Old Cape Cod... (Redux) with apologies to Patti Page

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Send some of those crowds to the ghost town once known as Buzzards Bay. They might as well re-name Main Street Deadsville.

As far as traffic goes, am I the only one who remembers when it took almost 2 hours to drive from the Bourne Bridge to the Elks in Wareham on a Sunday evening in summer? Before 25 was finished all the way to the bridge.

The Lower Cape is just experiencing what we've always known around here.

Take a rainy weekday and 132 would be backed up from the mall to Rte 6. That was always the case since they built the mall.

Exactly. In the late 50's, through the 60's and into the 70's winter was dead (I remember going into Flemings donuts in Orleans and the woman there had 6 donuts, one pot of coffee and no heat on on a Sunday while we were ice fishing. She didn't sell all the other donuts, she only had six to begin with! but I digress)

Summer had traffic jams. Overcast July day trying to cross the Bass River Bridge was just as crowded then as now. Same with P-Town traffic. Or Hyannis before the mall. Coming from Worcester to the Cape was an experience. Get of Rt. 140 In New Bedford (pre 195 and 495 to 25 days) and sit in traffic on a Saturday for 2 hours to cover the distance to the Bridges. Always been busy in Summer.

[Jimbo]

Used to wait for high tide to jump Bass River Bridge on the Dennis side,and show off for the folks caught in traffic. Ya can't anymore and there's so much broken glass and trash where you'd climb out it just wouldn't be worth the injury. We stay in a place right on 28. At night it used to be the traffic going by just sort of made a woosh sound and there was this man hole cover I'd wait for the wheels and make a thump, thump noise. It would put me right to sleep. Now, I lie awake to the sound of loud mororcycles and trucks and loud music blaring. That's a noticeable change.
You guys talking about how far you could drive without seeing another car reminded me of a story my dad inevitably tells. He was stationed at the Air Force Station in N. Truro around 1952. My mom's parents lived in W. Dennis across from what is now Marathon. He'd worked a second shift and there was a truck taking some guys back to Otis so he decided he'd catch a ride part way and hitchhike to his in-laws since he was off the next day. He got dropped off around Orleans and hitched a ride to just over the Harwich border. He ended up hoofing it all the rest of the way to West Dennis without a car going by and he said he'd never imagined night could be so dark. Very few lights on the way, no people, no dogs barking. He gets to his in-laws knowing they don't lock their door, goes upstairs and climbs in bed. They didn't even know he was there until he got up the next day. Living right on Rt 28 and didn't lock their door at night. Who'd a thunk it!