Easy drive to Cape Cod in the end, despite warnings of horrendous traffic. House is lovely, fantastic position 400 yards from small beach on the Bay. It's a large version of a classic beach house with a beautiful deck outside. We soon found the garage too which included our chariots for the week, 2 state of the art bikes, including 'Huffy', last seen during the 1949 Tour de France. Now she only has one brake (faulty), 3 gears (broken) and a wobbly back wheel (death trap) but she has been a faithful servant to me on my trips to Dunkin Donuts, hardware store, beach and salt marshes.

Over the first few days we have been to a fantastic beach called Old Silver a couple of times, swimming, playing American football and waboba. Also been to Falmouth (a bit like its counterpart in Cornwall), and Hyannis which is a really interesting little town complete with second hand record store, Harley Davidson store and JFK museum - am going there later in week. Also visited beach there, not as good as Old Silver but had the benefit of some sightings of the alien like horseshoe crab, the skeleton of one of which we will be bringing home.

Wildlife update - still no raccoons, but we have spotted woodpecker, chipmunk, strange red birds and postman Pats black and white cat (grandma). More to follow as the week progresses...