Sunday, April 14, 2013

Cape Cod Tides

The boats had not yet arrived on this early spring day at Rock Harbor in Orleans.



 The docks were laid, but the moorings stood empty.


 There were three working vessels tied up, waiting for the right time to sail. The remnants of shucked clams and scallops were piled on top of each other close to the water's edge.


Cap't Cass's Clam Shack showed some life inside but it wasn't ready yet. The tide was out, teasing the passer by with the possibility of finding treasures on the ocean floor.


We walked west of the jetty to get a closer view of the oyster traps. We passed a few dog prints on our way. The wrack line of sea grasses crunched under our hiking boots.


We drove further west to see more of the bay. At Linnell Landing in Brewster, the tide ebbed and flowed carving rivulets into the wet sand; abstract and delicate images from Mother Nature.

 I went closer to the water to explore more.


...and I found something.


A small but beautiful pottery chard with a painted scallop pattern on its edges. Its age could be dated to the 1850s.

I walked over to the rocks. It's the best place to find treasures because they get stuck in between the cobbles and stones.


I know most beach-goers would prefer a smooth sandy beach but for beachcombers this view is just right.


The tide began to close in around us and we knew it was time to leave... for now.

In my first historical novel, The Old Cape House, Maria Hallet speaks about her life to a dear friend. It resonates with my post of today.
 
“I cannot remember a time when I was not watching or waiting for someone or something. My life has been like the tides, ever washing away parts of my life and at the same time cleansing it for something new.”