Stupid GPS

October 18-20, 2019

Scusset Beach State Reservation, Plymouth, Massachusetts

Day 126-128

Feeling a little sad; Jill left today. She took the ferry from Salem to Boston before flying back to La Jolla. She was great with Sparky. It was really nice to spend so much time with family lately.

The drive on Route 128/Interstate 95 from Salem to Quincy was white knuckle the whole way. Seems like the lanes are narrower here, and there are so many lane changers around me. I go the speed limit or just below; I was so happy to get off this road.

I get off on 3A which takes me all the way to my next camp, Scusset State Beach Reservation in Plymouth. The drive is nothing extra ordinary, but the road was wide, and traffic was not too bad. Drove by Plymouth Rock – last time I was here was probably 2nd grade. The rock is now protected by a large gazebo like structure. You can’t even see the rock from the street. I tried to find parking nearby, but I need too much space, so I drive on. Plymouth looks cute though, maybe I’ll return in a few months while I am here recovering from hip surgery.

Got myself into an awful predicament just a few miles from camp. GPS was confusing. It said go straight and left, versus a quick left. So, I took that first left and immediately discovered this was a bad idea; it's actually a short exit ramp road, with two-way traffic for about 100 feet. There was a slender concrete median between the two lanes before me. CRAP! I couldn’t cross and there was not enough of a turning radius for me to cut a wide right turn. I couldn’t back up or turn around either; I tried. I was really in a pickle and not feeling good about the situation. Fortunately, traffic was not heavy, but it was fast. There were still a few cars coming off the busy road, in my direction. And, they were not happy with me.

I figure out the best way out of this bad situation is to go down a short, steep gravel hill to my right, thru a small parking lot, onto the busy road, so that I could find a safe place to turn around and correct direction. Not a normal path, but it will do. At this point, I am a little spooked because oncoming cars have not been nice. I had to back up a little bit, with my flashers on, and my arm flailing out the window to the oncoming traffic to slow down. Then I had to cut a wide right turn and go down the little gravel hill. Once on the busy road, I was so relieved to find the intersection ahead (that I should have turned at) had a legal left turn into a huge parking lot, that fed into the main road. Thank god, I am back on the road.

After that harrowing experience, and then a narrow four-lane bridge immediately after, thankfully camp is just a few miles away. It’s a State Park and I have a reserved spot. The location is great. It’s at the beginning of the Cape and is right at the beach. I have water and electric, but both are about 50’ away so I need my additional cords and hoses. The sites are large, clean and filled with families. This is one of the few camps in this area still open for the season, and I am thankful to be here. It’s huge too; they have about 100 slots, beach, biking paths and lots of fishing along the feeder river. People seem nice and there are lots of dogs. There is a woman using a knee scooter walking her dog (turns out she broke her ankle). I think of what I am going to look like in a few months.

I'm tired; the earlier driving fiasco took a lot out of me. Picked up Chinese food for dinner, double order of veggies with noodles but sadly it's almost all noodles.

Day 2 - It’s 8 am and it's a beautiful sunny day! There is a (taped) bugle alarm sounding over the harbor nearby. It’s sweet. I’m told it goes off at 5 pm too.

After checking in at the Ranger’s Office, I learn that dogs are not supposed to be on state beaches any time of year, but he only works from 8 am – 3:30 pm. If he doesn’t see it, he can’t report it. It’s off season, wink wink. He tells me I might want to check out Oysterfest in Wellfleet today. If I leave now, I should be ahead of what is sure to be a lot of traffic.

There is really only one main road up, Route 6, right in the middle of the Cape. It’s two-lane on each side, sometimes a little commercial, but mostly tree lined. I wouldn't call it a scenic drive but it's not ugly either; there are trees in the median. I have errands to run on the way back that will take me on more local Route 28 or 6A.

Traffic was not bad at all, until Wellfleet. It’s now 11:30 am and my only option is satellite parking and a lot of walking. I decide to pass on that but drive thru downtown Wellfleet which is packed and blocked off. Cute. I get back on 6 and go to P-Town. I have never been to Provincetown. I find a beach about a mile from town and meet some locals with a dog. I don’t think it’s a legal off-leash beach, but I am hoping not to be discovered and ticketed. It’s really a gorgeous day, and so we enjoy the beach.

The roads in and around town are very narrow and charming. Each cottage is prettier than the next. There are assigned parking spots everywhere. I am thankful the truck is so tall so I see a lot, but it is very wide. I would never have been able to drive the Airstream thru here.

Downtown was a lot bigger than I expected. Lots of nice small shops, mostly independent, and so clean! I can’t believe how many people there are, and its off-season. I am barely driving 5 mph because the small road is basically a sidewalk. Mostly same sex couples, but a hand-full of straight. It’s too crowded for me, and I can’t find parking anyway, so I continue to the State Beach ahead with gorgeous wetlands and peaceful dunes.

On the way back, we stopped at Wellfleet’s Beachcomber Beach. The restaurant was closed for the season, but the beach is open. This is a spectacular beach. No lifeguards though and lots of signs about sharks. The cliff is too steep for me to go down, but I take in the view and appreciate that I'm here.

I stop in Hyannis and run into West Marine, looking to pick up a shorter 50-amp electrical cord. Mine is 30’ and it weighs a ton! I call it the anaconda. When it’s cold, it’s hard to manage too. Looking for a 15’ and some better-quality adapter cords. Recently I purchased some off Amazon but the quality is poor. The best ones are marine grade as they can withstand extreme weather best. I have read stories on RV electrical fires, and one precursor is charred or burned outlets. One of my cheap ones looks suspect, so that's why I'm here. I ask for help. What I got was a boy, maybe 18, who probably grew up on yachts, but has never worked on a yacht. He’s cute but knows nothing. I buy a few cords and figure I can return them later. These cords are twice, if not three times, the price but if this is what I need, so be it.

Traffic is heavy, but not too bad. Doesn’t feel like I am in Cape Cod. Strip mall after strip mall, chain restaurants and gas stations. I am craving steamed clams but can’t find anything open that I can take Sparky to. Outdoor dining has disappeared for the season. Too bad. I stop into Whole Foods and pick-up groceries for lunch tomorrow with my cousin Mary.

Back at camp, we go to the beach, throw the ball and meet more locals. Good day, and really good people.