This past weekend was Wellfleet's Osyterfest. It's a fairly cool affair of closing down main street and crowds of people getting together to slurp down oysters and drink beer. What could be better?
It's also a very crowded craft fair and the few sanctioned parking lots are extra crowded. The town ( or Festival organizers) bring in school buses for shuttle systems from the parking lot and Pedicabs from P-town come down to ride people from parking lot to main street.
We happen to reside about a mile from town. It doesn't make sense to use the shuttle system and this year we brought down our bikes to bike in. B rode with Girlpie on the trail a bike and I rode the Xtra with Tuber on board. I lent my mother in law my public. We had a few house guests and since we didn't have any extra bikes they ended up walking in. All in all a perfect way to spend an October weekend on Cape Cod.
Ben pulling the Xtra out of it's tight parking spot
Each time I ride the Xtra, I have different feeling toward it. Often lately I dread taking it as it is long, slow and hard to ride. However I seemed to manage the rides up and down the hills ok and even managed to pass B or my mother in law are different points in the trip. The geometry of the bike forces me to go into the easiest gear and I hate that spinning feeling while pedaling. So going up hill seems like I am barely moving and awfully out of control of the bike. I am also so not used to the wiggle factor. The long heavy bike added with Tuber who is used to dancing and moving freely when on bike makes for me taking up a good three feet of space in which I swerve. Luckily in Wellfleet I most often use the bike during parades or festivals where life is more ped friendly and I feel comfortable riding directly down the middle of the lane.
It was a great weekend of bright sunlight, good friends, even better food. I actually don't eat oysters, but I love watching other people eat them. They look and smell like a true gift of the sea. However I indulged myself by getting a pair of super sweet leg warmers from the local Fisherman's Daughter at the craft fair part of the festival.
Nice family outting, and cool that your mother-in-law rode with you as well. My mother-in-law is looking into buying a bike to pedal around her little mixed use neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of oysters either (unless they are mixed in with Thanksgiving stuffing of course) but like you I enjoy watching other people eat them. My father is from Rhode Island so family visits to New England almost always involved oysters or clam poured onto the middle of a table with an oiled, red checkered table cloth, beer and wine and of course some bread. What a time.....
Don't know what I covet more, the oysters or those legwarmers!
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