Bicycle Tour: Cape Cod 2023, Day Two
I spent a quiet day at Nickerson State Park, walking twelve miles and riding twelve miles.
On Monday, September 25, 2023, the second day of my tour, I had a quiet day at Nickerson State Park. (For the first day of this tour, see Cape Cod 2023, Day One).
From 8:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., I walked campground loops and bicycle trails in the park for 6.39 miles. Nickerson State Park is enormous with hundreds of campsites in seven different areas. I found a plaque commemorating John Kelley’s fiftieth Boston Marathon.
John Kelley memorial plaque in Nickerson State Park
From 10:55 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., I walked to Shaw’s Market in Orleans. I had difficulty finding a good way to get there, since walking along Route 6A failed because of a lack of sidewalks and crosswalks. (Pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure on Cape Cod is infuriatingly deficient.) I ended up walking on the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
No sidewalks, no crosswalks, no pedestrian access
Namskaket Creek flowing into Cape Cod Bay
Cape Cod Rail Trail near Namskaket Creek
Marshland near Cape Cod Rail Trail in Orleans
At Shaw’s, reputedly the best grocery store on the Lower Cape, I bought groceries, including a fresh seafood salad containing mussels. I walked back to my campsite for another 2.90 miles, arriving at 1:20 p.m.
I ate lunch and relaxed at my campsite. From 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., I rode campground loops in the park for 12.31 miles.
I got plenty of exercise and relaxation today, having walked about twelve miles and having biked another twelve miles. This was my idea of a good vacation.
For the third day of this tour, see Cape Cod 2023, Day Three.