In My Footsteps: Trip 2: Truro, Mass.

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 2: Truro, Massachusetts
January 14, 2010

     It may be one of the smallest towns on Cape Cod, but Truro stacks up against any of the others when it comes to natural beauty and historical attractions. Located only thirty-eight miles from Hyannis, the commercial epicenter of Cape Cod, the tiny town of Truro seems to be the closest to how Cape Cod must have appeared when the first Pilgrims set foot on it nearly 400 years ago. Probably known to some simply as the gateway to Provincetown, Truro is relatively unknown to the average traveler. For anybody seeking a real taste of the unchanged natural beauty of Old Cape Cod, take an afternoon or a whole day and drive up to Truro.

Once you get past Wellfleet Center on Route 6, the Cape’s main highway, you will begin to notice just wide open the Outer Cape really is. Established in 1709, Truro is home to many beautiful beaches both on the eastern, Atlantic Ocean, side and the western, Cape Cod Bay, side. The first stop was Ryder Beach(right), a nicely secluded stretch of beach nestled ten minutes from Route 6 on the bay side. Taking a right onto Prince Valley Road will get you there. Though there are several lavish homes in the area surrounding the parking lot, Ryder Beach has a very cozy feel. Perhaps it is due to the fact that it is tucked away down several rural roads and is therefore not easily found. There is extensive erosion control going on at Ryder Beach so be aware of the signs. Otherwise, enjoy the breathtaking views. On a clear day you can see the shoreline from nearby Provincetown all the way out across Cape Cod Bay toward Plymouth and the South Shore.

After leaving Ryder Beach the next area I visited was Pamet Harbor, the birthplace of the American Whaling industry. Named for the tribe of Indians that inhabited the land there was barely a boat to be found in Pamet Harbor during the dead of winter, although the harbor was bustling with activity. At the mouth of the Pamet River a jetty heavily damaged by a recent storm was being rebuilt. The sounds of gigantic boulders being carried and deposited only a few hundred yards away echoed throughout the clear, calm January air. Truro’s harbor houses some amazing scenery which would be appreciated more in the warmer months. Also the Pamet Harbor Yacht & Tennis Club, located adjacent to the harbor, should be visited during a trip to Truro as well.

Next up was another out of the way beach, Ballston Beach. A quick journey across Route 6 via an underpass to the ocean side of Truro leads you to yet another beautiful scenic view. Situated near the end of North Pamet Road, Ballston Beach itself is small; the sandy pathway to the beach was off limits due to an open trench caused by a recent storm. Slightly to the north sit a pair of homes sitting majestically atop a pair of high hills. On this particular day, where the snow was still covering most of the ground, the hills looked like mountains ripe for skiing or sledding(left).

Back across Route 6 sits Corn Hill and Corn Hill Beach. Corn Hill Beach(right), conveniently located on Corn Hill Road, runs out to the mouth of the Pamet River which contains a different view of Pamet Harbor. If an overnight stay is desired the Roseville at Corn Hill cottages are located directly across the street from the beach. With all of the amazing views nearby it is almost recommended. Corn Hill’s name is taken from a group of sixteen pilgrims, led by Miles Standish, who discovered the precious Indian corn on that spot in 1620. Also of note, Ralph Barnaby became the first to exceed Orville Wright’s American record for motorless flight at Corn Hill. In 1929 Barnaby flew for 15 minutes, 8 seconds, breaking the Wright record of 9 minutes, 45 seconds set in 1911. Markers on the edge of the parking lot at Corn Hill Beach designate these events. Following Corn Hill Road to the top leads to a scenic overlook of not only the coastline, but also a marshy area below inhabited by blue herons.

Before leaving Truro, I had to see the most popular attraction, that being Cape Cod Highland Light. Highland Light(left), which is surrounded by the Highland Links Golf Course, is the oldest lighthouse on Cape Cod; the current tower was finished in 1857. It was moved back 453 feet from the eroding cliffs in 1996 to save it from possible collapse. Looking to the south one can see several structures which lay on the grounds of the defunct North Truro Air Force Station. Though it is no longer operational, it is considered government property and therefore cannot be explored. The lighthouse, however, can be climbed from mid-May to mid-October.

After visiting Truro it amazes me that more people have not discovered this scenic jewel of Cape Cod. Take my advice and make it a point to visit not just the places noted here, but others such as Pilgrim Heights that I did not have the time to see. Have fun and happy traveling!


Directions: Ryder Beach: From Rt. 6, left onto Prince Valley Rd. Drive until meeting Old Colony Road, turn right. Left onto Ryder Beach Road, follow to the beach lot.
Pamet Harbor: From Rt. 6, left onto South Pamet Road, turn left at Truro Center Road. Take a slight right onto Depot Road; follow it to the harbor parking lot.
Ballston Beach: From Rt. 6, right onto North Pamet Road, take a quick left onto South Pamet Road, follow it to the end.
Corn Hill: From Rt. 6, left onto Castle Road which turns into Castle Hill Road. Follow it; this will become Corn Hill Road. Beach and overlook are on it.
Cape Cod Highland Light: From Rt. 6 take right onto Highland Road exit. A large sign designates this exit. Follow the signs to the lighthouse.

References: Cape Cod Highland Light
Truro Chamber of Commerce

Truro on Dwellable

In My Footsteps: Trip 1: Falmouth & Woods Hole, Mass.

-->

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 1: Falmouth & Woods Hole

January 7, 2010

Falmouth and Woods Hole are two must-sees for any Cape Cod traveler. Falmouth has plenty of stores and restaurants but those can be seen in any town. What I was most interested in were the beaches and historical places that both Falmouth and Woods Hole possess.

The best way to discover and appreciate the natural beauty of Falmouth is to take a drive down Shore Street to Surf Drive. The aptly named Surf Drive Beach(below, left) stretches out for nearly a half mile, overlooked across the street by quaint homes and lovely inns and small motels. For those coming from further away needing sleeping accommodations; Shore Haven Inn and Beachside Village sport a tremendous view of the rocky, seaweed strewn beach. The narrow Fresh River empties out into Vineyard Sound along the way and housed several pairs of adorable ducks swimming and feeding. Keep your eyes peeled at the corner of Mill Road. In the front yard of a residential home, a statue of an old sea captain dressed in a blue fisherman’s raincoat waves a friendly hello to all those who pass by. Several private beach front cottages dot the remainder of the beach. They were a hint of summer even as I drove along on a windy, bitterly cold January afternoon.

The Shining Sea Bikeway, named for a line in the iconic song ‘America the Beautiful,’ crosses Surf Drive near Oyster Pond and continues its journey along the coast of Falmouth and onto Woods Hole. It is a bit too cold on this day to bike, but it should be on the schedule for any bicycling or nature enthusiast in the spring, summer, or fall.

Bearing left, Surf Drive becomes Oyster Pond Road and continues weaving through the rural wooded neighborhoods of coastal Falmouth. The bike path is clearly visible on the left at times as I peer through the bare trees. I follow Oyster Pond Road for a while until reaching Nobska Road. Taking this left leads you to the southern most tip of Falmouth and the famed Nobska Lighthouse(right).

Originally constructed in 1828, the current light tower was built in 1876 and became part of the Coast Guard in 1939. It overlooks Vineyard Sound with the privately owned Elizabeth Islands located less than a mile offshore. The island of Martha’s Vineyard sits a few miles further out. There are also some very high rocky cliffs bordering Nobska Road. These are ideal for scenic photography, but they are also dangerous so be careful where you step.

Nobska Road becomes Church Street as you pass the lighthouse. The similarly named Nobska Pond sits on the right. Following Church Street leads to the intersection with Woods Hole Road. A left turn leads you down into the heart of one of the most highly regarded scientific communities on earth. Woods Hole is home to the Sea Education Association, Marine Biological Laboratory(below, right), and the famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI). Most of these buildings are open to the public unless otherwise noted, feel free to walk around and get a real taste of what goes on here.

For those not interested in the scientific areas of Woods Hole, there are plenty of other things to see. Mixing in quite seamlessly with the 21^st Century technology is the look and feel of a 19^th Century fishing village.

Water Street, the main passage way of Woods Hole, is home to many small restaurants and cafes including Shuckers and Captain Kidd. The Woods Hole - Oak Bluffs ferry to Martha’s Vineyard is always coming in and out, so a trip to the island is quite easy, and tempting.

For kids there are two aquariums, the Woods Hole Science Aquarium on Water Street and the Aquarium of National Marine Fisheries located a short walk away on Albatross Street. The Marine Fisheries aquarium is home to many spectacular species of fish, crabs, lobsters, eels, and my favorite the seal tank. Located outside in the front of the aquarium, the seals are usually fed twice a day. The 11:00am feeding is almost always right on schedule. There are also tanks with creatures that can be gently handled, along with a historical ‘walkthrough’ complete with life-sized photos near the entrance.

Everything in Woods Hole is a short walk away. There is plenty of parking along Water Street(left) but make sure to bring quarters for the parking meters! Exiting Woods Hole is as easy as heading east on Water Street back to Woods Hole Road. This can be followed all the way to its end where it meets up with busy Route 28.

Falmouth and Woods Hole are two of the most exciting places to visit on Cape Cod. Especially Woods Hole which is one part Olde Cape Cod village and one part scientific epicenter, woven seamlessly together. I highly recommend anybody visiting Cape Cod, or wishing to do so, to take this route described above. It is a worthwhile trip filled with both natural beauty and education that can be enjoyed any time of the year. Have fun and happy traveling!

From the East: Take Rt. 28 into Falmouth and turn left on Shore Street to begin the trip. It is located approximately 500 feet past the fire station.

From the West: Follow Rt. 28 south from the Bourne Bridge approximately ten miles. Shore Street is the next right after the Falmouth Public Library. Or, to do the trip in reverse, follow Rt. 28 as stated, but instead take a right onto Locust Street which leads to Woods Hole Road. There you may start the trip where I ended it.

References: Welcome to the Village of Woods Hole

Cuttyhunk Historical Society

Surf Drive on Dwellable

For My Nana

Sleep now, as your long day is over. You’ve been chasing the sunset for so long now. Rest now, in the arms of the angels. I can feel your pain slipping away. Dry your eyes, life is not over. The sunrise of another day is born in pink and blue. Your peace is here, our peace is near. Your peace is here, our peace is near. You’re an angel now.

-I love you Nana.

Meet Miss Mabel on October 1st

Miss Mabel's Magical Magnolia Tree

What if the Fountain of Youth existed in your own backyard? That is the blessing and curse discovered on a warm spring afternoon by 85 year old Mabel Cottonstine. It flows beneath her majestic magnolia tree, filling the tree and all of its flowers with the magic elixir of life. After making a batch of a sweet tea using the flowers, Miss Mabel turns back into a vibrant 25 year old. She shares the gift with her best friends Hazel and Gertrude and they suggest she sell the sweet tea to other old people to give them a second chance at youth. It is a huge success and Miss Mabel rakes in more money than she could have ever imagined. But, what happens when the love of the money she's making overtakes the reality that the magnolia tree only has so many flowers that can be made into the magical drink?


Hey everyone, this is my first attempt at a summary for my newest children's book Miss Mabel's Magical Magnolia Tree, due to be released October 1st. The one major hurdle I have is the cover art. I am not quite sure what type of image to use and am open to suggestions. Normally with my other books I have something in mind but I am drawing a blank here.

Also, anybody who is a parent and would like a copy of this when it is finished just let me know. Being my friends I will be happy to share my work with you as long as you spread the word about what I am doing. Thank you all as always for your support.

Become A Fan of Me On Facebook

Christopher Setterlund on Facebook

Own A Kindle? Check These Books Out!

Kindle owners, check out my latest book, The Quiet One, a sci-fi thriller sure to heat up the summer! You can preview it first of course. Also make sure to grab hold of my surprise hit The Cabin. All necessary links are below. Have a great summer!

-Christopher Setterlund


The Quiet One is here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BSHFHK
The Cabin is here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001J00PL4
Also available at my personal website: http://www.ChristopherSetterlund.com

What Michael Jackson Meant To Me

I am currently watching the news that one of the biggest icons in the history of entertainment, Michael Jackson, is dead. I wanted to reflect on what he meant to me. 'Thriller' was my childhood. That album, as I am sure it was for anybody 30 and over, was a defining moment in my life. I can remember as a 5-year-old child playing Thriller on my Fisher-Price record player. I would stick it out of the living room window so that all of us kids in the neighborhood could dance to it in the front yard. For me, Thriller and Michael Jackson were the first meaningful memories of my life.

Today Michael Jackson, and a big part of my childhood, is dead. It is a sad day for me since I can actually remember when he was the biggest star in the universe. Most people under 30 will remember him more for his odd behavior and lawsuits. Those things ended up tipping the scales and took away from the music and rightfully so. It was hard to think of Michael Jackson and not think of plastic surgery and court room settings. For all of you out there that only know him for that I ask you to give a listen to Thriller. It is more than just an album, it was a landmark event in the lives of millions.

As sad as I feel about these events part of me believes that this was the only way it could end for Michael. Much like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson was on countless amounts of medications. Eventually those things do catch up with you. If it has not been brought up yet the comparisons between Elvis and Michael will be made. Much like Michael now, Elvis had become more known for things other than his music. For Michael it had to be this way. There was never going to be that redemption. There was not going to be farewell tours. There was not going to be the role of elder statesman of music much in the way that Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, and Bob Dylan have achieved. There was no other way for the Michael Jackson story to end but with him simply dropping dead, snap, like that.

For as much as the oddities and eccentricities will define Michael Jackson for many people in the world, I am going to choose a different route. I am going to grab my IPod in place of my Fisher-Price record player, and sit in my front yard and listen to Wanna Be Startin' Something from Thriller and I will smile as I remember the piece of my childhood that passed away today in Los Angeles. Rest in Peace Michael, I will never forget what you meant to my life.