Doug Meehan from WCVB-TV 5 (LEFT) with Johnny Quahog and Doug the Quahog (RIGHT) at the Pilot House in Sandwich
SANDWICH – Doug the Quahog, the Cape’s famous weather prognosticator, has officially announced how many wonderful summertime weather days we on Cape will see this season during an event at the Pilot House in Sandwich Thursday.
“67 great days of summer for everyone to enjoy. He wants to leave a little room however for people to visit the museums, for all the great restaurants, all the great retail shops, so he has got 67 great days on the beach, the rest of the time you can go spread yourself in other great places,” says Johnny Quahog, Official Translator for Doug.
Doug was escorted to and from the Pilot House by his Quahog Security Detail, a team of black-suited men and women equipped with clamming rakes.
WCVB-TV anchor/reporter, and Cape Cod native, Doug Meehan emceed the event.
“I sadly have to live vicariously through Johnny in order to get the true words of the Quahog. My understanding though I have seen a few tweets, we could be looking at a pretty good summer,” he said.
This is the 10th year the Chamber has organized the celebration. The event is put on to promote the region’s tourism and beach driven economy.
“It’s just a fun, rollicking afternoon by the ocean and it tweaks the weather people, probably,” said Wendy Northcross the chamber’s CEO. “But I always want to hear what the quahog predicts for how many days of beach weather lie ahead.”
“There’s something special about the summertime and how everybody just looks forward to being a part of what’s happening [on Cape Cod]. So many people rely on the economy during the summer,” Meehan said.
Northcross said Cape Cod businesses saw a strong Memorial Day weekend, which is the unofficial start of the tourist season.
“Things really don’t ramp up until school gets out and families start to arrive, but we’ve had a very strong spring even back into early April,” Northcross said.
Northcross expects high numbers of visitors again for the summer season.
“All the economic indicators are there – strong economy, strong employment,” she said. “There are lots of things going on this summer – great events. So all we need now is that great weather and that is the frosting on the cupcake and that’s what Doug the Quahog is going to let us know.”
BY JOHN BONDAREK CapeCod.Com News Center
PHOTO’S BY SPENCER KENNARD – CapeCod.com Photographer
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