Year 1 - Ride Day 10 - Chatham MA to Fairhaven MA - Sept 10


The weather forecast was for the rain to end between 7 and 8 a.m. As we exited the motel at around 7 a.m., the weather was overcast and looked like it would continue to rain. The motel did not provide breakfast so we elected to go just around the corner to the Chatham Village Cafe and Bakery for breakfast. A very pleasant lady helped us with our selections. It certainly shows when you love your job! 

I got a half size apple fritter and could not pass up the jelly donut! By the time we were done eating breakfast, the sky was opening up and the sun was shining through. It was going to be a nice day.

We had about 80 miles to do today. As we examined our route, we saw several “U” shaped loops where we could trim off a few miles. Soon after leaving Chatham we found ourselves back on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. When the prepared route deviated for the CCRT, we made a consensus decision to remain on this trail. It was going in generally the correct direction and it was nice to ride without vehicles next to you! 

Someone creative made a nice visual statement along the trail with a bicycle!

As we continued on the trail, it got smaller and smaller. Soon, it just ended. We rerouted back to the original planned route and were back on the route in a few miles. We went through Hyannis, Craigville, and Osterville. Then the route turned north to Barnstable and Sandwich. 

We stopped for lunch at The Brown Jug in Sandwich for a sandwich! We took our sandwiches outside and enjoyed the atmosphere. I had a roast beef sandwich which was excellent! 

While we were eating, the owner was placing more wood on the eclectic wood fired pizza oven. He was trying to get the internal temperature up to 700 degrees. He only fires this oven on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays now due to the lack of employees. It was being difficult somewhat due to the rain the day before.

Leaving Sandwich, we continued across the Sagamore Bridge. A trail routed us up on the bike/pedestrian crossing surface. This surface was about five feet wide and at least 3 to 4 foot above the road surface with no guard rail between the traffic lanes and us. Yikes! I wanted to look around, but my only thought was stay in the center and keep pedaling. 

The trail took us around under the bridge and put us on the Cape Cod Canal Bikeway. We enjoyed a leisurely ride along the bikeway and stopped to take several photos. Question; do you know which way the water runs in the Cape Cod Canal? North or South?

The route took us off the bikeway in Buzzards Bay. We went around the Buzzards Bay rotary. This brought back a fond memory! I was a young enlisted man in the the PA Air National Guard and was entrusted to lead a convoy of trucks to Otis Air Force Base, on the Cape, for our “Annual Training” exercise. My navigator was a young Lieutenant. As we approached the rotary I ask which exit on the rotary I was to take! He hesitated and as I entered the rotary, he had still not provided direction so I continued to circle the rotary. The trucks that were following me, being good solders and following directions, also followed me into the rotary. Can you even imagine what a mess full of trucks we made of that rotary!

We passed through Point Independence, Onset, Wareham, and Rochester on our way to our final destination for the day, Fairhaven. The highlight of our arrival was that there was an alcoholic beverage store right across the street from the motel!

















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