Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Marconi Beach access is maintained by the National Park Service and has restrooms, showers, and a well-constructed stairway to the beach. I've never been here in the presumably crowded summertime but it sure isn't crowded now on this beautiful late summer day - 75 degrees, breezy, and clear.

The Marconi Memorial is on the bluff in the distance.  It marks the location of the first trans-Atlantic wireless communication in history in 1903 from President Teddy Roosevelt to the King of England.

Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian inventor and Nobel Prize winner in Physics was the mastermind of wireless  and considered the father of radio transmission.1903 was a momentous year - both wireless and the Wright Brothers first airplane flight occurred.

This young surfer dude was trying to figure out how to handle his ride when the wind is blowing and the board is bigger than he is.

Even this Ring-billed gull was in a mellow mood just walking around unusually close to people apparently without a care in the world.

The beach is a relaxed and peaceful place - if you're stuck inside today and need a brief moment of Zen, just press the play arrow.

Massachusetts Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

This Mass Audubon property in Wellfleet offers 1200 prime acres of salt marsh, pine woodland, a freshwater pond, and rare heathland to attract and support wildlife. It provides more than five miles of walking trails for humans.

A beautiful natural space to spend a few hours or days - entrance and/or membership fees support continued conservation efforts by Mass Audubon.



View west toward Cape Cod Bay.

Bay View Trail.

Bay View Trail.

Goose Pond Trail.

The boardwalk off Try Island Trail.

This crab, and many hundreds like it were hanging out by the boardwalk. The little crab's body is about an inch across. I'm sure there is some good explanation why one of its claws is so large. It's like Popeye of the crab world.

Great Island, Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Great Island is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, and is one of almost 400 national parks in the United States. Perhaps one of the finest and enduring achievements of the United States, in 1916,  President Wilson signed a bill that mandated the agency "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."  Today's National Park Service carries on that mission.

From the main parking area, one will encounter this sign.  Usually, I can successfully interpret universal signs - at least I only occasionally walk into the wrong toilet in foreign countries.  I understand the symbols for "No Bicycles" and "No Pets" but, the other one, what does it mean? "If you see a short little table, walk in a counter-clockwise and square direction."  I fail to see the value of that in a national park. I didn't see any short little tables anywhere.

Here a couple enjoys walking the trail.

Looking south along the inland side of the bay dunes.

A transition path from the inland side to the bay side.

The trail passes through the typical Cape Cod pine and oak forest. If you spent your whole life rooted in one place with a mostly relentless wind, you might be leaning sideways like this, too.

The view west toward Cape Cod Bay.

The green grasses of summer are slowly giving way to the golden hues of fall.

A solitary canoeist enjoys the fading summery weather.

LeCount Hollow Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Dogs like Fritz, pictured above, are welcome at the beach again now that Labor Day weekend has come and gone. Although frankly, Fritz had other ideas.  When his human said the word "squirrel," he barked and ran around in tight circles (Fritz did, not the human). 

Some beaches in the Cape Cod National Seashore are maintained by the local town and some by the National Park Service.  LeCount Hollow Beach on the ocean side of the Cape is one of those locations managed by the town of Wellfleet.

The view to the south.

The view to the north.

 

Some folks enjoyed the sun and wind protection of these way cool umbrella-like tents.

And always, a walking man walks.

Some folks set up a wind break and baked their flesh to a crisp.

Remember, if you go to the beach, stay on the established paths to help preserve the sea grasses - that's what helps stabilize the dunes and helps reduce and slow erosion.