Friday - Off and On Sunny Day but Very Windy and Rather Cool!

Ken had a restless night and was up early to read.  He woke me at 6:30 and I had trouble getting out of the warm, cozy bed.  So, I did my devotions there and then my stretches.

We both got ready, packed some food and drinks, cleaned up, and then Ken washed the windows of the CRV while I had a long conversation with Noela.  She and Ernie are doing well and looking forward to their Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend and then starting a camping adventure in the US, returning home near the beginning of December.  We will meet up with them in Port Richey, FL the weekend after our Thanksgiving and spend one week together before they head back to Canada, leaving their 5th wheel in southern Georgia.  

Ken and I left the CG around 9:30 on a mission to see 4 or 5 lighthouses on our way to Provincetown at the very end of the northern tip of Massachusetts.  It only got to 60 degrees today and with the strong winds at the coastline, we were thankful for our heavier coats.  

The 1st stop was the West Dennis Lighthouse which is the only remaining Cape Light that isn't a free-standing tower.  The lightkeepers house and grounds were converted to an inn in the 1930's that has been owned and operated for 3 generations as the Light House Inn.  It is the only privately owned and maintained working lighthouse recognized by the US Coast Guard. 

Hard to see the lighthouse....

....visible in this photo!

Next we visited the Chatham Lighthouse which shares its grounds with an active Coast Guard Station.  At one time there were twin tower lighthouses at this location.  We attempted to find the Stage Lighthouse but found out that it is not accessible unless you take a very, very long walk, so we drove on!

Chatham Lighthouse!

The beach across the street from the lighthouse!

We drove on Route 28 near the coastline and saw some beautiful harbors along the way -

Quite a large house and their "small" boat!

Looks like a typical New England Harbor!

Stopped at the Nauset Beach Lighthouse and also got to see the 3 Sister Lighthouses.  The red and white Nauset Lighthouse is famous to Cape Cod chip eaters everywhere.  It was moved from it's original location in 1996 and will need to be moved again in about 30 years.  The 3 Sisters Lighthouses were relics of the days when multiple lights designated locations on the coastline.  

So picturesque!

The 3 Sisters Lighthouses are so "cute"!

The last one we saw, the Highland Lighthouse, was the highlight of our day.  It was open for tours and it was well done and fascinating.  The day was crystal clear and you could see for miles!  It was the Cape's 1st lighthouse, originally a wooden structure built in 1797.  The current tower was built in 1857, weighs 420 tons and was moved in 1996 about 560 feet which took 19 days.  It will probably have to moved again in about 160 years.  Usually the wind erosion takes about 3 feet of coastline every year, but this past winter due to 3 major snow storms in a very short time period, there was about 80 feet of erosion further south.  Wow!   There was about 2 1/2 to 3 feet at this site within a few weeks! The original flashing light was 12 feet tall, but the new LED light is only 2 feet high - amazing!

Had a great tour at this lighthouse!

The guide was a "wealth of information"!

Took a lot of time and knowledge to move
this lighthouse only 560 feet!

Rather amazing photo...

...and so is this one!

Our view from the top!

The lighthouse was moved from the end
of this walkway to its new location!

This is the 2 foot LED light!

This beautiful old light was 12 feet tall!

On we went to Provincetown to hopefully see 3 additional lighthouses, but that was not happening.  None of them are accessible by foot or car, so we spent time in the downtown area and ate delicious meatball sandwiches at The Canteen. 

We could see Provincetown from the top of the lighthouse
and this was some information that was provided!

The Canteen where we had lunch!

Provincetown is a very accepting community and the Gay Rights
Flag is displayed at many of the shoppes and other businesses!

This shoppe is so crowded and filled with some much "stuff"
and surprisingly expensive!

We got a photo of the Pilgrim Monument (they landed here before Plymouth Rock but left when there wasn't any fresh water) and were on our way back to the CG by 4:00.  Provincetown is a long drive but very historical and the closest town in America to Europe, so it is worth a visit.

Also info taken from the top of the Lighthouse, because we
could see the Pilgrim Monument from the top!  It was not
open for touring!

We were back to Wilbur by 5:15 and Ken read and rested while I downloaded photos and worked on this blog.  Neither of us were very hungry, so I chose not to eat and Ken had some popcorn.  He did some messaging and then we played 2 rounds of Hand and Foot and I am leading by 500 points.

In bed by 9:30 and it was a great day on Cape Cod.  Tomorrow we go off the island to attend a Cranberry Festival sponsored by Ocean Spray.  It should be educational and fun!