Rated : Bike in Two Hours

Planted 4- 13-01 By: Leader of the Pack and Cowboy

Location: Begin at Orleans , Cape Cod , Ma. County ?

It was a April School vacation and we need to get out and see some
spring. So we pack little bags, strap bikes to the back of the car,
get our bathing suits and towels and of course our letterboxing back
packs. We're off! We rode some National Seashore trails, we walked
on the beach in a fine gray mist. We visited 3 singing sisters. We
needed to get a place to stay.
At the Orleans rotary ( don't you love Cape Cod's Rotaries ) We
turned off onto Canal Rd to stay at the Seashore Park Inn. This is
right behind Friendly's - very convenient. You will want to begin
here or at the Orleans Bike Shop a little further up the trail on
Main St. We rode Canal Rd. to Locust , and turned left onto a woodsy
trail unpaved but smooth pedaling along the rear of some condos.We
came out at Orleans Cycle ,they have a very nice free copy of the
bike trail map here and were most helpful. We walked across Main st.
in the blue painted cross walk. A train platform for Orleans station
has been converted to a picnic stop. This is the famous Cape Cod Rail
Trail it's great. The trail is paved, wide and clear we are off on
our adventure. After a bit we come to a T we turn right on a road to
go up over a bridge that spans over Rte 6 there is wide margins so
it's pretty safe. We turn left on Salty Ridge Rd. All well marked for
bikers. Salty turns Rt and you can see it run into the trail at its
end. We pass the pipes that keep vehicles off and proceed along just
where the trains used to run. The scenery is very Cape Cod. Scrub
pines , marshes, shingled houses, and friendly people . Bonjour to
the French speaking bike team that passed us all smiles and
greetings. We pass some greenhouses to the left. Soon stop to
cross Oceanview and Old Bog Rd. carefully. Our next crossing is a
private deadend Rd. We see no one here. " Oh look ahead a tunnel" It
echos inside and we hoot and whistle to hear ourselves again.
Soon we pedal into Nickerson State Park. It has many side trails
we saved for another visit. They have bike rental , camping and rest
room fascilities in season. On we go crossing a dirt rd. next. We
ride more as the terrain is mostly flat and the pedaling easy. We
cross another road. As we pedal we spot a bright purple house on the
right it looks like an Easter house in it's spring color. We go on a
bit more spotting our second tunnel up ahead. We pedal through and
stop! On the left behind the tree we left a memory of our wonderful
bike trip on Cape Cod. Hope you have as much fun as we did. At this
point we turned back making the hour trip back to our hotel and the
Hot tub and pool. The trail continues and you could consult maps for
a bigger adventure. Happy Rail Trails .