got out for approx 1 1/2 hrs

there was very little snow cover on the ground in South Dennis. but plenty on the multi-use trail. & since it’s so popular there were a lot of frozen footprints embedded in approx 3" of slowly melting snow & ice. this made riding thru it inconsistent & slow



some sections were plowed & some sections that get exposed to sun were bare







but other sections had a hard layer of ice. one spot had a single bicycle track & even though I saw it in advance, my front wheel caught it & the bike went down. I was able to hop off flat footed (two feet together, weird) & to the left (as per usual) didn’t fall myself. would have been perfectly fine riding the ice w my studs if I stayed out of the rut





started by riding south/west over the new section & bridges. got as far as Flax Pond at Dupont Ave. further would have been more of the same, so after the pond I turned back

no lifeguard ... go figure ...




no fish near shore


then I tried north/east & got a short way beyond the original parking lot, before turning back. total ride stats not great, but at least I salvaged an hour of active & strenuous cycling

a side trail offered some relief



the temp was consistently 39-40 degrees & sunny
the other riders I encountered were two separate guys on road bikes who were not happy w the conditions. one of them was ready for battle with full face balaclava & goggles
& a pair of young men on 29ers who were happy to be out but seemed to only get as far as I did

just a reminder to me the original Dennis parking lot is at exit 9 off Route 6. but I should investigate parking at the southern / western end near exit 7

That makes me cold just looking at it.

I'll be on the Cape at the end of the month but not on a bike. Looking forward to a summer visit, I always like to hit the CCRT with my wife.

fun! I'm looking forward to exploring the rest of the new extension

hmmm was just exploring google satellite images. might have to explore this section of trail w my MTB

520 Higgins Crowell Rd, West Yarmouth

red line heading west, orange line heading east toward official CCRT


looking west (away from official CCRT)


looking east (toward official CCRT)

1 week later & it's open season! woohoo! go ride!

Have you been on the branch that goes to Chatham harbor? Go see the seals at the docks. There's a huge amount of seals.

yes but not lately. I know the turnoff

that dotted line is solid now. clear sailing from exit 7. no MTB required! you just need to find a place to park

you can park in a dirt lot at: 307 Higgens Crowell Rd Yarmouth



then ride .7 miles on the road, to the narrow paved trail seen in the google street view in post #5




or you can (skip the .7 road ride) & park where I did Saturday: Massachusetts & Cape Cod & Islands Association of Realtors Convention Center 22 Mid-Tech Dr, West Yarmouth
on Saturday there seemed to be 4 spots in the corner of the lot that seemed harmless to use. can't guarantee it & no idea what weekdays are like
look under the word "but" in the sat image in post #5 (I just added some "P"s where I parked)

actual photo of my car


I found other parking 2 miles up the trail at: Old Town House Road Park, 144 Old Town House Rd, South Yarmouth, MA 02664 (seasonal restrooms, closed now)

dunno, but would be fun to go searching! I got into a maze of trails going the other way. definitely going back! (but I think I should bring breadcrumbs ...!)

Nice! Is a goal for me to ride the whole thing this summer. I've typically maxed out at about 35 miles, but I'm hoping to stretch that out with the new bike.

cool! treat it like a "personal" century. start early, take your time the first 1/2, drink before thirsty, eat before hungry, have a nice break at the 1/2 way. pick a nice day, don't stop for pics & if you hit a portable toilet for a pit stop, keep your bike pointed in the correct direction! so far I have TWICE gotten back on the trail going the wrong way! it all looks the same! Wifey finally slapped me & gave me that tip! (she didn't actually slap me tho)

do it now before the crowds show up. was pretty sweet having the trails mostly to myself

I think I'm going to head down the this weekend.

I would too (want to explore MTB trails in Nickerson State Park) (they also have paved trails) but I'm back working Sundays & am visiting elderly parents in NY Saturday. enjoy & report back!

had an interesting time yesterday intersecting the CCRT while making my way North thru Nickerson State Park (Brewster) from the sports fields south of the park, to the bay (Crosby Landing) which is North of everything. funny how we zoom past stuff not knowing what lurks to the left or the right of us



quite the maze of trails in there



but "North" is North, so the bay was easy to find

Have you already done Martha's Vineyard? Also a place to visit before summer.

a bit, over the years. I agree pre/post season out there is best. those roads are narrow & winding!

There is a decent bike path system, but not very long, maybe 15 miles. Crowded sometimes.
edit - I park a few miles up the road in Falmouth for free and ride to the ferry, that adds 3-4 miles one way.