Warm Cape Cod Winter Brings Out Beachwalkers. Photo Montage
Beach-walking on Cape Cod in January is usually restricted to seagulls and a few dedicated locals, but the unusually warm winter has lured the sunbathers back. From Chatham to Provincetown, there were bare footprints all over the sand on the first weekend of 2012.
With a bright sun, tepid sands, and shade temperatures in the mid 50s, the only things that gave proof of winter, were the boarded up windows of many of the seaside cottages.
There are sixteen public beaches in the town of Dennis, right in the middle of Cape Cod. Half of them are on the North side of town in Cape Cod Bay, and the rest are on the Southside, surrounded by the warmer waters of Nantucket Sound.
Perhaps the best beach in town is West Dennis. It’s over one mile long and has plenty of great summer activities including parasailing.
My beach of choice, because it’s across the street from me, is Haigus. It’s a small beach on Old Wharf Road, that is reached by walking down steep stairs. Those stairs help ensure that it’s less crowded than most of the Town beaches. Folks just don’t like climbing stairs.
During low tide, I snapped a few pictures of the beach and some of the summer places. There’s plenty of great rentals in the neighborhood if you decide to come in July or August. These photos will give you an idea of what you can expect.
The first picture is the entrance to the beach from town owned land. This property was once a mobile home park. When the owner died, the land was given to the community.
Note the Hurricane Pine in the Foreground. The branches that face the sea have been stripped by the wind and the salt-rain.
Low tide, looking up at the big cottage. It was made from three smaller buildings.
During many storms, the sea climbs halfway up this wall.
This is the official Massachusetts State Shell. It is from a Channel Whelk.
Another entrance to the beach. Watch the last step, it's about 15 feet down.
We have a deal with the seagulls. We get the beach in the Summer. In winter, it's theirs.
Massachusetts has a film credit program that was started by Governor Mitt Romney. Dozens of major Hollywood films have been made here in the last few years. Several towns, including Dennis have set up special websites to showcase the great locations available. Films with budgets as low as $50,000 can qualify for a 25 per cent tax credit.
Here's the link to the Dennis site. http://www.town.dennis.ma.us/Pages/DennisMA_IS/reeldeal
In the last 24 months alone, more than 26 films have been made in the Bay State. Here's a link to the best of the group. http://billrrrr.hubpages.com/_eg8y4okdyscz/hub/Hollywood-Ships-off-to-Boston-for-26-Feature-Films
Entry to private area near Haigus Beach
Holding back the ocean. This is a new set of sandbags. Three years ago, high tide ate the old ones!!
