MCAT takes on the Cape

Rumors were going around that Team MudCup was getting ready to cross over the border again.  Only this time we were the companions of our gracious hosts, Angel Treads.  Since folks have heard that we were heading south - folks were all a twitter about what happens in the car when team MudCup was aboard... nothing much... it was a quiet trip and now we're safely home.  Okay so I'm being a bit foolish... so let's get the low down from the local Cape flora and fauna about our recent visit.

Angel Treads pulled into my driveway after a bit of a weather delay - what was up with the snow and sleet the night before we were scheduled to depart?  While NOT impressed - it did NOT deter us!  It did slow us down just a bit, but after I climbed aboard - off we headed to get Teacup.  Once we were all in the MCAT mobile - we pointed the hood southward (good thing, too - there was absolutely NO view out the back window!) and Treads drove us down the highway.  Now many of our previous adventures have had us picking up ink pretty early.  Not today though.  We had a long drive ahead of us - so we had to come to an early agreement to not box until we hit the Cape (5 hours away!)  Can we do it?  Sure we can, we just might have to get some O2 along the way for Teacup.

So we headed south - stopping briefly to visit with a couple of bears, then it was MCAT settling little in for a long drive and tales told during the sunny drive southward.  So we chatted our way over the border and a bridge, paid the tolls, and had Teacup cover her eyes as we passed through two different state borders.  Now in case you hadn't know it before - Boston is NOT on Teacup's destination list.  When we've heading into MA before - just seeing the signs for Boston have had Teacup hyperventilating.  And today - we were driving through Boston!  And not only through Boston - but through a tunnel.  Now I had NO idea that Teacup had a HUGE tunnel phobia.  So it was kind of a surprise to see her freaking out a bit.  But to help her along - we held the roof up in the car until we reached the end.  I don't know if it helped her at all - but it made us feel like we were helping her though it : )

Phew!  We made it through to the other side.  Now we tried to enjoy the view and started to look for faces in the paint.  Did we see any - sure.  At least once.  Further south we drove.  Soon we saw the bridge to take us onto the Cape.  Up and over.  Our first stop - because you know we were stopping for ink.  Teacup had lasted long enough!  We stopped in Sandwich and found a true hidden gem.  We hit a hidden trail, stopped in a cemetery (of course!) found the home to many long ago Tussie Mussies and found Peter Rabbit hiding out at water's edge.  We then stumbled a bit farther up the road and found a wonderful little Briar Patch.  And to our excitement - they were having a jam tasting while we were there.  But first - we needed some ink!

Where earlier - we only saw Peter Rabbit running towards the water with his back to us... it would seem he managed to hop across town faster than we could navigate - because here we found him once again.  Not only him - but a whole bunch of his friends as well!  The trail was wonderful - our only hindrance - those darn briars.  And boy - in some spots we were in the thick of them!  Prickly little devils they are!  But we managed to track down all those Briar buddies and headed back to taste some sweet goodness.

Somehow, while we were out on the trail - a whole bunch of dinosaurs had made their way into the Briar.  We found a number of them just sunning themselves on rock, tree roots and just plain trail side.  Moments later - it all became clear.  A gaggle of wee people followed one of the Conservation instructors out on the trail for a fossil walk!  Feeling safe once again from dino destruction, we headed inside to taste some jams.  And oh - YUMMY!  They had a dozen to taste and probably five dozen to choose from, all made in their own Jelly Kitchen.  You walked through it and the same gas burners and jam pots were all neatly displayed until the next jam season.

Our tummies satisfied with a quick sweet stop - we headed further out the Cape.  We Scudder'd along a short little lane to find a wonderful beach view and found a lovely sentiment awaiting us.  We then headed a bit further west looking for an old Jail trail... not sure if we were going to get 'cuffed' along the way by the locals - we trumbled along the path, searching where we 'thought' we needed to be but initially came up empty.  So we went a little further thinking we were looking too soon... but nope - back to the first spot, Teacup and Treads started giving the flora a bit more attention.  All of a sudden, 'Angel' told us she had found the box.  Obviously we didn't need to look too hard with an angel along for the trip!  But AJ was found once again - no need for the police with an assist!

We went a bit further and realized we needed to back track just a bit to find some Peace.  We finally found some and looked at the time!  Wow... it was getting late and we still needed to check into the hotel.  So off we drove until we made it to our destination.  The Cove in Orleans.  We checked into our hotel, and decided to do something about our grumbling tummies.  Just down the street from our hotel was a seafood restaurant - an easy pick for the first nights meal.  When on the Cape - its best to try out the local flavor... after dinner we went a little bit farther to view a windmill.  Who would have thought that there would be SO MANY windmills on the Cape?  And the wind was picking up as the sun was setting. so we hurried up and made it back to the car befor we ended up blown into the water!

We took an evening drive around Orleans, being given a private tour of the area that Angel grew up in.  We finally decided we needed to get some rest - as we had a long day planned for the next day.  So bidding each other good night - we went off to search out showers and beds for the night.  Teacup and I had our room across the parking lot... when we had checked in, we gave the beds a quick test and thought they would be wonderful.  Most of team MCAT enjoyed a wonderful nights rest... mud unfortunately had a very restless and sleepless night.  Maybe the excitement just kept me wound up ready for the next day.

But for now... its nightie night time and I'll toss and turn in the dark ; )  More in the morning!