Cape Cod Interlude

 

 

 

Ten days on Cape Cod was more than we had planned on, but as usual, it turned out to be a great time. Robb has a giant house that he rattles around in so we didn't feel too bad about filling it up for a bit. We had many projects to do on the Rialta, the biggest being getting new tires on all around and getting the front end aligned. Surprising how hard that turned out to be! Several shops said they could do it, then it turned out they couldn't. Finally we found someone, but he ended up keeping the rig over the weekend which limited what we could do on some of our other projects. I made a waterproof bike cover out of heavy duty gardening plastic, lots of duct tape and strong thin line. We'll see how it holds up to wintery conditions. We will also cover the whole mess with a blue tarp. I know, I know, it's going to look awesome!  Thayer fixed fuses, drain pipes, and almost finished his website, yay for that!

Lingering colors in the yard

Jemma, head of ranch security

 

Trying out my new camera

My big project was helping Robb "daylight" his garden which had been covered with large sheets of black plastic for years. Weeds grow here like they do in the NW and the plastic was for weed control and watering of his vegetables. In the past he has had bumper crops of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, chard, arugala, rhubarb, and lots of berries. Production has slowed, indicating that the soil needs to be worked some, so it was time to lose the plastic. Also, Robb's two boys have flown the coop so he doesn't need all the food he grows and having a huge garden is a lot of work! So, his idea was to daylight the soil, level the garden, and plant a perfect croquet lawn. We had to clean up after last year's garden, stack the wire cages, unscrew a billion screws holding the plastic to boards, pick up a million bricks and stack them, roll up the plastic, haul the boards away, and finally transplant 40 raspberry plants and 28 blackberry bushes. It took us 4 days working about 4 hours per day. He has reduced the vegetable space from 50X100 feet to about 20X50 feet. I think he will still be able to grow all the vegies he can eat. If he can keep chickens from eating the grass seed after planting and keep it watered it will be fantastic fun come summer.

Me and my big bro!

Rolling plastic 

 

 

We also made some time for fun. One morning I got up early and Robb and I went to the beach for the opening day of oyster season. It is pretty weird how they do it around here. Instead of going to the rocky coast and prying your oysters off of the rocks like we do in the NW, you go out to the beach, which has been stocked with farm raised oysters. They do this by dumping truckloads of oysters along the beach. The next day everyone races out to the beach and picks them up! At least the oysters have a chance to get away..... Today we went to Robb's friend Michael's glassblowing studio to see the "giants" that Michael makes. The giants are large rebar/steel rod structures that people buy and then wrap with Christmas lights for the holiday season. They have become quite the thing out here and he can't keep up with the demand. He has made many different designs, a lighthouse, a glassblower, Ben Franklin, a knight on a horse, a peace dove with a rainbow, and a baseball player. His apprentice was making paperweights and some beautiful vases while we watched. I love watching glass blowers in action and it was fun to see all the different colors and designs. I bought a new glass ball for my collection. We also played some games, watched a few movies and ate a lot of great food. One night we were treated to fresh lobster, right out of the bay. Tonight it was fresh oysters and mahi-mahi. Sadly, it'll be back to my cooking soon....sigh.

Giant construction project

Michael's studio

Giant creators

It has been really nice spending time with Robb. It seems like when the whole family gets together you don't get to talk as much because you are pulled in all directions. I really enjoy the one on one time I have been getting with my family as we travel by their homes. It is also nice to not have to be making decisions every few hours, where to go, where to overnight, what to see, what to eat, and so on. The large comfy bed and hot showers have been great too. Since we arrived I have taken over the chicken and geese routine in the morning. I let them out of their pens, give them some corn and then I get to gather eggs. It is just like Easter everyday! Jemma, the head of ranch security, helps by barking a lot and chasing the birds around. I've also eaten eggs every morning, they are so fresh and creamy!

 

From here we are off to visit my old college friend in PA, Thayer's Aunt Boots in VA, possibly another college friend in NC, and friends of Thayer's in FL. There are lots of boondocker possibilities on the east coast so we will be taking advantage of them as well. There is some cold weather coming later this week but it really warms up as you head south. I would like to see some historical sites and some of the Intercoastal Waterway, which extends southward from Chesapeake Bay for hundreds of miles. We might get a day or two in DC if it works out that we can leave the rig outside the city and ride a bus or train into the city. 

Joanne, Robb, oysters on the half shell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Billy making a vase