Cape Cod (the book) by Henry David Thoreau

We have a lot of bookshelves, each with many books. Some of these books we have both read (or read together), some only one of us has read, others have yet to be read by either of us. Thoreau's Cape Cod now is officially in the category of read by both of us. James says he read it some (perhaps ten) years ago. Pam has only just finished it. By way of a bonus for this Bridgewater couple, the book mentions our own town - twice!

Thoreau and his companion stop in Bridgewater overnight on their way to the Cape. He mentions "picking up a few arrow-heads there". The only arrow head I ever found was also in Bridgewater - it was left in the basement of our home by the previous owners.

Thoreau meets and talks to a lot of locals as he walks through the Cape. Fishermen, in particular, and not surprisingly, are mentioned frequently. 

I have heard of a minister who had been a fisherman, being settled in Bridgewater for as long a time as he could tell a cod from a haddock.

For those inclined to read this work it is available for free from Project Gutenberg 

Nuevo Bridgewater

Today we were on the Cape of Cod for the first time in several months, to redeem some much-appreciated gift cards at the Trader Joe's in Hyannis. A long drive with a short walk seemed the best way to enjoy a sunny afternoon without breaking my commitment to rest the tendons that hold my left foot in place.

As we were getting ready to leave our place in Fairhaven, I thought to myself, "I wonder if there is a Bridgewater on Cape Cod." I was remembering such non-town Bridgewaters as the shopping center we visited in Ohio last year and a subdivision in Maryland where we toured a model home in 2013. As soon as the words were forming in my mind, they reminded me of the obvious: our own Bridgewater State University Cape Cod mini-campus.


We had not been to campus before, but knew that it was just a simple building, not yet open on weekends. As it finds its academic footing, I'm not sure whether I will ever have a professional gig there, but I have helped to lead a number of geography field camps on Cape Cod and once published a photo essay about this amazing slice of physical and human geography. So perhaps it will provide an excuse for some future geography gigs in one of my favorite areas.

I set up this photo to capture most of the open space on campus.

A retired school, but sadly it no longer has a gym, though I had
suggested keeping it for EarthView.

As she usually does when we are in the car together, Pam played DJ, and selected my very favorite CD -- Clandestino by the enigma Manu Chao. There is simply no better driving music, and it was perfect for zooming home along that Cape highway. Enjoy: