Cape Cod part 13. Weds 9th Nov 2011

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Briggsy
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Cape Cod part 13. Weds 9th Nov 2011

Post by Briggsy »

Norm, Bea and I met at the Sandwich town beach parking lot hoping to get the last bay section of our big trip finished. We drove to the launch at Grays Beach in Yarmouthport. We had already been past this area on the last trip so to launch from here would shave a couple of miles off which was helpful as it was getting dark at 4.30 now.
Perfect Morning on Grays Beach Yarmouthport
Perfect Morning on Grays Beach Yarmouthport
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The earlier fog had burned off and we launched at 9.30. It was shaping up to be a beautiful day, not like November at all. We cruised across Barnstable harbor entrance and headed straight for the dunes of Sandy Neck. There were hundreds of seabirds and ducks, and the occaisional seal.
Bea looking for seals
Bea looking for seals
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One lobster boat went by, but other than that there was no one else around.
In the summer Sandy Neck is jammed with 4WD campers but today only one fisherman with a 4x4.
Sandy Neck ahead
Sandy Neck ahead
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Norm and the dunes
Norm and the dunes
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About 12 ish we had made it as far as Scorton creek and we landed on the beach for lunch. We spent an hour relaxing in the sun, really different from our trip the Sunday before. There was barely a ripple on the water. By the time we got going again an hour later it felt like the sun was already going down.
The smokestack at the Sandwich power plant slowly grew closer, then we could make out the entrance to the canal. We paddled right up to the end and had a look down the canal before landing at the town beach.
The end in sight
The end in sight
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Looking along the canal
Looking along the canal
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The trip was 12.7 nautical miles (14.6 miles).Thanks Norm and Bea for coming down to the Cape again, you've been great company this summer. Norm paddled every section and Bea paddled over half of them.
It's been a fun project all summer and I've found some great new places to paddle. I will complete the Atlantic side early next year before those pesky sharks return.
In all we completed 150 nautical miles (172.5 miles) in 10 days of paddling.
Briggsy
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kayakerjnj
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Re: Cape Cod part 13. Weds 9th Nov 2011

Post by kayakerjnj »

Wish I could have joined you to complete the last leg!

Looking forward to another trip :D
Paddle with a big smile, its contagious 8)


Jordan
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Chip
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Re: Cape Cod part 13. Weds 9th Nov 2011

Post by Chip »

Quite the accomplishment. Wish I could have joined you.
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Birdseye
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Re: Cape Cod part 13. Weds 9th Nov 2011

Post by Birdseye »

Chip wrote:Quite the accomplishment. Wish I could have joined you.


Ditto, but I already said that a couple times before. If anyone wants to do it again next year let's talk about it. But my schedule is not as flexible as Norm's.

Can you paddle in the canal or get permission to paddle through it with an escort?
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norm
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Re: Cape Cod part 13. Weds 9th Nov 2011

Post by norm »

I've been too busy to add my pictures to this trip report in the past week, but I can't complain since some of that busy-ness included a couple days of paddling.

This last leg (for this year) of the big trip turned out to be on a beautiful day that really fit in with the fantastic paddling days we've had for most of the legs. I'm so lucky to have had the extra vacation time this year to be able to participate in this adventure. This basically was my vacation this year. Thanks again Briggsy for all the excellent planning and good times. I hope I can participate in the final legs of the trip next year.

Driving down to meet at the take-out in Sandwich, we came across some foggy areas, but it was pretty clear at the end of the canal with a little hint of the fog way off in the distance off the coast of Plymouth.

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During the drive to Bass Hole / Grays Beach, we passed through more fog but it was clearly burning off. When we arrived, it still looked a little foggy off in the distance. A look around from the boat ramp, turning counter-clockwise.

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The tide seemed to come in pretty quick at this flat sandy beach and our boats were almost completely afloat by the time we were dressed in our dry gear and ready to launch.

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The water was nice and calm at first but then we noticed a little current as we got closer to the harbor.

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Crossing the mouth of the harbor, we came across a seal. I think Bea was trying to get a picture of it as it popped up right beside her.

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Sandy Neck Lighthouse with one of the many flocks of birds we paddled through in the foreground.

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The one other boat we came across while paddling.

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From the tip of Sandy Neck to the parking lot appears to be almost 6 miles (Google Earth). It seemed to go on forever, but it was very enjoyable since we had high tide and low winds this time, allowing us to cruise along close to shore and view the grassy sand dune sculptures up close.

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I thought this guy's SUV might be stuck in the sand from the way he was walking around, but then when I got closer, I realized he had 3 or 4 fishing rods set up around the vehicle and he was checking them. He was nice enough to reel in his lines so I didn't have to swing way out around them.

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When you get beyond where the Sandy Neck parking area is, there starts to be houses near the beach. Not sure if this is West Barnstable or East Sandwich.

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Heading for the beach before reaching the entrance to Scorton Creek.

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Looking up and down the beach at the spot we stopped for lunch. Plenty of privacy this time of year.

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We sat down for lunch near the bank of the sand dune to block any wind but stayed in the sun. I had pulled out an extra jacket to put on while eating lunch since I've been finding it chilly during breaks on the last few trips, but didn't need it. It was so nice, we sat around on the beach for over an hour.

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It was a short paddle after lunch to reach the canal.

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There didn't seem to be any current in or out of the canal and no traffic either, so we ventured in a few feet to take a look.

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Finally we were beyond the power plant chimney that we had paddled towards all day.

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The tide was out at the beach in front of the beach parking lot where we landed.

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The shadows were long and so was the carry to get the boats from the water back to the truck.

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I hope we can do a similar series next year after we finish this one. How many legs would it be from Plymouth to Newburyport???
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kayakerjnj
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Re: Cape Cod part 13. Weds 9th Nov 2011

Post by kayakerjnj »

Great pictures!

Dave, a great planning feat to segment around the cape as nicely as you did!
Paddle with a big smile, its contagious 8)


Jordan
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