A Walk on a Spring Day, Cape Cod Canal, Sagamore, Massachusetts, USA

A perfect spring day for a walk (or ride) at the Cape Cod Canal - about 70 degrees F.



As is typical in spring, this cloud grew into a brief rain shower later on.



There are two automobile bridges that cross the canal from mainland Massachusetts onto Cape Cod, both almost 90 years old (lots of rivets). There is talk of a multi-billion dollar replacement project. We'll see........

Out and About - Random Scenes, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Soon, the boats will be back in Plymouth Harbor and so, too, the tourists as we start to move beyond the pandemic life.



I can't go to France but, this French-styled spa/hotel/restaurant is evocative.



Soon the streams of visitors to Cape Cod will cross the canal on this bridge. Anywhere from 50,000 -100,000+ vehicles cross this bridge daily depending on the day and the season.  Only two bridges, both built in the early 1930's, cross the canal to allow vehicle access to Cape Cod. Good luck trying to get there on a Friday afternoon in the summer - you'll likely be sitting in backed-up traffic.



And soon, t-shirts will replace winter coats at White Horse Beach (above at low tide).



The hockey net is lying beside the last bit of slushy pond ice - it'll have to wait until next winter to be used again.



The late afternoon light hints at the coming spring.

Cape Cod Canal, Sagamore, Bourne, Massachusetts, USA

When I first arrived after the cold frontal passage, the sky was mostly clear but, the wind was howling.



The clouds developed quickly.



I wasn't the only one out enjoying this crisp day in early winter.



There were hundreds, maybe thousands of ducks hanging out along the edge of the water - and no boats transiting the canal while I was there.



The ducks seemed to be practicing various precision formations.



Perhaps they have a secret marching band that requires such arrangements.



I stopped at the beach on the way home, the strong onshore wind gave this gull a nice upslope condition to soar along the dune face effortlessly. It may be winter but, it's still spectacularly beautiful around here.

Bicycling Along the Cape Cod Canal, Sagamore, Massachusetts, USA

A view from the east side of the Cape Cod Canal and it associated bicycle, walking, and vehicle maintenance trail. It is a popular spot year-around.

The 1933 Sagamore Bridge from the west side.



A family group cycles along the trail.



A serious fisherman uses his bicycle to pull a trailer full of gear.

Cape Cod Canal, Sagamore, Massachusetts, USA

The Sagamore Bridge, one of two vehicular access bridges, links the mainland of southeastern Massachusetts with Cape Cod. Both of these bridges were constructed in the early 1930's. The access road that paralells the canal on both sides provides recreational opportunity and ease of maintenance.



Bicycling is always popular on the seven mile paved path.



And the view on the canal is always changing whether with working boats......



.....or pleasure boats.......



.....or fast boats.



It's a great place to spend some time enjoying one's favored activity at a beautiful location.

Cape Cod Canal, Bourne, Massachusetts, USA

The Cape Cod Canal was constructed in the early 20th century and connects Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay. On both sides of the canal, a 7-mile paved service road provides opportunity for walking, jogging, and bicycling and folks daily take advantage of the beautiful and interesting location.



Boats large and small pass through the canal.



I found this view interesting. The wind is strong blowing right to left, the vessel is moving fast left to right, yet, the flag is lightly waving as if the breeze is left to right. Go figure.



Fishing along the banks is also a popular activity.

Me, I enjoy a nice 2.5-mile out and back (10,000 step) walk along the paved path.

Cape Cod Canal, Bourne, Massachusetts, USA

I was struck by this dramatic sky on my most recent visit to the Cape Cod Canal for a walk along the path. It's a seven mile canal and path and it is open year-around. (Click on an image for a higher resolution version if your device supports that action).



The volume of boat traffic, while not particularly dense, is certainly steady during this time of the year. This vessel is passing under the Sagamore Bridge (constructed in 1933-35).



I don't know where they are from or where they are going but, I'd like to fantasize about being aboard and heading for an island to island sailing cruise of the Caribbean.........

Sagamore Bridge, Cape Cod Canal, Bourne, Sagamore, Massachusetts, USA

The Sagamore Bridge is one of two highway bridges that connect the mainland to Cape Cod. I was particularly struck by the awesomeness of the clouds on this day.



It was built in 1933-35 by the Army Corps of Engineers. A bike/foot trail parallels the canal for recreational use. A great place for a walk - nearly flat and about 7 miles long from end to end.



The bridge was often shrouded in tenting over the past few years as a re-painting project was underway (and now complete).

Cape Cod Canal, Bourne, Massachusetts, USA

A bicycle/walking path parallels the entire Cape Cod Canal (about seven miles long). It is open year-around and a great place for outdoor exercise with the added benefit of seeing all manner of vessels traversing the waterway. Here's a link to my blog post last year when the Mayflower II went through.



The Sagamore Bridge, completed in 1935, is one of two bridges that spans the canal allowing access from the mainland to Cape Cod.



An artsy midday image from beneath the bridge.



Inquiring minds want to know, "is it correct to walk on the left facing traffic or, walk on the right with the flow of traffic? This man chose a third solution........right down the middle!

Mayflower II, Cape Cod Canal, Bourne, Massachusetts, USA

On a beautiful spring morning, folks gathered at the Herring Run Recreation Area to watch the Mayflower II pass through Cape Cod Canal on its way back home in Plymouth, Massachusetts. I figured it would be a slow passage considering it was being pulled by a tugboat, was in a narrow channel, and the tide direction might be against it.



That was not the case.  Riding a fast and favorable current, seemingly in seconds, she approached, passed abeam us, and was gone.



It happened so quickly that folks were still taking pictures long after it passed.



Moments after passing us, she went under the Sagamore Bridge and then out into Cape Cod Bay for the last couple hours of the journey home to Plymouth.

This fisherman was surprised by all the people out and about on a weekday morning. Like many of the regular fishermen here, a well outfitted bicycle makes hauling all the stuff much easier.

A Walk in the Woods, Cape Cod Canal, Bourne, Massachusetts, USA

The snow has all melted and the calendar may say spring but there aren't many obvious signs yet along the Bournedale Trail at the Cape Cod Canal.

I came upon these feather remains of a gull.lying in the trail. I wonder how it came to this fate? Gulls don't fly in the woods.  Was he flying by overhead and just died and fell?  Did he die elsewhere and was dragged here by a fox or other critter?  Where are the rest of the feathers? Seems an odd place to end up for a gull.

The picnic area at the Herring Pond parking area is quiet. This tree knot reminds me of an owl's eye - or the eye of Sauron.

A Walk in the Woods, Cape Cod Canal, Bourne, Massachusetts, USA

There is a nature trail on the north side of the canal near the Herring Run parking area.  It isn't exactly wilderness, located as it is sandwiched in between the highway and the canal but it is quite pleasant nonetheless.

I will enjoy a sun-dappled path and fall colors anywhere I find them.

There is a sandy narrow trail that seems to be seldom used.......

......except for some of the natives out for lunch.

This image doesn't even look real to me. It looks more like a photograph.

Oh yeah, these are photographs.

And if you turn your head sideways, a peek through the branches will sometimes reveal boats traversing the canal. 

I hope you are enjoying fall wherever you are in the Northern Hemisphere - or spring in the Southern.