Leaving Wellfleet

The clock pattern is not so difficult to understand. Eight o'clock is eight bells. Each 30 minutes after that will be one bell until you reach the eight bells of noon.

Every four hours the cycle repeats itself. I have no shame admitting that it took me the whole vacation to figure it out. After all, I was in no rush.

I miss the clock. But as a tribute, I started working in four hour shifts. When I look at the time, I immediately convert it into a number of bells.

Eight bells now means break time for me. Unless it's eight o'clock in the morning, which means I have to start working. My colleagues look at me a bit puzzled when I ask them if they know how many bells it is. Ignorants!

Leaving Wellfleet was hard. I have special friends there, a tennis court always available for me, a unique clock which helps me lose track of time and an impressive colony of fiddler crabs playing hide and seek in the sand.

From my vacation, I will always remember the challenge of avoiding ticks on Great Island, of finding a live horseshoe crab on Mayo beach and of walking carelessly in the city without being run over.

As you can see, Wellfleet has its flaws. But don't count on me to list them on Trip Advisor. Cause this town is my secret to keep.