P'Town in Winter

Crappy week with mucho traumas. S.O. and I needed some down time, and this January Saturday was warm and party sunny. We decided to drive to the Cape (Cod) which is something we usually do once in the winter.

Not much traffic, and before you know it, there's the Bourne bridge! We took the mid-cape highway. Sparse sun, rather bleak in fact, but we won't quibble when the temperature is 55 degrees. Still tooling along without much traffic.

Had thought about a seafood meal in Orleans, but decided to wait until we got to Provincetown. Had AAA guide and checked for waterview restaurants open in winter and naturally for lunch. Found two! Parked and set off for first choice. Ooops! Shut up tighter than a drum. Closed and no sign. Gone, baby, gone!

Walked down to second. Closed for lunch. Curses.

Forget the guidebook. Wandered into non-Starbucks coffee place and asked woman behind the counter. She gave us two choices, but said she liked Ross's, so to Ross's we went. Getting hungry after hiking up and down the street. Another hike into the center of town and to Ross's. On second story overlooking water. Funky, friendly maitre'd with about 16 black bracelets on his arm. Hardly a table. Everyone talking to everyone else. Locals. Well, what would one expect in p'town in January?

We order wine (excellent) and Wellfleet oysters, which are even more excellent, as in to die for. Folks, we are talking very fresh and delicious and not often found on menus. I had a blackened salmon sandwich with white bean salad. S.O. had fish and chips. Stole a handful of his chips. Good. Looked around and the luncheon steak looked generous and tasty, burger so big you could never get it into your mouth without major effort. Insalta Caprese looked good, but who eats tomatoes in January?

We were bad and shared the banana bread pudding which was on a par with the oysters. Friendly service, nice cold, bleak winter view across the water. The cares of the week had fallen away, leaving a feeling of contentment.

Stopped at the coffee place and told the woman we loved Ross's Grill. Bought a cup of coffee to counteract the wine and off we drove. Took the northern backroad all the way to the bridge. Scenic villages and inns and galleries.

Great sunset. A little more traffic. Had others gone to the Cape for lunch, too?

Skipped dinner. Thoughts of the Wellfleet Oysters persist. It was fun walking along Commercial St. in the town. Off season but somehow cheerful and lively.

Decided P'town in winter would be a good place to set a few scenes in a book. A writer's day is never wasted. Not totally.

Aloha,

Grapeshot