The forecast for today is supposed to be miserable.  I settle in for the duration, entertaining myself with a myriad of unimportant things.  Nearing 11 am Michael has to get out of the house and goes for a walk in the cloudy mist. Sometime in the last hour Apollo has intervened and won his battle with Zeus. The golden sun has broken through all they gray overhead, and streaks of blue are everywhere.

Michael returns from his walk and says, “Lets go nose around the Lower Cape and look for lighthouses, and then we can have a burger later at KKaties.”

An Italian Market That Isn’t

It sounds like a plan. But I have something to add, “Great. Maybe we can check on that little Italian Market we missed last week. It is in the lower Cape too—north of three lighthouses.” I become the designated navigator. Our first stop is the Italian Market. Google takes us to a lovely little cluster of Cape Cod looking buildings, and we drive in around and through the parking lot, but there is no Italian Market.

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We drive further on. We back track. I decide to call using the number on Google’s information page.  It is a consulting firm.  I try the number on Sapori d’Italia’s website.  It is a consulting firm.

I look at Michael and tell him, “I think it’s gone. I’m sorry I made you drive all of this way for nothing.” He tells me he is quite used to me taking him to places that aren’t open on the day we appear or are closed for good. What he says is true. I trust Google—but they only publish what they know to be true—if nobody tells them, they just don’t know.  I am all forgiving, luckily Michael is too. However, I must remember to start checking before we venture out.

Point Gammon Lighthouse

I key in the first lighthouse to Google Maps. The first thing we hear is, “This lighthouse may be permanently closed.”

We pay no attention. Realizing the lighthouse is probably defunct, we power on, Michael caring about the structure, not the fact that it is working. When we are almost there, a sign stops us in our tracks. ROAD CLOSED—PRIVATE DRIVE. Undaunted, Michael powers on. Again. Turning left in search of a beach with a view of said lighthouse.  Success brings us to Gull’s Beach. It is deserted except for a gentleman sitting in a beach-chair reading a book near the dunes, and a small family—one small child only—cavorting on the beach in the far distance.

The afternoon is gorgeous. Michael walks toward the Point Gammon Lighthouse. I dawdle on the beach taking pictures of its lovely emptiness.

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West Dennis Light

Our search for West Dennis Light takes us to an old, but functioning inn, with a lighthouse attached to the roof.  We are here. Michael exits the car. I stay put.

A Lighthouse in Hyannis Port

Our third and final lighthouse quest takes us to Hyannis Port; home of the Kennedy Compound. Since Michael is beginning not to trust what either Google or I tell him, I present him my phone. There is a lighthouse there.  At the end of the street.

Following directions, we arrive. We are in the middle of tony suburbia, without a lighthouse. Driving on, we stumble on a city park. So, we park and take a short walk to the beach.

Seeing the beach in this town is akin to a miracle. Like the river and creek property in the Texas Hill Country, almost ALL of it is privately owned. Access is almost non-existent.

Kkaties Burgers

After spending a few hours back in our temporary home we walk down the street to dinner at KKaties. Word of mouth and a sign tells us this is the place to get the best burger on the South Shore. Of course, we don’t order the burger voted best, but try some of their other decadent sounding concoctions. Michael orders a Blue Burger, and I am tempted by a Horseradish Peppercorn Burger. We order fried pickles (in for a penny in for a pound is my motto)! The pickles are crisp but in the bottom of the basket is a small pool of grease. So much for crumbles. I’m satisfied with my burger. It is prepared well and not dry—super important in my book. Michael takes a taste of mine and lets me know his is better. Of course.

Taking the short walk back to Leyden Street, I break out laughing. An unplanned day. An abortive search. And not following Michael’s lead with food. Typical, and very OK in my book.