These shots were all taken at the Cape Code Canal on Saturday, June 26, 2004. This was the half-way point of the 2004 Great Mass Getaway, a two-day, 150-mile bicycle ride from Boston, MA to Provincetown, MA to raise funds for research and local programs sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
These shots, plus a few more, are also available in an Ofoto photo album. Deb Jelley also has some pics from the weekend up on Ofoto. (Both albums require an Ofoto registration and login.)
Paul and me at the Cape Cod Canal
I just finished riding my bike for a little more than 75 miles. Paul's laughing. But the real question is am I laughing, or wincing in pain?
Another shot of Paul and me
Here you can see some of the houses on the other side of the canal.
Deb, Paul, and me
Deb is Paul's wife, and she and I did the ride together. Deb is the person who talked me into doing the ride. (Hey, Deb - nice hair!)
Paul at the canal
A shot of Paul looking out at the canal, taken a few hours after the other shots above. The grey skies are starting to clear, and you can see the effects of the light from the setting sun.
Patti, with Pete in the background
Patti and Paul were ride support volunteers for the weekend. They set up shop at one of the rest stops both days, handing out oranges, bananas, drinks, and moral support. Pete's wife, Ellen, is a massage therapist and she and about a dozen other massage therapists put in long hours each day giving out free ten minute massages at the end of the ride.
Railroad bridge down
While we were relaxing and watching the canal, we noticed the railroad bridge was down. Sure enough, along came a train. In the larger picture (click on the thumbnail to view the larger picture) you can clearly see the train crossing the bridge. Picturesque, certainly, but the real truth is that the train is the daily garbage train hauling garbage off of Cape Cod to a landfill somewhere.
Railroad bridge up
Here's what the bridge normally looks like, with the bridge in its up position. In the larger picture you can clearly see the Bourne Bridge in the background. Sunday morning we rode our bikes over the Bourne Bridge to begin our ride down the cape to Provincetown. The view from the top of the bridge is a wonderful reward for the steep ascent. The gravity assist on the way down was a pretty nice kick too!
Canal tug boats
A shot of two canal tug boats docked.
