Bicycle Tour: Dune's Edge Campground, Day Three

On Tuesday, September 12, 2023, I continued by stay at Dune’s Edge Campground on Cape Cod near Provincetown. (For the second day of this tour, see Dune’s Edge Campground, Day Two).

I slept seven hours until 6:15 a.m. We campers experienced heavy rain with lightning and thunder in the night. I stayed dry inside the tent, but the rain was loud on the rain fly. The rain subsided at about 2:00 a.m., and it stopped shortly after I woke up at at sunrise.

I made breakfast, which was a little slow because I had to search for my spoon. I began charging my power bank. My watch had only 13% battery , so I turned it off.

This was a hiking day. In the morning, I walked through the dunes and along the shore in the Provincelands, stopping at the Visitors Center before returning to the campground.

I packed water, string cheese, Clif Bars, and an apple in a backpack. I headed out towards the trail to the Dune Shacks. I walked to U.S. Route 6 and turned left to walk on the shoulder. After a few hundred feet, I found a good place to cross the median, and I continued east on the south shoulder until I turned right on Howand Street. I came upon the Old Colony Nature Trail and followed it east to Snail Road. The mosquitoes were abundant, and I had neglected to bring bug spray.

Old Colony Nature Trail

I turned left on Snail Road to return to Route 6. I crossed and continued straight onto the Dune Shacks Trail. Other people were already hiking there. I followed the trail in the sand over several dunes. A sign recommended staying on the main trail. After slow but steady walking in the loose sand, I reached the ocean. I could see a couple of shacks and a 4-wheel road. The beach was very empty. The water was the Gulf of Maine in the Atlantic Ocean.

Dune Shacks Trail

A dune shack

Looking east along the shoreline

Looking west towards Race Point Beach

I decided on impulse to turn left and walk along the beach to Race Point Beach. There were no other people on the beach for about a mile. Many seals were floating near the shore, watching me. I reached a section where driving was allowed. Vehicles going the other way included dune tours and fishermen; everyone was about my age.

A pod of seals

Double crested cormorants

Recent dune erosion

After about an hour of steady walking, I reached Race Point Beach. I followed the bike trail to the small but modern visitor’s center. I identified some of the plants in the photos below using the Cape Cod Native Plants website.

Dahlia

Goldenrod

Bayberry

Cranberry

Lichen

Lichen

Pine flowers

Dune forest

Provincelands Bike Trail

I listened to a short talk by a ranger about whale watching, the Coast Guard buildings, and the Dune shacks. I bought a high quality trails map of the cape.

I walked along the bicycle trail towards Beech Forest until I reached Race Point Road, which I followed to Route 6. I turned left onto the shoulder of Route 6 and returned to the campground. My total distance was more than eight miles. I arrived at about noon. That was an excellent hike.

I ate crackers and cheese for lunch, and I began charging my devices. It took four hours to fully charge the power bank, and I used it to charge my phone, watch, tent lantern, Kindle, and bike lights.

I had been trying to dry my towel, a rag, and some clothing (two pairs of socks, one set of underpants, and my bright orange Baltimore Marathon shirt). Everything but the socks was drenched in the overnight rain; I had brought the socks into the tent with me last night. Everything was drying slowly because of the high humidity and moderate temperature (74 F).

My bicycle and campsite

I planned my route to Nickerson State Park for the next day. The direct distance was 29 miles, with check-in starting at 1:00 p.m. or later. If I left at 9:00 a.m., I could take my time and explore on my way. Once I reached Wellfleet, I could take the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

At 4:45 p.m., I ate crackers, cheese, and an apple. I was beginning to run low on food, but I planned to walk into Orleans to buy groceries after I arrived the next day at Nickerson.

I was closely monitoring the weather forecasts because the remnants of Hurricane Lee were moving up the East Coast.

For the fourth day of this tour, see Dune’s Edge Campground, Day Four.