From book author Mick Carlon, Centerville
An evening swim in Osterville’s Joshua’s Pond is a bit of perfection in an imperfect world. The spring-fed water is as clear as a Cape Cod September sky, and the trees surrounding the pond remind me of upstate New Hampshire. But I love Joshua’s Pond for another reason.
My daughter Hannah, then only 8, wanted to contribute something to help her maternal grandmother, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. So she signed up our family for the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition’s annual fund-raising hike/swim at Flax Pond in Nickerson State Park. (Flax Pond is yet another gorgeous Cape Cod kettle pond, one of over 900 on our fragile yet glorious island). Where did Hannah practice her swimming? At dawn she and her Aunt Jennifer would swim the entire circumference of Joshua’s Pond. I would drive the lass over, and the pond at dawn is as breath-taking as the pond at dusk. My family took part in the MBCC’s yearly fund-raiser for eleven years, and we’re still enjoying those perfect summer evening dips at our beloved Joshua’s Pond.
Got a Pond Story you want to share? Email Kristin Andres at [email protected]
Pond Stories are a collection of writings from Cape Codders and visitors who love the 1000 local ponds that dot the Cape. We hope this collection of stories, that are as much endearing as they are environmentally aware, will awaken your inner environmentalist to think deeper about our human impacts to these unique bodies of water. Check out these valuable resources to learn more about the current challenges Cape Cod ponds are facing and how you can be a better pond steward in your town.
