Letter from Cape Cod in November

Hello from the Four Points Sheraton on Route 6 East in Eastham.

No school today; Punch, Sug and I drove to Sis's in CT last night, which is 1.5 hrs. on the way to the Cape.

We woke today and had breakfast, packed the car and left at 10:03 a.m. We got to the house on Wonderstrand Way near 3:15, ready to unpack our bags, make up the beds and then head to the beach, so Sug and her fur cousin, Buttercup, could romp in the sand before the sun set.

The house was cold, because of course, we keep the electric heat low when no one is there. I went straight to work, heading down to the basement to turn on the breakers for the fridge, etc. Then I turned on the main water valve, moving the lever on the pipe from the horizontal to vertical position. 

Water started spraying all over by the wall where the outdoor shower is. A lot of water. I tightened/closed the valves over there, checked to be sure the outdoor shower was off [it was] and tried again. And again. It kept happening. I couldn't turn the water on.

We decided to go to a hotel. We were tired. Punch was unable to sleep til about 2 a.m.last night for some reason. Sis's husband is older and was fatigued. We would have to clean the house before leaving Sunday and are here for just 2 nights.

Luckily, this Sheraton takes pets--for a $25 + nightly pet fee. Mike at the desk found us a great deal. The Nauset Suite, a giant apt., was available at a low off-season rate. We are very happy. We called our brother Will and he asked the good neighbor up here to fix the water problem. But by then, we had settled in.

I'd love to elaborate but really must sleep while Punch and Don sleep. The morning will come soon.

Ending with Cape Cod notes:

1. Beautiful moon in early winter sky.
2. Cranberry bogs on side of the highway.
3. A flock of blackbirds overhead.
4. That privileged feeling of knowing the Cape in all seasons, not just summer. Noticing a sign for the Holly Berry Fair tomorrow, from 9 to 3, seeing the little Log Cabin Farm stand, shuttered for the winter, noting that the Friendly Fisherman restaurant is closed.
5. Eating at the Jailhouse Tavern in Orleans, which was a jailhouse in Prohibition Days. Cool stone wall and bars still there. Too bad Punchy was really wired. BTW, they have wholesome kids' meals--based on her large chicken breast with whipped potatoes and steamed broccoli.
6. Driving around rotaries; I only do this on the Cape. Maybe because it's a narrow spit of land, rotaries are necessary to get from one end to the other?
7. Seeing the sparkling Cape Cod Canal under the Bourne Bridge.
8. Going to the Superette Since 1952, by the windmill, to get organic milk, fresh apple cider, bananas, crackers and a jar of roasted peanuts, all for $19 and some change.

Good night.