I had to cancel (now postpone it seems), my planned summer bike tour of Cape Cod in June. Recently,  I was asked to chaperone, or should I say accompany, Nick, a 16 year old member of our bike riding group, to his parents cottage near Provincetown on outer Cape Cod.  It’s around 90 miles and Nick wants to do it in one day.  I’m fine with that as long as he is not in a hurry. Which he always is, by the way.  After spending the night bumming around P-Town, I’ll spend two or three days riding around the Cape and maybe Martha’s Vineyard as I meander my way back home.

I was a bit apprehensive about finding a place to stay on the return trip.  Hotels and Motels are extravagantly expensive, ranging from $325 to over $700 per night, often with multi night minimum requirements. They are pretty much all sold out so that’s moot. There are two State campgrounds that have a no turn away policy for hikers and bikers. Both are a bit off the beaten path that I’ll be riding.   Lucky for me I am following a friend Mike Riscica who just completed his cross country bike ride.  This is his third crossing by bike and he has learned not to worry about accommodations, often sleeping on a picnic table in a park or setting up his tent behind a church.

I have learned how to pack for a bike tour, long or in this case, a short tour.   A set of clothes to sweat in and a set of clothes not to sweat in .  A tent, sleeping bag, camp pillow, camera, video camera, charging cords, a 3 in 1 laptop and a six station power strip.  The total weight I’m carrying is just under 20 lbs.

That’s all beginning on the 19th.  Till then, it’s regular old riding around the neighborhood.

Located in Westport MA.  A spectacular day for a bike ride.  It doubled as training for my rescheduled bike tour of Cape Cod.

HORSENECK BEACH from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

The morning was riding around town getting things done.  After the post office run and before the market I took the time to visit the Pokeymon people who have invaded our Revolutionary War era Fort Phoenix.  Most in town are pining for the day when Pokeymon fever recedes.  They are there every day all day.  It’s like listening to the same song on the radio over and over again.  It may be a good song but eventually one tires of hearing it.  The town folk are tired of Pokemon players occupying the beach area.

The beautiful summer evening screamed for a bike ride.  We left home around 5:30 for a 27 mile spin on one of our regular routes. Although we have done this ride often, we saw things that had obviously been in place for years.  Today we just happened to look over and spotted a couple of gems.

We got back at dusk and withing 20 minutes the sky opened up with off and on heavy showers.  It’s all in the timing.

Register Here

2016 marks our 7th Annual bike-a-thon fundraiser for the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council! Ride 60, 40, 30, 10 or 5 miles with full support from our brilliant and steadfast team of volunteers.

2016 marks our 7th Annual bike-a-thon fundraiser for the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council! Ride 60, 40, 30, 10 or 5 miles with full support from our brilliant and steadfast team of volunteers.

Our Rides Include:

• 8:00 am – 60-mile ride
• 9:00 am – 40-mile ride
• 10:30 am – 30-mile ride
• 11:00 am – 10-mile ride
• 11:30 am – 5-mile ride or wal

This one is a really different and scenic ride through Providence and northern R.I.  I’ll be riding my 4th and in the past I have done photos and videos. Lots of food entertainment and swag at the end of the ride in Waterplace Park are all part of the registration fee.  September is a great time of year to ride and Northern R.I. is a great place to ride in September.   Click Here to register.  It’s well worth the fee.