How does the song go? …………… “What a difference a day makes?” That is so true! We went to breakfast this morning in shorts and tops and then came back from breakfast and changed into jeans and wet coats!! Yesterday was a fabulous hot, sunny day ………. today it’s cloudy, raining, windy and cold!!

But being British, did we let that ruin our day? Of course we didn’t, we drove to Chatham, the US one not the English one and had a lovely time looking around the town with its very quaint houses and wonderful shops. We must thank our gym buddy, Janet, for this recommendation and also for the loan of her book all about New England!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We managed to find a few lovely things to buy. We visited one shop that was called Pentimento for the ‘discerning lady shopper’ …….. that’s me apparently, for I purchased the most fabulous dark navy top imaginable. I must surely now book a trip to Las Vegas for a very fine dining experience because that’s the kind of place it would be appreciated. The clothes were just fabulous and the dresses for weddings, well, they made me want to get married all over again!

After the shopping was done we made a trip to the ‘grist mill’, that’s a windmill to you and me! The windmill was the Col. Benjamin Godfrey Windmill built in 1797. It operated continuously for 100 years. It’s had many owners during its long life. It stands 30 feet tall, has an octagonal diameter and three floors. It was fully restored in 2010-2012 and now grinds grain in just the same way it did two centuries ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whilst we were there we discovered the Chatham Labyrinth. This was constructed in 2012 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the town of Chatham and was a gift for the people of and visitors to Chatham from the clergy of seven churches in Chatham and is often considered to be a symbol of our human journey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also visited the site of the Chatham lighthouse (I think you can expect to see a few more lighthouses before our trip is over!!).

It was along the shoreline of the lighthouse that the ‘Mayflower’ sailed. On the 6th September, 1620 the Mayflower left Plymouth, England to sail to America with 120 passengers. After 66 days on the 9th November, they sighted the coast of Cape Cod, turned south and sailed past in an attempt to reach their original destination of the Hudson River. However, the shoals of Pollock Rip forced them to turn back and head north passing the same spot again. The ship continued north in search of a safe harbour and on the 11th November came around the tip of Cape Cod and anchored in now what is known as Provincetown Harbour. In December 1620, after staying in Provincetown for five weeks the Pilgrims sailed across Cape Cod and made a permanent settlement in Plymouth.

If the Pilgrims had managed to continue their original journey to the Hudson River area there would be no Cape Cod, Plymouth or New England story today.

After visiting the lighthouse and although the weather was rather inclement, we decided to make a visit to the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. Its goal is to provide habitat for migratory birds. The size of the refuge is 7,604 acres (31 km²) with varied habitats of oceans, salt and freshwater marshes, dunes and freshwater ponds. It was a lovely walk along the sands, the tide was out so we were able to walk quite a distance and I took the opportunity to collect some more sea shells. We don’t mind that our trainers are now full of sand and so is the car!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we drove back from Monomoy we discovered this birds’ nest sat atop the electrical wires!! Still, it must be warm and cosy up there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of the ‘car’, it occurs to me that we haven’t published a photo of the current ‘beast’ so here it is.

On our way to Chatham this morning I was rather overcome with delight when, as we sped along the highway, I suddenly spied one of my old favourite shopping haunts, Talbots!! They used to have outlets in England but due to the economic turndown of some years ago they suddenly and without notice, closed all the UK stores! I was totally overcome with grief as they were the one outlet where there ‘petite’ range always brought me great pleasure. Needless to say, on the way back from Chatham we stopped off and took a look at the store and I managed to find something very pleasing to the eye and commiserated with the sales lady about happy days gone by.

We’ve finished our day of site seeing with a wonderful meal at a restaurant here in Hyannis called Schooners. Wonderful food and wine. It was my intention to take a photo of Si enjoying his coconut shrimp but by the time they arrived I’d had a glass or two of the vino and completely forgot! Hey ho, there’s always tomorrow ………………. see you then!!