Cape Cod Tracker

Crossing That Bridge

For a long time has it been known that you are not offically on Cape Cod till you cross the Cape Cod Canal either by car, boat, or train. The Cape Cod Canal essentially made Cape Cod an island with water on all four sides. The Canal was first explored and considered by Miles Standish of the Plymouth colony in 1623 Standish realized that a waterway connecting Buzzards Bay with Cape Cod Bay would help trade between the Plymouth colony, the Native American Indians and the Dutch from New York.

The Cape Cod Canal today.

Although such a task was beyond the abilities of the colony during the Revolutioninary War George Washngton saw the need for a Canal to give greater security to the American forces. In 1776 Thomas Machin an engineer with the Army  investigated the feasability of a Canal his report recomended that a Canal be built. Over the next Century many surverys and studies where done and some groups even started construction of a Canal but failed. In 1904 August Perry Belmount president of the Boston Cape Cod and New York Canal Company conducted a engineering study and on favorable results started construction on the Cape Cod Canal in May of 1909.

Very little was accomplished during the first year due to winter storm in November causing the company to stop work until Spring of the next year. By 1910 the Canal project was fully underway and in September of 1910 the Buzzards Bay Railroad Bridge was completed consisting of a single span 160 feet long. The weight of the span was balanced with one huge counterweight. In 1911 and 1912 the Bourne and Sagamore bridges where completed each of the highway bridges consisted of 2 spans and functioned like a draw bridge.

By 1914 ony one dam seperated the two waterways of Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay and on July 29, 1914 the Cape Cod Canal opened as a privately operated toll waterway. The Canal was first opened with a depth of 15 feet with it's target depth of 25 feet. Serveral serious accidents occured in Belmonts Canal causing many lengthy Canal closures and losses in revenue. By 1915 Belmont had already tried to sell his Canal failure to the Federal Goverment and in March of 1928 Belmonts Canal was sold to the Federal Goverment for $11,500,000.

On March 13th, 1928 Congress  directed the U.S Army Corps of Engineers to operate and improve the Canal. The Corps of Engineers then learned from users of the Canal how it could improve naigation in the Canal. Then the 2 draw bridges where removed and 2 fixed high level bridges replaced the 2 draw bridges and then on June 21st, 1935 the two highway bridges where opened to traffic. These bridges are the very same bridges that exist today, In December of 1935 the Buzzards Bay Railroad Bridge was completed as it exists today. The Corps then went on to widen and deepen the Canal to be 480 feet wide and 32 feet deep . In 1940 the widening and deeping of the 17.4 mile canal was completed making the Cape Cod Canal the widest sea level Canal in the world.

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Biking the Cape

Cape Cod as we all know is known for it's beaches and sandunes and seafood but there are also a few bike paths around the Cape that most people don't see while trailing the Cape. A few of the Capes bikepaths are paved and a few are left unpaved.

Paved Bike Paths:

Cape Cod Canal Bike Way: Most if not all people that travel to the Cape know about this. The Cape Cod Canal bikeway is 7 miles each way on each side of the canal and starts around the area of the Railroad Bridge on both sides.

National Seashore:The National Seashore Nauset Marsh Trail starts at the gateway to the Seashore and runs 1.6 miles by Salt pound. The Head of the Meadow trail run 2 miles by Salt meadow  and almost to Turo Town Beach. The Province Land Trails wich has two trails that go to an inner loop that is 5.45 miles. You can enter the Provience Land Trails from Race Point Beach, Provience Lands Visitors Center and Herring Cove Beach.

Cape Cod Rail Trail: The Cape Cod Rail Trail runs 22 Miles through the towns of Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet. This trail starts in South Dennis and runs all the way to Wellfleet. There are many places that you can get on the 22 mile rail trail the trail does not have many hills and has clear roadmarkings.

Nickerson State Park: The Nickerson State Park trail network is located just off of the Cape Cod Rail Trail and has a few trails going to different areas of the park with pluenty of natural scenery.

Shining Sea Bikeway: The shining Sea Bikeway follows the oringinal route of  the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad that ran from Buzzard Bay. The Shining Sea Bikeway starts in Falmouth and runs 10.5 miles to Woods Hole.

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Cape Cod Central Railroad's Community Appreciation Days

During the months of May and June some Cape residence can get a discount ride on Cape Cod Central Railroad's Scenic Train thanks to the railroads community days. On May 30th, 2009 residents of the town of Barnstable had there chance to ride the train at a discount fare of $5.00 a person. On June 6th, 2009 residents of the towns of Yarmouth and Dennis had the chance to take advantage of this discount fare. On June 13th, 2009 residences of the towns of Sandwich, Mashpee, and Bourne had the oppertunity to take advantage of the special rate for a ride on Cape Cod Central's scenic fun train. Just showing proof of residency can get you aboard the train for just $5.00 a person for a fun filled 2 hours. The train runs from Hyannis to the Cape Cod Canal and back. The train also makes stops on certain days at West Barnstable and Sandwich. I recently took the train as part of the community days event on June,6th, 2009. It was a fun filled 2 hours even thought it was a gray day. As we approached the canal the sun was shining and it turned out to be a great trip. On the community days there are 2 trains running I jumped aboard the first train leaving at 11:30 AM and returning to Hyannis at 1:30 PM. Later on I caught up with the second train and was able to capture video of it you can view my video by clicking here. You may have missed the opportunity of getting on board the train this year but be sure to look for it again next year.

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Cape Cod Whale Trail

Back in the year 2006 IFAW teamed up with K&M Productions and the Creative arts center in Chatham to create 58 fabulous whales to display around the Cape & Islands. The whales that were scattered around the Cape & Islands  all had a generous sponsor who sponsored each of the whales. The money given by the sponsor then went towards the creation of the 58 whales, once created the whales where placed in unique locations that where then placed on a map and distributed to people to find the whales.

One whale however was not placed on the map this whale was the mystery whale that was located at YMCA in Hyannis. People that found the mystery whale could report that they had found the whale and be entered into a drawing to win a prize. 

At the end of the summer all the whales where picked up and later taken to an auction where they where auctioned off for charity.

You may or may not remember the whale trail however now let me take you on the great whale hunt  of 2006. Now the great whale hunt begins in the video below enjoy the hunt.  Video Click Here

Which whale would you like to take home?

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Cape Cod Central Railroad's Scenic Fun Train

   All aboard the Cape train!

Ever find yourself trying to find something to do when traveling to the Cape? How about catching a ride on one of the Cape Cod Central Railroads Scenic trains? Hopping aboard the train can be a great and rewarding experience  fares range from Free to $21.00,  $17.00 for children 3-11 years old children under 3 ride free. Adults ride at $21.00 and seniors 62+ ride at $19.00.

If boarding at West Barnstable Children Under 3 free and children 3-11 ride for $14.00. Adults ride for $18.00 and seniors 62+ ride for $16.00.

Looking to find out more about Cape Cod Central Railroad? Check out the trains official website http://www.capetrain.com or check out the video below.

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