After the Storm

A brisk cold front blew through the Outer Cape late this afternoon, with dark clouds and heavy rain. As the front went past, just before sunset, the sky opened up on the western horizon, out over Cape Cod Bay. I went out to have a look.

The first thing I saw was a magnificent double rainbow. The sun was low in the sky, and so the rainbow made a mighty arc that seemed to stretch most of the way to the zenith. (No comment from you science geeks; I already know that the primary arc of a rainbow is at 42° from the antisolar point.) It was so big, though, that I couldn’t get it all at once with the camera in my phone.

My first stop was Powers Landing, on Wellfleet Harbor. Here’s the center of that rainbow’s arc:

 

Here’s the left side, looking west along Mayo Beach:

 

And the right side, looking south over the harbor:

 

Best rainbow I’ve ever seen, I think.

It was almost sunset, so I high-tailed it over to my favorite vantage point, a high bluff that faces west across Cape Cod Bay. (We call the place “Avalon”.)

When you get to the top of the bluff the trail goes south for a bit, parallel to the water’s edge.

 

Here’s the same shot from close to the ground:

 

Once I’d reached the lookout I just stood there taking in the constantly changing light. Some more shots:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, the sun set, and it was time to go.

 

What a beautiful place this is.

8 Comments

  1. Actually, it’s “spread out over angles of 40° to 42° (less for saltwater) from the center of the anti-solar point.” :)

    Sorry, Malcolm; I’m just a science geek. [I’d be lost without Google search, however] :)

    Posted June 9, 2016 at 2:19 am | Permalink
  2. whitewall says

    Beautiful photos. There is just something about barrier islands and untouched nature. Here on the Outer Banks there is still a bit of that, though minus the rainbow.

    Posted June 9, 2016 at 6:30 am | Permalink
  3. Robert,

    I think the liberals are hoarding the rainbows and the unicorns. I’m not referring to you, Malcolm, but I know that Cape Cod is loaded with libs.

    Posted June 9, 2016 at 8:42 am | Permalink
  4. Eugene says

    Your narrative is very nice, and so are the photos. Yes, the rainbow is spectacular – never had I seen it so.

    Posted June 9, 2016 at 6:08 pm | Permalink
  5. whitewall says

    Henry, the Libs are big on unicorns. Magical, make believe….sort of like the workability of their ideology.

    Posted June 10, 2016 at 9:08 am | Permalink
  6. Yeah, like that, Robert. Here’s their anthem:

    Do You Believe In Magic – The Lovin’ Spoonful

    Posted June 10, 2016 at 6:34 pm | Permalink
  7. whitewall says

    I always liked John Sebastian’s lyrics and that song. Good guitar work. If I remember it was a Gibson.

    Posted June 10, 2016 at 8:19 pm | Permalink
  8. The only magic I believe in is quantum mechanics, ironically because it’s beyond belief. Because spooky action at a distance (i.e., quantum entanglement).

    Posted June 10, 2016 at 9:24 pm | Permalink

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