Cape Cod State of Mind - Part 2

So, as I've said, pictures of your special place in summer do help one get through the winter.  This becomes especially relevant when a big winter storm comes a callin’ and we’re all left bundled, buried and bummed, with a good case of cabin fever to boot.   For everyone in New England (and  even on the Cape .. you know who you are … HA!), you know just what I’m talking about.  So, here are some more early morning pictures that I hope will assist in preserving your sanity.

Parker's River Beach - looking toward Hyannis

Ya know, there are really 3 special times of the day at Cape Cod.  One is at sunset, which should not be missed.  Another is the sunrise, which deserves to be experienced more than it is.  You can go places on the Cape where it is a ritual to gather and watch the sun (and the wine) go down.  But trod the beaches about 6:00 - 6:30AM and you’ll be lucky to see a solitary gull mugging for a picture and a handout…or perhaps a hardy soul with coffee and book. 

Early bird gets the best spot!

But you’re missing something really special if you close the drapes and roll over one more time.  So, when next you’re at the Cape, or wherever your special place is, give the sunrise a try … you won’t regret it.

Smuggler's Beach - cleanin' and groomin'

An early up and out carries another special reward, one that completes the portrait.  Whenever my suitcase lands at the Cape, this is a “must do” for me.  The routine goes like this.  First, the early morning beach walk.  Then, no matter where on the Cape I’m staying, I head for 537 Rt. 28 (for your GPS), smack dab in the middle of quaint and lovely Harwich Port.  That is the home of Bonatt’s (pronounced - Bonnets) Restaurant and Bakery, with emphasis on the Bakery. It's been here since 1941, when AJ and Rose Bonatt started this family labor of love.  But along the way, family changed and it was grudgingly sold, and then gloriously bought back by family 30 years later, in 2012. 

The bakery - on Rt. 28 (tables not out yet!)

If you get there early (this is why you walk at sunrise), you can probably get into the restaurant for breakfast … 'cause if you’re late, you wait!  Usually a long time, which is why I don’t even try…I just head for the bakery, which is now up front on Rt. 28.  Tables inside and out await you, as well as fresh coffee and a wonderful assortment of goodies, the envy of which is the classic Meltaway.  A sort of French pastry, it was invented here, but through the years it was diluted (fruit fillings were added, giving it the look and flavor of a Danish pastry) and now that family is back again, the Meltaway has returned to its original recipe.  They are not to be missed.  Thomas “Tip” O’Neill, the former Speaker of the House, lived near Bank St. Beach and used to frequent the bakery often.  He loved his pastries, but his favorite was the Meltaway.  I always liked Tom.

A tray of Meltaways awaits - me!

Just envision this perfect scene if you will ...  early morning, warm sun, seated on the sidewalks of Harwich Port, no traffic, a coffee and a  Meltaway … can the day start any better than this! Then, when your breakfast is finished, you simply head across the street and down about 100 yards or so for your other stop, and that will the the topic of the next post.  Stay tuned, as we continue to smash the mid winter blues.

Oh, and the third best time of the day at the Cape is …. all that space between the sunrise and the sunset, of course! What did you think I was going to say?

Mark Twain Quote:  “Shut the door.  Not that it lets in the cold but that it lets out the cozyness.”