Eastbound – Day 19 – Coast to Coast in a VW Bus

December 4, 2013
Natick, MA
136,342.5 ( 284.1 miles)

Well if yesterday was about letting go, today as about saying hello…to the ocean!
Yes, its been 23 days since I left the West Coast. 23 Days since I have seen the ocean. Wait! you say. You saw the ocean yesterday in Stamford and Mystic, CT. umm, Nope! Officially, that is the Long Island Sound and not the ocean.

Its Official…I’ve gone Coast to Coast in Sandy the Bus and put on over 6,300 miles. I have to say that this is truly a trip of a lifetime and I am having such a blast.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yFOgUlWZhX8/Up_jTuNeKTI/AAAAAAAAEtM/XzHoLubJH9E/s144-c-o/1204130925.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay19#5953727160368638258″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1204130925.jpg” pe2_large_limit=”false” pe2_img_align=”right” ] Last night we camped at our neighbors home in Narraganset, RI. That’s our neighbor from Vermont, my final destination for this trip. While John had given me a tour around town,Sue had made us a terrific dinner.

This morning John and I went out for breakfast to a neat small old town diner. I got a kick out of a system they have in place for crossing the road. At each cross walk there are Orange Flags. You pick up the flag and carry it across the street. When you have the flag in your hand, traffic will “see you” and stop. I found it remarkable that the flags remain there. Just goes to show you how much better small town living is. Trust and Courtesy are alive and well when you take away all the hustle and bustle of a busy city.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mbohlPpsfP8/UqB_CqbtjPI/AAAAAAAAE64/r4DC4dwjLug/s144-c-o/1204130902.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay19#5953898391110782194″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1204130902.jpg” pe2_img_align=”none” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VoPy6dgAnUs/Up_j5mLycZI/AAAAAAAAE6w/6bs8-Xx1qAw/s144-c-o/1204131130.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay19#5953727811049124242″ caption=”Sandy looks right at home here Downtown Newport, RI” type=”image” alt=”1204131130.jpg” pe2_large_limit=”false” ]Today it was a nice leisurely ride up the coast, across some bridges and then down to Newport, RI for some site seeing and to view the huge mansions. I thought Sandy looked right at home in front of them. While the Mansion tour was nice, mostly because I love architecture, it was Old Town Newport that I really enjoyed. The tiny streets, tiny shops, I could just picture how busy and full of life this place is in the summer, but I was getting to enjoy its quiet side today. After we cruised Newport, it was onto Provincetown, MA or P-Town for short.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Cam45ze2mzQ/Up_kQQSDiHI/AAAAAAAAE6w/1kFvXwFqJHE/s144-c-o/1204131414a.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay19#5953728200306821234″ caption=”I’ve been all over Rt 6, now I’ve hit the end.” type=”image” alt=”1204131414a.jpg” pe2_img_align=”right” pe2_large_limit=”false” ] As soon as we hit Cape Cod, we were on Rt 6. I grew up right near Rt 6 in Mohegan Lake, NY. My folks had a business on Rt. 6 as did I. As a child, I had often wondered where Rt 6 would take me and perhaps that was the beginning of my wanderlust. You will see that any time I am on Rt 6 I take pictures of it. And while I have been on Rt 6 in many states including California, I have never been to the other end, but today I would reach the Eastern End of Rt 6 also known and the Grand Army of the Republic Highway just outside of Ptown. In fact, I actually missed the sign for it, but since I was the only one on the road headed to the beach, I simply put the bus in reverse and backed right up to it. While that doesn’t seem unusual…if you have ever been to PTown during the summer, you will appreciate it. See, this is a one road town at the end of a Spit. In the summer, my little drive here would be increased two fold time wise. Its good to travel in the off season and get to see the sleepier side of town.

Just a short skip down the road and we hit Herring Cove Beach. Pulling into the parking lot I was worried I might have trouble as the lot was completely covered in deep sand. Sandy didn’t get stuck, but it did make for a perfect photo op or two or twenty.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5MogRIGaNdU/Up_kTmvvoHI/AAAAAAAAE6w/h6NHYj5P7pE/s144-c-o/1204131419a.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay19#5953728257876533362″ caption=”On Herring Cove Beach, Provincetown, MA” type=”image” alt=”1204131419a.jpg” pe2_img_align=”right” ] I was surprised to see another car in front of me and one parked way down the lot. The one in front of me parked and he and his dog got out and began to play ball so I headed down further as I was looking for a quiet (as in private) spot. I got to the opposite end and the car there was vacant so I parked Sandy with the side door to the beach and went to get ready for what I do best at the beach…skinny dip. (Yes it is December and the water is cold, anyway) just as I go to get ready a couple of cars pull up. As I waited and assessed the situation a Ranger came by too. Not sure where all these people came from because no one was on the road with me here. I decided to skip the skinny dip. As I was heading back to the bus a gentlemen comes up to me and asked, with a German accent, to take pictures of Sandy.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/–bvmRrZpOSY/Up_kfNvCDTI/AAAAAAAAExM/Lqbl5KEG0U0/s144-c-o/1204131448.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay19#5953728457321090354″ caption=”That’s better.Skinny Dipping in the Atlantic in December. This is living! On Herring Cove Beach, Provincetown, MA” type=”image” alt=”1204131448.jpg” ] As he’s taking pictures of Sandy, I spot a Seal splashing around in the surf not 25′ off the shore. Now I was really excited. Not only did I do a coast to Coast, but now I’m seeming a Seal just as I had out West. I’ve never seen them on the East Coast, but I knew they are popular up here. I tried to get a picture of him, but he was gone as quickly as he appeared. Instead, I offered to take a picture of the man with Sandy and he jumped at the offer. It turned out that they were from the vacant car and the other cars had now left so I had my moment of opportunity…Across the sand I ran, set up the camera and in I went. and in I went. Well not all the way in, but up to my knees! I’m crazy, not nuts. So I got to Skinny Dip on both Coasts during a Coast to Coast now.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fgDNOysi9Qo/Up_lUI_vqjI/AAAAAAAAE04/TTYga-0sjCw/s144-c-o/1204131515c.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay19#5953729366582078002″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1204131515c.jpg” pe2_gal_align=”right” pe2_img_align=”right” ] I decided now would be a good time to feed Lexie and enjoy the sunset. It was quite unique to be able to get a sunset picture on the ocean on the East Coast. That’s typically reserved for West Coasters, but here in PTown, the way the peninsula wraps around out there, I was able to get it. Once we packed up and I warmed up we headed out, but not before taking some more shots. From there, we headed into PTown for some Sunset sightseeing and then it was off to find my host Don G’s house about 2.5 hours away and just south of Boston. The trip off of the Cape was now in total darkness, but the weather was nice, not too cold and traffic was light.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6v7WGhoyIRA/UqCbBviaWEI/AAAAAAAAE7Q/sWjL2XoAaiY/s144-c-o/1205131025.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay19#5953929161626769474″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1205131025.jpg” ]We arrived around 6:30pm and I was treated to a nice dinner and conversation and we got to celebrate their dog Zoe’s 9th Birthday with her.

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