Tag: bicycling

Coffeeneuring the Cape Cod Canal. Both Sides End to End and Crossing Both Bridges

Coffeneuring
Coffeneuring

First a word about Coffeeneuring. CLICK HERE to learn all about it.  Then give some though to participating.

Today’s coffee stop was at Dunkin Doughnuts in the town of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts.  This was after a 25 mile ride of the Cape Cod Canal with a few friends.  Since DD is not a place for really good coffee, I had to settle for a regular old coffee from a pot.  Not my favorite but this was only a practice run.  At least I didn’t get it from a clown.

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Four of us took advantage of a really nice day to ride the Cape Cod Canal, doing both sides and crossing both bridges. (The Bourne and Sagamore bridges). The access points for walking and biking across the bridges are pretty well hidden and there is no signage to get you there.  Someone, like me, for instance has to show you how to get to the sidewalk access.  Once there it is highly recommended that you walk your bike over the bridge.  At 135 feet above the canal, walking takes most of the stress out of crossing this span on your bike.  It’s also much easier to take photos like this one.

The cape side of the canal from the top of the Sagamore bridge.
The cape side of the canal from the top of the Sagamore bridge.

We did end to end on the canal side but decided not to ride to Scussett Beach on the mainland side knocking a couple of miles off the ride.  Once back on the mainland side we were like cows smelling the barn and our pace noticeable picked up as we raced back to the starting point.  My three companions left me in the town of Buzzards Bay where I decide to do a practice run of the upcoming “Coffeeneuring” challenge.

Andrew Walking over the Bourne Bridge
Andrew Walking over the Bourne Bridge
Old Austin taxi.
Old Austin taxi.
under the RR bridge in Buzzards Bay
under the RR bridge in Buzzards Bay
Crazy bike
Crazy bike
Lobstah.
Lobstah.
Mass Maritime Academy docks.
Mass Maritime Academy docks.
Post office circa 1820
Post office circa 1820
RR along the canal on the Cape side
RR along the canal on the Cape side
The head of the canal on the cape side across from Mass Maritime Academy
The head of the canal on the cape side across from Mass Maritime Academy
The head of the canal in Sandwich on the cape side
The head of the canal in Sandwich on the cape side
Sunday traffic leaving the cape.
Sunday traffic leaving the cape.
Crossing the Sagamore
Crossing the Sagamore
Sue and Geoff after crossing the Sagamore Bridge
Sue and Geoff after crossing the Sagamore Bridge

South Coast Bikeway Award Ceremony

Cape Cod Canal Both Side, Both Bridges tomorrow, Sunday, Sept, 20 at 8:30 AM. Meet at the lot next to the RR bridge in Buzzard Bay.  Set you GPS to 61 Main St. 

This morning I led a ride through the back roads and side streets from Fairhaven to the event in Dartmouth.  None of the riders in my group are native to this area and I decided to give them a tour to point out some of the area’s gems.  Whaling Captain’s and Textile moguls small mansions, fantastic restaurants in out of the way locations, scenic waterfront streets and roads that only the locals know exist were on this short 9 mile route.   Coincidentally, this route was also a shortcut of sorts to the event that knocked off a couple of miles of heavy traffic on streets that drivers often confuse for racetrack straightaways.

Three of us didn’t participate in the Bike Challenge this year, so we left once the awards began for the ride back to Fairhaven. I hung back to get some errands done and, as we on bikes often do, stumbled upon a really good, authentic Spanish food hut.  I say Spanish, not Mexican because I think the owner and workers are Central Americans from El Salvador or Guatemala by their dialect.  I usually ask, but not this time because I was the only Gringo in the place.  The food was very good and the staff I think, got a kick out of my Boston accented Spanish.
As always, click any photo for big. Click again for bigger. Click your back button to return to the story

Freddy with his new bike
Freddy with his new bike
The gang ridng the side streets of New Bedford
The gang ridng the side streets of New Bedford
Fall River bike group
Fall River bike group
Bike Parking at the Dartmouth Y.
Bike Parking at the Dartmouth Y.
Waiting for the Mattapoisett group at the Gulf Hill Ice Cream place.
Waiting for the Mattapoisett group at the Gulf Hill Ice Cream place.
The Mattapoisett Riders
The Mattapoisett Riders
Lunch in the Spanish district of New Bedford
Lunch in the Spanish district of New Bedford
The gang from Mattapoisett
The gang from Mattapoisett

South Coast Bikeway Meeeting and The Cape Cod Canal. Both Sides, Both Bridges

Saturday September 19

Ride to the Award Ceremony in Dartmouth on Saturday. Meet at 99 in Fairhaven at 9 AM for the short ride across the river to the Dartmouth YMCA. (A little over 8 miles). It should be a nice day. Wear your colors and helmet if you want but neither is necessary for this short ride to the event.

Sunday September 20

Looking north from Sagamore Bridge.
Looking north from Sagamore Bridge.

Meet Sunday Sept. 20 at 8:15 for an 8:30 start at the Buzzard Bay Parking lot adjacent to the RR Bridge. 
Don’t miss this one.  It’s a favorite of mine and a very cool ride. Be sure to bring your camera. Bring your helmet if you want, but it’s not necessary for this easy paced, traffic free ride.

Directions:

Set your GPS to 61 Main St. Buzzards Bay.

We will cross both bridges and ride both sides of the canal, visiting Mashnee Island, the Sandwich Power Plant.  Scussett Beach and the railroad bridge like you have never seen it.  There are “secret” access points to both the Bourne and Sagamore bridges giving access to pedestrian and bicycle traffic.  It’s safe and fun to cross these bridges.

Meet Saturday Sept. 12 at 8:15 for an 8:30 start.  This is a very easy 25 mile flat ride with a couple of stops for photos.

Click Here for everything you need to know about this ride.  Directions, photos, etc.

Something Different Today

Sometimes we don’t feel like writing. Today is one of those days.  There was no one to play with so I took off on my bike alone.  It was going to be just a short ride, but the morning was too nice and I kept going.  Again over the bridge into New Bedford to ride along the waterfront.  Crossing the bridge I saw a couple of cigarette boats mooring at the marina.

On the return ride, I rode into the marina and was told that I had just a few short minutes to get to the barrier gate in the middle of the harbor to see the dozens of cigarette boats begin their poker run.  Like the motorcycle runs, these boats were big, loud and gaudy.  I thought it would be cool, but as they passed the best I could muster was “ehhh”.  Lots of the spectators were thrilled but personally I couldn’t see the point of having one of these.  I like the photos that these boats are not the subject better.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the slideshow.

Bike Ride into New Bedford and Fairhaven, MA from John Sullivan on Vimeo.