Total around the world bicycle miles 26,107 (42,015 km)

October 7, 2016

122 miles

We left Provincetown and headed around the Cape Cod Peninsula mostly by bike paths and rail trails. Cape Cod has an excellent paved bike path system that winds and meanders up and down sand dunes giving way to many beautiful ocean views. We reached Brewster and a warmshowers host. Susan was very excited to hear about our adventures and we were just the 3rd cyclist she has hosted. She had previously invited two couples to dinner so we were invited to a dinner party with excellent company and barbecue steaks. It was a really fun evening and her two extra beds were very comfortable. We left before the sun was up as Susan went to work. Thanks Susan, we enjoyed hearing of your world travels and hope to see you again.

We cycled to Hyannis and boarded the Martha’s Vineyard ferry. It was a beautiful calm day on the ocean unlike two days ago when we ferried to Provincetown. An hour later we were riding down the ferry ramp to explore Martha’s Vineyard, a longtime New England summer colony. A few hours later Jocelyn found a nice campground where we settled in for the night. We had wanted to spend two nights here but will leave tomorrow for New Bedford. It is unknown when the effects of Hurricane Matthew will be felt here. The ferry stops running for the season on October 10th.

Why is the island called Martha’s Vineyard? The most popular and very believable account is that the island was named by the British explorer Bartholomew Gosnold, after his infant daughter – Martha. Gosnold came to Cuttyhunk (one of the Elizabeth Islands between the Vineyard and the mainland), in 1602 and built a small fort and trading post. He would take short sails to “the big island” (Martha’s Vineyard) for the purpose of gathering sassafras root, to be hauled back to England for medicinal use. Gosnold was only on Cuttyhunk about six weeks because of a small skirmish with the Wampanoags. Their uncomfortable situation was intensified by worries that a supply ship would not arrive in time for that first winter, so the British wisely withdrew from the Islands before winter. Before leaving, however, it’s believed that Gosnold named the big island after his infant daughter, Martha.

Speaking of Hurricane Matthew our Cape Canaveral home only suffered tree damage, thanks to Andee and Cary making it a fortress with our storm panels and long water blocking bladders against the doors filled with water. I had a hard time sleeping as I thought about Andee and Cary. It seems like Cary and I were texting all night to let me know what was happening.

October 8, 2016

This morning we bike toured to Edgartown but didn’t have enough time to take the 3 minute ferry to Chappaquiddick Island as we were scheduled to leave Vineyard Haven on the 12:45 ferry to New Bedford. We rode on that ferry to New Bedford where tomorrow we will take and extra day to visit the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The weather forecast calls for 100% chance of rain due to Hurricane Matthew so it will be a good day not to be on the road biking.