Intrepid Cape Crusaders brave morning showers to savor
views, back roads, and the seafood of Old Cape Cod

By Phil Bostwick
Photos by Frank Anigbo, Meg Anderson, and Carl Helmetag

The morning of Saturday, October 1, 2011 — the date set for the inaugural run of AONE’s Cape Crusade — brought leaden skies and pouring rain. The weather channel forecast the rains to let up in the afternoon and gave an identical forecast for Sunday, the rain date for the event. The event organizer (your humble servant) had made the decision on Friday morning to go forward on Saturday, regardless of the weather forecast. It was too late to call off the event; Sunday was forecast to be the same, and he knew that some members would be arriving at Exit 6 on the Mid-Cape Highway to attend. Accordingly, the GTV was warmed up and headed for Exit 6 in pouring rain.

Upon arriving at the Exit 6 service area meeting place, there was a white ’91 Spider parked in front of the Mobil Mart. Others started arriving and — miraculously — the rain began to cease. Eleven hardy Crusaders and seven Batmobile Veloces were in place by 10:30 a.m. After coffee, donuts, and some car talk, a drivers’ meeting was held. It was concluded that no one else would be showing up, so everyone sang a chorus of “Don’t Rain on My Crusade” and off we went. The attendees were: 

• Rick and Linda Lesniewicz and their black Lab from Marstons Mills, MA, in their Giulia Super 1300.

• Roger and Karen Carlson from Enfield, CT, in their ‘59 Spider 2000.

• Colin Wallace from Tiverton, RI, in his ’91 Spider (the first to arrive).

• Peter Walker and his wife Meg Anderson from Beverly, MA, in a BMW Mini Cooper S (their Spider was tucked in the garage).

• Frank Anigbo from Barnstable, MA, in his ’69 1750 GTV.

• Carl Helmetag from Riverside, RI, in his ’76 Lancia Beta Scorpion.

• Jean Ann and Phil Bostwick from East Orleans, MA, in their ’72 2000 GTV.

The Crusaders headed East on Route 6A, enjoying views of the old Cape Cod homes, the antique shops, the Brewster General Store, and other points of interest as they showed their cars to the locals in Yarmouthport, Dennis, Brewster, and Orleans. By now, the rain had stopped completely and the roads were dry. 

Upon arriving at the Orleans-Eastham rotary, the Crusaders turned off onto back roads to twist and turn up the Bay side of the Cape, viewing those beaches where the Pilgrims first encountered the local Indians back in the fall of 1620. After a short stint on Route 6, they turned toward the Atlantic at Lecount Hollow Road and proceeded up back roads along the sea. A stop at White Crest Beach afforded them a lovely view of the foggy Atlantic and the National Seashore. Seals bobbed their heads in the grey-green water, catching fish that the seagulls tried to share. Back in their Batmobiles, they continued north on Ocean View Drive, turning back toward Route 6 on the back roads around Gull Pond. A quick dogleg on Route 6 put them on back roads into Wellfleet, that quintessentially Cape Cod town with its white church steeples and small shops.

From Wellfleet, they headed north toward Truro on back roads that twisted, turned, and went uphill and down, allowing the Crusaders to increase their revs and shift their gears.

At the end of these roads, they intersected the Pamet River where it runs into the Bay and parked their cars at Pamet Harbor, one of the prettiest spots in Truro. Photo opportunities were taken and legs were stretched. After a brief break, they were back in their cars for a return trip on the same roads back to Wellfleet. A brief stop in the middle of the road was taken as a flock of huge, colorful wild turkeys crossed the road at a Turkey Crossing.

The drive ended in Wellfleet Harbor at the Bookstore Cafe. The sun was now shining on them, rewarding them for their tenacity. At lunch, they partook of Wellfleet oysters, fried clams, clam chowder, some libations, and other Cape Cod food while engaging in AONE camaraderie and conversation. After lunch, two cars and their Crusaders decided to drive to Provincetown. The others departed for home. An enjoyable day was had by all!

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