Click Here for all the photos on Flickr

“Two things get stolen in P-Town.  Boy friends and bikes.”

Fairhaven to Provincetown, MA

Distance 102 miles
Time 11:50
Riding Time 7:46

For some god forsaken reason, we decided to ride from Fairhaven to Provincetown, MA in one day. Actually, Nick’s parents wouldn’t let him do the ride alone.   I wanted to do a tour of the Cape, and this worked out great for both of us. Except for the hundred mile part. The first 50 miles was pretty nice.  The next 25 was hot and a bit difficult.  The last 25 miles sucked. It was hilly and a good part was on busy US Rt. 6. The plan was to get to P-Town by 3 PM for the Carnival Parade.  We only missed it by three and a half hours.

Back tracking a bit.  We didn’t know if we were going ride today because we had no place to stay.  I had made some calls to a couple off hostels but got no response. We decided to ride to the Bourne Bridge and if we got no response by then we would turn back and ride tomorrow. Fortunately we heard from Sarah and got a $45 a bed, right in the heart of the city.

We had heard about George’s pizza and sub shop who made the best sandwiches in P-Town.  Our adorable waitress,  Simpka from Lithuania,  told us that the grill was closed, at 8 PM.  All that was available was pizza.  Neither of us had the energy to try to find another place so we settled for a mediocre cheese pizza.

It was the first experience in a hostel for both of us.  The company was really good.  The accommodations were adequate. I’m staying in a trailer camper tonight and tomorrow I’ll continue riding around Cape Cod for the next two or three days.

Click Here for all the photos on Flickr

Day 2  Provincetown to Truro

We were scheduled to ride to P-Town on Friday.   We heard about the Carnival and the Parade that takes place on Thursday.  All accounts say that it’s a really great time.  If we can find accommodations, Nick and I will leave very early Thursday morning for the 100 mile ride to Provincetown, MA.  Nick is looking forward to the miles, me, not so much.

One of the requirements for the early departure was that Nick had to finish his science project. Coincidentally, I offered to drive a marine biologist, Kate,  to the bus station for her trip to NYC.  Nick rode along and got some really good advice from her.  We spend the next few hours visiting ocean, stream and river shores where Nick took his measurements, and did the other research criteria needed to complete his project.

Nick’s parents will be driving to the Cape on Friday and I will move on and spend a few days touring Cape Cod.  I have a feeling I’ll be camping in some unusual places.  I would rather not sleep outside on the ground but the prices of the motels are ridiculously astronomical.  Anywhere from $350-$700 per night.  Sheesh.

The humidity broke today and although it was hot, 90ish, it didn’t feel so bad.  It was a nice day to ride around the waterfront.

Three days of music was topped off by the Whaling City Blues Festival.  And it was “off the hook” Shemekia Copeland and her band were the most entertaining for me.

MAIN STAGE
11:45-12:45 – Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish
1:10-2:25 – Quinn Sullivan
2:50-4:05 – Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen
4:30-5:50 – Shemekia Copeland
6:15-7:45 – Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band

2016 WHALING CITY BLUES FESTIVAL from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

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.