Monday, July 20, 2015

Little Piece of Heaven


Does Punkhorn Road sound inviting?  (What is a punkhorn anyway?)  Well, I decided to explore this puzzle one morning in mid-July.  The road sign is at the west end of Long Pond in Harwich.  I've passed this spot a hundred times while traveling Pleasant Lake Road but never had the inclination to stop until today.      



The entrance doesn't seem like a road to anywhere.  In fact, it looks like a private driveway, but with tentative steps I found that the road continues to the right of the fluttering American flag.  Residents were tending their gardens and paid me no mind.



The road turned out to be very inviting.  Who doesn't like a woods road arched over with lush trees and bushes?  Where will this path lead?  
  


Surprisingly, there are a number of residences along the way.  The properties border on Seymour Pond, a peaceful retreat from the bustle of crowded Cape summers.      



The houses are a throwback to old Cape Cod with pretty flowers in rustic display.  



Take for example, this classic camp, having huddled on the pond shore for over 100 years.  



The owners proudly display this creative memorial to the 1909 founding.



My favorite is this little piece of heaven, tucked neatly into the Punkhorn.  What a fantastic getaway!!  Here, surely all your troubles can be forgotten.



I can't help but include a photo of this Eastern Phoebe, a resident of the parklands who patiently tolerated my presence in his domain.  Today, I solved the puzzle of Punkhorn road to my satisfaction and found a little piece of heaven.






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9 comments:

  1. Sarah CourchesneJuly 20, 2015 at 1:40 PM

    It's like you strolled into a time machine!

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    Replies
    1. UnknownJuly 21, 2015 at 3:18 PM

      I've always been nostalgic, romanticizing the past. But was it really any better in those cottages on Seymour Pond a hundred years ago??

      Delete
  2. EmilyJuly 20, 2015 at 2:54 PM

    Idyllic. Love the signs! "Here 'tis Dogpatch!"

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    Replies
    1. UnknownJuly 21, 2015 at 3:19 PM

      The character of the signs really do contribute to the retro mood.

      Delete
    2. EmilyJuly 21, 2015 at 3:34 PM

      I think you have to be in our age range to remember Li'l Abner, which is the likely inspiration.

      Delete
  3. EmilyJuly 21, 2015 at 3:32 PM

    Just for fun, here's an article from Sunset magazine including a little town named Dogpatch in San Diego County.
    http://www.sunset.com/m/travel/california/70-perfect-miles-0

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    Replies
    1. UnknownJuly 23, 2015 at 10:05 AM

      Emily, thanks for the article. Would like to drive highway 94 at some point. By the way, I do remember Li'l Abner but for some reason did not read very often. I liked Little Lulu and Tubby. Remember them?

      Delete
  4. Greg RobieSeptember 10, 2015 at 8:32 AM

    Fun Fact: The word “punkhorn” comes from an American Indian word meaning “place of spongy wood.”

    http://www.outdoors.org/publications/outdoors/2009/features/escape-crowds-cape-vineyard.cfm

    http://brewster-ma.gov/files/bootswamp.pdf

    http://brewster-ma.gov/files/Punkhorn_North_Section_Trail_Map.pdf

    Or an attempt to promulgate dissatisfaction. ;)

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    Replies
    1. UnknownSeptember 21, 2015 at 5:04 AM

      Thanks for the finding "the place of spongy wood." I had asked many locals who had no idea of the origin of "punkhorn".

      Delete

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