Cape Cod Canal path

 I went down to the Cape on Sunday afternoon so I’d be able to get an early start on Monday morning.  I decided while I was there I’d get in a ride on the Cape Cod Canal trail.  This is an unusual paved bike/ped path along the Cape Cod Canal.  I’d never been on the trail before, the closest I’d come was running over the Sagamore Bridge in the P to P relay back in the late 1980s.

 I parked at the visitors center at the southwestern end of the trail and hoped it wouldn’t be too busy.  I had thought about going out on one side of the canal and then crossing over to the other side but the logistics of getting over the bridges (especially the Bourne) would have added a fair amount of distance and a bunch of headaches.  Really other than saying “I rode on both sides” it added nothing as the scenery was identical.  There was a fair amount of people out on the trail near the visitors center and the campground but after that it was pretty much clear riding.  There was a steady breeze from the east which made it more work than the watch was telling me.  There was some nice views and watching a few big ships chug past was kind of cool.  I felt it was a lot like running on the beach.  It sounds like such a fun idea and for the first few miles it is interesting, then it is just more of the same.  I had more fun on the way back (7 miles exactly at the turn) with the wind at my back it felt like I was moving.  That always feels good.  By that time it was nearly 6 pm so there was very little traffic left on the trail.

 It turned out to be a nice ride with smooth pavement and very little change in grade.  I’d probably never bike it again but wouldn’t mind going back some day to run it.