With two days of rest after the riding in Italy, I decided to go long today. Temps were 86 degrees F, the wind started from the SSW at 10-20 and then switched to NNW at 10-20 with the garbage smoke crap. I figured I'd try and beat most of it, and did. 86 miles, 5:16 moving time, 2680 feet. I had reduced the Eco setting to 90W max. I rode a lot of analog with the tailwind out, and Eco for the rest. I used my range extender as well. I ended up with 10% battery left. This means if I am going to get to Provincetown and back, I'll have to be more judicious with battery management than today.
Sheep Pond looked absolutely gorgeous, with no signs of smoke.
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My first stop was Wellfleet Harbor for lunch at Mac's Seafood on the Pier. It's a takeout joint right on the harbor. No worries about the bike. The navigation bouys are needed because of the thousands of oyster farm cages that are submerged there.
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I was torn between a rare seared tuna wrap or a sea scallop burrito. Both fish are local and super fresh. I chose the scallop burrito because I have never had one.
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After leaving Wellfleet harbor, my destination was the Truro Highlands lighthouse. I planned a route that kept me off of Route 6 as much as possible. However, the Garmin does not know about construction and detours.
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I rode down there anyway, since sometimes there is a way around it, but the bridge was fenced off, so I had to turn around. Riding the hardpack gravel was a piece of cake. I ended up doing 5 miles each way on Route 6 in a 4-6 foot sharrowed shoulder. Vehicles came in groups of 3-5 so it wasn't hard to know when they were coming.
My destination and turnaround point, the Truro Highlands lighthouse.
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This marker shows the original location of the lighthouse. It was moved back around 500 feet in 1996.
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Access to the top of the dunes, and the beach below, has been closed off for "safety". It has been open in the past. I think one of the reasons that it's closed is that it is too close to this FAA beacon, marking the end of land as airplanes above fly out over the Atlantic.
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I stated feeling janky at the the 60 mile mark. It's a long ride for me, and the air quality started to deteriorate. I'm sure that it was mostly me. The return detour offered a treat, a beach that I've never been to.
This next shot is for you,
@RabH . A wonderful trip through an estuary on the way to the beach.
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The beach is called Corn Hill Beach, named after the same section of Truro. The Cape is fairly narrow here, so this is on the Cape Cod Bay side. It was quite busy even that late in the afternoon.
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I could not resist stopping to take a picture of Seymour Pond in Brewster on the way back. So serene and empty at dinnertime. The smoke has invaded the skyline.
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I was pretty wiped when I got back to my truck, but a warm outdoor shower, some beef ramen, and a cold DIPA fixed that right quick.
