Day 5 (Thursday, May 31): Cape Cod

Driving distance for the day: 116.2 Miles
Cumulative distance: 771.7 Miles



This day, like the previous day, started foggy on the cape. I took the short walk into the woods in the back of our motel in Wellfleet in the morning, and captured this lovely Pink Lady's Slipper in the dim light in the woods.


Pink Lady's Slipper

But the sky cleared and this turned out to be a brilliant day and our best one in Cape Cod! This was also a day of lighthouses. Our first stap was at Nauset Beach, where the beautiful Nauset Light greeted us.


Nauset Light


Nauset Light


Nauset Light


Nauset Light

Nauset Beach stretched endlessly under the cloudless sky.


Nauset Beach

Nearby, there is a group of smaller lighthouses -- the Three Sisters Lighthouses -- not imposing as most lighthouses are, but quaint and charming.


Three Sisters Lighthouses

We continued south to Chatham, where the "elbow" of Cape Cod's flexing arm is. Chatham Light keeps sentinel at this strategic location.


Chatham Lighthouse


Chatham Lighthouse

We walked about on Chatham Beach after lunch.


Chatham Beach

Reversing our direction and going north, we reached Highland Lighthouse in Truro


Highland Lighthouse


Highland Lighthouse


Highland Lighthouse

Being on a high bluff, Highland Lighthouse offers a sweeping view of the Atlantic Ocean.


Atlantic Ocean

But it was time to take a break from lighthouses. We headed to Head of Meadow Beach to rest and relax.


Head of the Meadow Beach

Enough lighthouses? Not yet! After dinner in Truro we headed to the end of the cape — Province Lands, where sand dunes dominate the landscape.


Herring Cove

Because there was a thin veil of clouds in the western sky, this turned out to be the perfect condition for a magnificent sunset: there was a halo around the setting sun, which made the fiery sunset all the more dramatic. And we were at the perfect location — Herring Cove — to see it.


Herring Cove Sunset


Herring Cove Sunset


Herring Cove Sunset

And we could also see Race Point Lighthouse in the distance, rounding up this day of lighthouses.


Race Point

Click the following links to go to Previous Day - Day 4: Cape Cod or Next Day - Day 6: Martha's Vineyard.



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