2021 Life Logs, Day 294: Beaches and Seals
Date: Thursday, October 21, 2021
Weather: Sunny and Warm; High Temp 72, Low Temp 63 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

The trip to the Outer Cape to visit beaches and see seals today was fantastic. The weather was perfect, warm and sunny. I went with two women that I didn’t know but who are members of the Newcomers Singles Group. I did a shout out on email to members of that group asking if anyone wanted to go to High Head Beach to see the seals. About ten people replied, but only two could go with me on this day and it worked out great. We arrived at High Head Beach parking area and walked the half mile on a sandy road and up a dune to reach the beach. You can only drive to the beach in a four-wheel drive vehicle with a permit. I have been there three times prior and each time when I reached the top of the dune, there were lots of seals in view. Today there were none. My heart sunk. But as we started down the dune to the beach, we saw a congregation of seals just a little south of us. Whew! And what a show they put on for us. They were frolicking in the water and making noises that sounded like moaning and braying. Tonight when I googled the sound made by grey seals, this is what popped up: “A party of grey seals can be recognized by the utterance of barking, moaning, hissing and snarling noises.” Maybe I imagined the braying as their heads look like that of a horse or mule. In addition to the seals, we enjoyed the beauty of High Head Beach. On the way home we visited more beaches. I think the next time I drive out to the Outer Cape to visit beaches, I will attempt to stop at every oceanside beach along the way. There are more beaches on the Cape Cod Bay side, but there’s no way to visit them all in one day. That is another day trip. Cape Cod is such a beautiful little corner of the world and her beaches, in the fall after all the tourists have abandoned us, are a true work of art.

This evening I had dinner with Bruce and Jane Woodin. We stopped at the French bakery in Wellfleet today where I picked up goodies for dinner. And now I am home getting ready for my trip to New Hampshire tomorrow. Packing for me is easy but getting all of the things needed for Shadow is a bit like getting ready to travel with a baby. I need his crate, his favorite blanket, his daybed, his food and food bowl, and various other smaller items. So, I had better sign off and get those things packed in the car.