We learned yesterday that Provincetown is an incredibly colorful
place, from its natural beauty to its history and culture.
Our day began winding through the sand dunes at Beech Forest and the
Cape Cod National Seashore. We rode the Dunes Edge Bike Trail up to Race Point
Beach, where we watched powerful waves hit the shore. We also got great views of
several seals swimming close to the beach. They looked like they were enjoying
themselves in their habitat, as we were enjoying ourselves trying to outrun the
waves as they crashed up onto the beach before retreating back into the Atlantic
Ocean. Feeling the saltwater mist on our skin as we bared our toes in the sand
was a feeling we won't soon forget.
From there, we went made a quick stop at Bennett Pond, which was
covered in lily pads and water lilies.
After riding the entire bike trail in a loop, we made a short trek
into town to eat lunch just off Commercial Street at the Mayflower Compact
memorial. We indulged in a short after-lunch siesta in the sun. After locking up
the bikes, we took a walk down Commercial Street and popped in and out of town
hall, various shops, a local artist's craft fair and small art galleries.
With lemonade and iced coffees in hand, we climbed to the top of
Pilgrim Monument and explored the Provincetown Museum -- were invited to share
in a spread of appetizers for an exhibit opening -- and learned about whaling
history, the voyage and landing of the Mayflower, and the town's diverse
past.
After a busy day about town, we went back to nature and cooked a
sunset spaghetti dinner atop the sand dunes. As twilight settled, we heard a
chorus of waves crashing in the distance and coyotes howling, signaling it was
time to get back to camp.
We left the dunes knowing our trip was winding down, and the next day
we'd be back in Boston, where our odyssey began.
-- Trip leaders Annise and Cory
