Fabulous Cape Cod Freebies! June 23, 2010

Ok!  So,  I have been away from the blog for a bit, but Cape Cod has a way of doing that to some….especially with the amazing weather and awesome spring we had this year!  With the last day of school today, I look towards what to do this summer.  On the Cape we are so fortunate there are so many things to enjoy for free or little cost.  So, I thought that I would share one or two a week that my family enjoys and hopefully you will discover them too and love the fabulous freebies that the Cape has to offer!

White Sheep

First I would like to introduce you to the Taylor-Bray Farm in Yarmouthport .  We recently rediscovered it as they held their annual sheep shearing festival.  The farm is open to the public year round dawn to dusk and there is no admission fee.  But, if you would like to make a donation to offset the care of the animals, anything would be appreciated.  It has been a farm on Cape Cod since 1896 and acquired by the  town of Yarmouth in 1987 to save it from becoming a development.  YEAH!!     There are sheep, goat and also two Scottish Highland Cattle that were so unusual to the Cape and easy to fall in love with.

Scottish Highland Cattle

There is also a small boardwalk on the property that goes out to the marsh where the view is pretty and the bird watching is plentiful.  I hope if you are traveling  on RTE 6A in Yarmouthport you will check out the farm and let me know what you thought!! Another Fabulous Freebie coming soon!  Stay posted!

The Goats gave the most entertainment!

DIRECTIONS TO THE FARM:..from the lower cape go west on Route 6A through Dennis, to just over the Yarmouth town line, and turn right at Oliver’s Restaurant, and go to the end of the road. from the upper/mid cape area go east on Route 6A through Yarmouth, and turn left at Oliver’s Restaurant and go to the end of the road (Bray Farm Road)

Take the Kids for a Bike Ride! March 21, 2010

We had amazing weather this weekend and so we got out the bikes and went for our first long ride of the year.  We are so fortunate to have a lot of bike path options here on the Cape.  On this day we decided to head to the Cape Cod Canal.   There is a two lane pedestrian/bike/ roller blade “road”  that lines both side of the canal.  The length is 6.5 miles one way and on a nice day, you will see lots of boats traveling the canal, many types of birds, and a friend of mine actually spotted a shark swimming.  It is also a great place to people and dog watch.

We headed out in the early afternoon with no real goal in our minds, but less than an hour later we were looking up at the Railroad bridge all the way in Bourne.

The ride there was beautiful but as we turned back we realized why the trip had been a breeze.  The wind was truly blowing hard in one direction!  So, needless to say the return was a bit more difficult and cold.  We would have loved to have a pair of gloves and my son contemplated taking off his socks to warm up his hands. We took several breaks on the benches that are spotted along the trail to warm up.

For our first long trip of the year I think these 8 year olds and I, did pretty well.  Next time we may head out and then do a quick return to see how strong the winds are actually blowing!  At least they went to bed easy that night!

The Bikers

The Bourne Bridge and The Railroad Bridge along the Canal

Making Winter Fun on Cape Cod February 12, 2010

This winter we have had a lot of snow.  Some winters we hardly get any but this season we have had our fair share!  Even when the mountains were hoping for a few flakes, we were able to get it all down here.

In the summer time, there are so many outside thing to do, right outside your door, but here we tend to keep inside in the winter if only to begrudging shovel our driveways or take the kids out to a tiny hill in the yard for sledding.

This past summer,  I picked up two sets of cross-country skis at a yard sale.  Seems like there wasn’t a lot of opportunity from the previous owners in the past to break them out as the both were in amazing shape.  Last December, I thought long and hard about pulling them out when we got the 16 inches of snow but alas, the snow came and went and there they sat.  I still regretted that and secretly prayed for a little more snow.

This time I was determined to break them out and give them a whirl.  With the 8 inches we got earlier this week, this was my chance!  I pre-flighted them yesterday in the yard and all seemed to be good.  I called my friend Wendy and asked if she would like to join me on my venture.  After all I had purchased the two complete sets and have only one set of legs.  She agreed and was excited to meet!

Off we went to the Sandwich Hollows Golf Course where they allow you to sled their one awesome hill, snow shoe and cross-country ski.  It was a balmy 32 degrees and a slight wind was blowing.  The sky was amazing blue color that only occurs in the winter time.

We started out and mistakenly hit a small hill and needless to say, we both landed on our butts!  But we got back up, found the straight away and proceeded to carve out our track.   It was so peaceful and the light was amazing.  We completed our loop and skied it two more times.  We finished about an hour and a half later with a great workout under our belts!  The rest of the day, my mind felt clear and I had a great sense of energy.

I hope when it snows where you are, you will go out and embrace nature and don’t let the season pass you by.  Winter can sometimes seem long and dark but, summer  will be here soon enough, enjoy every day you have!

Shadows in the morning

Happy Winter

Sunlight and track

The leading track

My friend

Another self portrait

Oh yeah, if you would like to try cross country, snow shoeing or sledding…..Sandwich Hollows is located on Round Hill Rd in East Sandwich.