was my job and goal |
| surprisingly, we loved it. Al rents his cottage, The | | | | to eat lobster while in New England. Al took me to |
| Mainstay, out during the "season" but visits Cape Cod | | | | Swan River Seafood Restaurant and Fish Market. |
| before the season and then again after the season | | | | Their lobstermen catch fresh lobster daily on Cape |
| to first prepare the cottage for guests, and then to | | | | Cod. You could eat at the restaraunt or buy from |
| close the cottage for the winter.The cottage is a | | | | the market, but even at the market you could order |
| three bedroom home that features a glassed-in porch | | | | your seafood cooked. For example you could tell |
| as well and an outside shower for getting rid of sand | | | | them which lobster you wanted and tell them when |
| and salt before entering the house. The home has a | | | | you wanted it cooked. You could then stop in and |
| crushed shell driveway and walkway. Typical of Cape | | | | pick it up and take it home thereby enjoying your |
| Cod homes it has a cedar pole fence across the | | | | lobster in your own kitchen or dining room. Swan |
| front and down one side of the yard. It's painted a | | | | River had a great selection of fresh seafood AND |
| fresh looking aqua with maroon shutters. One | | | | they also offered cooked lobster meat. While we |
| bedroom has twin beds and two bedrooms have a | | | | were there it was priced at $29.95 a pound. This |
| double bed. The kitchen has a dishwasher, range, | | | | seemed a little pricey to me, but we went to some |
| refridgerator, and microwave. We can attest that it is | | | | other market and they offered cooked lobster for |
| very comfortable. The Mainstay was our center of | | | | $5.00 more per pound. I thought about the |
| operation, while we were on Cape Cod. Each day we | | | | possibilities for several days and then we returned to |
| would venture forth to places like Boston, Wood's | | | | Swan River on the way to lunch. I pointed out which |
| Hole, Provincetown and then return to The | | | | tail I wanted and Peg did the same. She picked a |
| Mainstay.While Al lives in West Dennis he has plenty | | | | smaller one . . . a much smaller one. I sat in the car |
| of opportunity to visit with people and scout out | | | | and ate mine. Peg had two bites, shared a bite with |
| good places to go. Once we arrived Al kept up a | | | | Al and then took the rest of her lobster home. This |
| steady litany of places we could go and things we | | | | was the second best lobster I had in Massachusetts. |
| could do and should do. Even when we ignored him | | | | It was big, tender, and sweet. The snack costs us |
| he still made suggestions. We took him up on most | | | | about twenty dollars, but it was well worth it.The |
| of them . . . and never found a bad one.One of the | | | | open sign seemed to always be in the window, but |
| best places to find reasonable priced local goods is at | | | | they were only open if the owner's green van was in |
| the local thriftstore. We scored big. Al bought a | | | | the parking lot. The owners of Marathon Seafood |
| miniature brass cannon for $2.00, and Peg bought | | | | (Peggy and Teddy Stoilas) are Greek, hence the |
| two framed handmade lace collars. She was thrilled. Al | | | | name. Like many places on the Cape you order at |
| finally prevailed on a suggestion and took Peg to | | | | the counter and then the food is brought to you. |
| Cuffy's of Cape Cod. The two of them brought back | | | | Since I had just eaten a lobster tail I chose the fried |
| purchases of a couple of hundred dollars . . . or so it | | | | oysters. They were small, but there was a ton of |
| seemed. Eventually we had to purchased another | | | | them. Al chose his usuall scallops and Peg ordered |
| suitcase to accommodate souvineer shopping.I | | | | lamb . . . she likes lamb and it's always best to order |
| managed to confine my souvineer shopping to The | | | | lamb at a Greek restaurant. If we had been back in |
| Music Meister and the Christmas Tree Shops. Al loves | | | | Tacoma, Peg would have taken the bones home to |
| bargains. For the wives of my friends I bought Tee | | | | make broth. As it was, the bones were picked pretty |
| Pee Dreams herbal tea. I bought my golfing buddies a | | | | clean. Teddy and Peggy were friendly and happy to |
| Cape Cod golf ball each and a box of rattlesnake | | | | please.I can generally find where I am going. If I've |
| repellant, which contained some odd little bundles of | | | | got a map I can get there. This philosophy doesn't |
| aromatic herbs and spices. I'm not sure what they | | | | lend itself to traveling on Cape Cod. Confusion reigns. |
| do, but I never saw a snake nearby. I gave a box to | | | | For example the town of Dennis is made up of five |
| the son of a friend on his way to a party in Seattle. | | | | villages: North Dennis, South Dennis, East Dennis, |
| He held one of the bundles up to his nose. I warned | | | | West Dennis, and Dennisport. Towns and villages |
| him, don't let the police search you. I don't know that | | | | blend together. We set off on an adventure one day |
| either the herbal teas or the snakebite repellant had | | | | to visit NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service |
| anything to do with local Indian heritage, but the gifts | | | | Northeast Fisheries Science Center at Woods Hole. |
| were bought in Massachusetts, which should count | | | | We wanted to see the NOAA Aquarium. We knew |
| for something.Generally, each day started off the | | | | where Woods Hole was. We could see Woods Hole |
| same. I would rise earlier than Al or Peg. I would turn | | | | on the map, but like NOAA on the ocean, we had to |
| on the coffee maker and then sometimes go for a | | | | submerge ourselves in the countryside to find Woods |
| drive or a walk. Returning I would knock on Al's door | | | | Hole . . . only to find the aquarium closed.We enjoyed |
| and he would be up in a jiffy and ready to go. I | | | | our drive in the country. We saw many rock walls, |
| knew we would probably have a big lunch and a big | | | | which reminded us of Minute Men and Lexington and |
| dinner, so breakfast I wanted to keep light . . . but | | | | Concord. We saw many shops and Inns. The road |
| within reason. My first breakfast in West Dennis was | | | | through the country side dipped and climbed through |
| at the Good Friends Cafe, which is only a few yards | | | | lovely cool, green lush growth. The only frustration |
| from the local post office.I never like to eat at | | | | was the long search.Once we found Woods Hole, we |
| national chains. I prefer local establishments. You | | | | still had trouble finding the aquarium. We ended up |
| never know what you'll find. Al had eaten at the | | | | following an arrow out of town half a mile into a |
| restaurant before under its old name, but never at | | | | residential area. We drove back and found the arrow |
| the Good Friends. I saw on the menu something | | | | again. It was on the building where the aquarium was! |
| called "grilled bread" and I asked the waiter, a young | | | | We peeked in the windows, and Peg walked out to |
| man named Tchigo (I hope that's spelled correctly, | | | | the harbor behind the facility for a few pictures. It |
| I'm not sure with the accent and all) what it was. | | | | just never occured to us that an aquarium would be |
| The bread is homemade by his father, who was a | | | | closed on Saturday. We should have visited the |
| cook at a different restaurant before the purchase | | | | internet site for details. We enjoyed the ride back |
| of the Good Friends where he is now cook and | | | | and ended the evening with a movie.I don't know |
| owner. It was excellent. A good hefty slice is cut and | | | | how many times I drove past this sign that greets |
| then grilled until warm and aromatic. It's served with a | | | | visitors to West Dennis. The sign promises $12.99 |
| dollop of butter on top. There are three kinds of | | | | lobster at Sundancer's. Everytime I saw it I thought |
| grilled bread: apple, cinnamon raisin, and cranberry. I | | | | to myself, we should eat there. They have a deck |
| ordered both the apple, and the cranberry. The bread | | | | that looks out to the water. They have music |
| was good without the butter. It was delightful with | | | | several nights a week. They have a river cruise most |
| the butter. It was good dunked in coffee. It was | | | | afternoons. Oh, well. Sometimes you have to make |
| good just plain grilled. I shared the apple grilled bread | | | | sacrifices . . . and leave adventures for the next |
| with Al, but never offered the cranberry to him. I | | | | visit.Al was determined that we would eat in one |
| REALLY liked the cranberry. Sometimes they use the | | | | night. Like Peg and I, he loves to cook. Al was in |
| bread in their French toast. I'll have to try that | | | | charge of a simple meal. I bought salad makings, and |
| another time.I ate at the Good Friends my last day in | | | | some fresh greenbeans. We had prawns, scallops |
| West Dennis by myself. Again, I just wanted a little | | | | (cooked to absolute perfection), seafood pate, clam |
| something. I ordered the corn beef hash expecting | | | | stuffing, rice and white wine. We stuffed ourselves |
| something from a can. What I got was homemade | | | | silly. We ended up with scallops and prawns leftover. |
| corned beef and onions. I don't think there was even | | | | There was food everywhere. Al looked around and |
| a potato anywhere in sight with it. While I was | | | | said, "It looks like the food fairy visited my home and |
| wolfing it down, I almost ordered some hashbrowns | | | | puked." We sipped a little more wine. Two days later |
| to mix in. When I walked in and sat down, Tchigo | | | | Al got up at five in the morning and made himself a |
| asked if I was waiting for my friend. It had been a | | | | rice and scallop snack . . . then went back to bed. He |
| week since I had been there and he remembered | | | | didn't join me that morning for breakfast out.I really |
| me and Al. Now, that is why I like small, mom and | | | | loved the mornings on Cape Cod. The bogs and |
| pop, family run cafes if I can find them. Another meal | | | | estuaries change with the tides and the fog. I would |
| or two and I would have been behind the counter | | | | visit the same places day after day and was never |
| helping my good friends Tchigo and his papa out at | | | | disappointed. I was also rarely disappointed in our |
| their Good Friends Cafe. Very nice.As we left the | | | | choices for meals. Al and I dropped Peg off at a |
| restaurant a couple drove up and asked us directions | | | | laundromat one morning and then returned as she |
| to Dennisport. Al complied. I think this is funny | | | | was finishing folding her clothes. There are two shops |
| because as we drove all over the cape we often had | | | | nearby we decided to visit and tucked in by them |
| to consult maps and get our bearings. Driving is a | | | | was a little cafe. The waitress was funny and |
| constant state of confusion on the Cape. When I left | | | | friendly. The food was excellent. I had a tuna Ceasar |
| the restaurant a week later by myself I saw a man | | | | salad. I asked if it was from a tuna fillet or just out |
| with his car parked and the hood up. The license | | | | of a can. "Tuna salad made from a can," was my |
| plate showed that he had been an American POW | | | | answer. It was excellent. I might make it on my own |
| (I'm guessing in World War II). I drove up beside him | | | | one day. Al had a Reuben sandwich on a "bulky" roll. |
| and asked if he needed assistance. He said he didn't | | | | He had to ask about the bulky. It was chewey and |
| need any help. He had the engine belts replaced and | | | | yet soft. The corned beef and cheese spilled out. He |
| his wife complained that they were squeeking. The | | | | managed to eat it all.It's always tough to live up to |
| Vet, with two hearing aids, couldn't hear them, so he | | | | high expectations. Al highly recommended Captain |
| had to open the hood and stick his head down near | | | | Parker's Pub for dinner. He raved about it. We saved |
| the engine. We had a nice chat. If it hadn't been my | | | | it for our final meal in Cape Cod. The food was good, |
| last day, I would have begged him to tell me stories | | | | but the restuarant was loud, we were seated by the |
| of his military career.One of Al's favorite places to | | | | door, and the waitress was abrupt. She also forgot |
| stop is the Music Meister. Owner Lew Taylor has | | | | to serve us bread with our meal. On the plus side, |
| access to DVDs galore. He only has some in stock, | | | | however the food was good. I followed Al's advice |
| but can order almost whatever you need. Knowing | | | | and ordered the seafood pasta. The seafood included |
| how much I love classic TV and movies, Al wanted | | | | lobster, prawns and mussels in a heavy cream sauce. |
| me to meet Lew. I was reluctant. Al told me what a | | | | I wouldn't have thought the mussels would work |
| great guy he was. He told me how Lew used to be | | | | with the cream sauce, but they were excellent. I had |
| on the rodeo circuit. I didn't care. I had other things | | | | to walk over to the service counter and retrieve a |
| to think about. I pulled into the driveway of the local | | | | table dispenser of cheese. This irritated me. Al's |
| library instead of the Music Meister because I saw | | | | scallops were great. He knows what he likes. Peg |
| that they had WiFi. Unfortunately, they were closed. | | | | ordered mussels, which surprised me. Like mine they |
| I was disappointed. Al said, let's go visit Lew. He's the | | | | were wonderful with a nice broth. I had to catch the |
| board president for the library . . . small towns . . . | | | | waitress, though and ask for bread, so Peg could |
| don't you just love 'em? We pulled in to the parking | | | | enjoy sopping up the broth with the bread. This is |
| lot of The Music Meister. It was after closing hours. | | | | one of the joys of ordering mussels or steamed |
| Lew and his wife Kathy, an expert seamstress, were | | | | clams. Broth and bread are major requirements. The |
| still there.Lew confessed that I could connect in the | | | | three of us shared an apple crisp with vanilla ice |
| library parking lot with my laptop, but I didn't bring | | | | cream.After finishing our meals at Captain Parker's |
| my laptop to Cape Cod. I was hoping for a WiFi | | | | Pub, we walked behind to the parking lot to the |
| Cafe. Lew said, "I don't think you'll find one on the | | | | ZooAquarium. Peg sat on Flipper to rest in the cool |
| Cape. We're kind of low-tech out here." Peg and I | | | | evening breeze. Our eight days on Cape Cod had |
| consoled ourselves by looking over some Celtic CDs | | | | worn us out. Even though we had cut our activities |
| that Lew had for sale. Peg bought three and headed | | | | to almost nothing for the last day, we were all still |
| towards the car to listen to Maura O'Connell (one of | | | | tired. I think we were all a little sad that it was |
| our favorites), while I talked to Lew about Celtic | | | | almost over as well.We returned to The Mainstay |
| singers and groups. I went outside and Al and Peg | | | | and packed our bags. I dropped off to sleep about |
| were looking at a tree with long pods on it. None of | | | | eleven. My alarm was set for 3:30 AM. We left West |
| us knew what it was.Al went back in to talk to Lew. | | | | Dennis about 4:15 AM and left the Cape in the driving |
| He didn't know what the tree was either. Later | | | | rain. We left Cape Cod, but our memories will take us |
| Kathy called with the name, Catalpa. We stopped in | | | | back anytime.I think Al was a little lonely when he |
| to see Lew several more times. Once before he | | | | woke up to an empty house (I think there was still a |
| opened, once after he closed and twice when he | | | | full refridgerator, however) that Thursday morning. |
| was actually open. He was always friendly and always | | | | We hadn't even picked up our baggage at Sea-Tac |
| helpful. I was looking for a song I had heard in the | | | | when we had a call from Al on Peg's cell phone. The |
| background in the feature film, Saint Ralph. It was a | | | | flight on Alaska went well. Excellent service from |
| Canadian film and I thought the singer was probably | | | | friendly people . . . just like most of our stay in West |
| Celtic. Lew searched and gave me the news: Jack | | | | Dennis on Cape Cod.Don Doman is a published author, |
| Ingram from Texas. The song was Goodnight | | | | video producer, and corporate trainer. He owns the |
| Moon.Al keeps a car at West Dennis. He loves (and | | | | business training site Ideas and Training ( which he |
| tolerates) the car and when he leaves for the season | | | | says is the home of the no-hassle "free preview" for |
| he parks it between trees so anyone wanting to | | | | business training videos. Don and his wife Peg also |
| steal it would have a tough time towing it away. I | | | | travel in the Pacific Northwest writing of their fun and |
| think Al's car is safe. The car has a few rust | | | | adventures. |
| problems and is covered with pollen and mildew. Peg | | | | |