I have, on more than one occasion, mentioned how the west coast had always called to me when I was a child. How I'd stare out the west-facing window at the sunset, wishing I could be in California, where it was 3 hours earlier. My goal in life was to get to the west coast, and I achieved that goal and lived there for over two decades. In that time, I did manage to see the westernmost point of the USA, called Cape Mendocino, in Humboldt County, CA. It was so remote that there was no place to park, so I never even took a photo of it, we just kept driving (and truthfully, it was a bit of a harrowing ride.....I mean seriously, it took 4 hours to drive the 30 mile round trip out there and back). I do regret not seeing Cape Flattery, the Northwesternmost point of the USA, in Washington, but someday I'll get back there.
Since moving back to the east coast, I find myself obsessed with beach combing on the westernmost beaches of Cape Cod. I pore over street maps and Google Earth aerial views, looking for new strips of sand to explore, even if it means trespassing a little. One would think, with my unsated need to find treasure, that I would be eager to explore the National Seashore, on the Atlantic Ocean. Yet I find myself returning to look at the western shore of Cape Cod every time. The other night I was researching how I can get on Cuttyhunk Island to beachcomb there too! It's proximity at the mouths of Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound probably means a beach comber's dream!
What is this farthest shore thing? Where did it come from?
:)
ReplyDeleteI like this. While I have no answers, I like the idea of the longing for the farthest shore that does seem to be lodged in the human heart.
ReplyDeleteJessica
A to Z Blogger & SF/Fantasy Writer @ Visions of Other Worlds
You had me at "Cape Cod." My family and I visited there the summer the movie "Turner & Hooch" was in theaters (I remember this because it was one of the few times my parents thought it ok to spend money on the movies - we were on vacation, after all). Then, with my younger sis, there was a lot we couldn't do. Now, as an adult, I long to get back, as I too am drawn to the ocean. What's the farthest shore thing? Maybe it's the dream still out of reach.
ReplyDeleteSome Dark Romantic
Cuttyhunk Island? Hell of a name!
ReplyDeleteI had always wanted to go to Florida and walk the beach there so finally my family took a trip to go there. I remember walking on Daytona Beach and seeing the ocean for the first time. Unfortunately, it was so breezy and beautiful that I wasn't aware of the sun and got a nasty case of sun poisoning. That kind of put a damper on the rest of the trip but it was nice to see relatives and have some great food!
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