Tahoma Beadworks & Photography

September 22, 2012

Cape Cod Canal Cruise, Part 2: Sandwich to Onset

On the way back, we went downstairs to grab a snack from the snack bar and I loved being so close to the water.

There's that cool mural I shot back in June. I like the reflection in the water.

And the seagulls wall.

This fishing vessel began to catch up to us. It's the Virginia Marie and Russell realized with some horror that not only was it possible that one of his cousins might be on the crew, he also knew the Captain. He was afraid that, if seen, he'd never live down the fact that he was on the Canal on a tourist ship.

Needless to say Russell made sure not to make eye contact with the crew as they chugged by.

Once the Virginia Marie was in front of us, the stench from their bait was overwhelming on the cruise ship.

The old approach to the Bourne Bridge with Three Mile Look up above and the mural I always take pics of.

Under the RR Bridge again.

Mass Maritime

Fournier Brothers Tug

Training Ship Kennedy at MMA

It's really hard to see, but there's a giant nest in this buoy light thing. Not sure for what.....possibly osprey, maybe cormorant.

Arriving back in Onset.

This was a very enjoyable tour, at least for me. After we were done, Russell confessed that, because he's been back and forth through the Canal hundreds of times during his life, it wasn't quite as big a deal to him as it was for me since he hadn't spent the past two decades in another part of the country. I hadn't thought of it that way before when I asked him to go! But like the sweetheart he is, he went along because I wanted to.

If you ever find yourselves in the Cape area, I highly recommend this trip. It's scenic and informative.

September 20, 2012

Cape Cod Canal Cruise, Part 1: Onset to Sandwich

Labour Day weekend was really nice here; warm with a cool breeze and pretty dry. Since the squeeze was home for a few days, I asked if he was up for a Canal cruise and he said Sure, Why Not, so we went on the Sunday morning. It's "a three hour tour" (sung like Gilligan's Island) from Onset on the west end to Sandwich on the east, complete with narration of the history of it and points of interest. This map shows the turn around point being in front of the Sandwich marina, but we really went out into the Bay to make the turn.

Onset Scusset

Here we are, departing from Onset at 10.

My adorable Bear.

My camera's been giving me trouble lately, with a lot of dirty sensor issues so I ended up not using a lot of what I shot and I wasn't happy w/ my pics, overall.

I was surprised that this woman's dogs were allowed on. They were tiny Yorkies; I only took a pic of one.

Here's my new estate complete with boat house, yacht and wave runners.

Oh no wait, THIS is my new house.

This is a replica of President Grover Cleveland's summer home, Grey Gables till it was turned into a fancy restaurant that I remember being taken to as a child, but which burned down in a kitchen fire in 1973. It's since been rebuilt.

I do love this bridge.

Aptuxcet Trading Post, that I went to last March.

Approaching the Bourne Bridge.

Tons of marine traffic that day.

Looking back west.

I learned that all these rocks that line the edge are called "rip rap". They help with erosion.

Rounding the bend.

Power lines

Sagamore Bridge

This home is built on top of the old drawbridge abutment. Russell's great grandfather operated it in the early 20s.

Coming up on the oil tanks that store the oil for the power plant.

The Mirant Plant which will always be just the Power Plant or Canal Electric to me. I've always felt it was a major blight on the landscape that is Sandwich. According to info I've tracked down on line, it was opened in 1968.