28th July 2002 : Cape Cod Canal & Plymouth, MA

We woke up on Sunday to a muggy, misty morning. Our original plan was to hang around Boston until 2pm and then pick up our rental car and then drive down to Plymouth.

Given the weather, we left the hotel almost immediately after breakfast and headed South looking for more pleasant weather.

Misty view of Boston on a warm and sticky day	Sue and Chris outside the Hyatt	Sue and Mike outside the Hyatt

We were prepared for heavy traffic on the road towards Cape Cod. In fact traffic was flowing freely, "at the limit", all the way, so it was too early to check in to our hotel in Plymouth. We had time to visit Cape Cod Canal, part of the Intracoastal Waterway.

We crossed the Sagamore Bridge and drove along the South bank, not very exciting and then crossed Saugus Bridge and drove back along the North.

This was much more scenic, with high steep banks and several places to stop. It was obviously a popular place for boating, fishing, hiking, cycling etc.

At the first stop, we walked down a flight of steps to river level.

Cape Cod Canal Sign	Sue and Mike by Cape Cod Canal	Mike and Chris at the foot of the steps down to Cape Cod Canal
Sue on the steps down to Cape Cod Canal	Boat on Cape Cod Canal	Boat on Cape Cod Canal
Sue on the steps down to Cape Code Canal	Footpath alongside the Canal	Boat on Cape Cod Canal
Boat on Cape Cod Canal	Mike and Sue at the foot of the steps down to the canal	Chris at water level
The canal from water level		The canal from water level
The canal from water level	The canal from water level	Mike at water level
Sue just above water level	Weed at the edge of the canal	Sue and Chris just above canal level
Mike at water level	Boat on Cape Cod Canal	Boat on Cape Cod Canal
Sue just above water level	Boat on Cape Cod Canal	Boat on Cape Cod Canal
Rose hip on canal side	Climbing back to the car	Climbing back to the car
Climbing back to the car	Canal side paths	Berries on the canal side
Climbing back to the car	Climbing back to the car	Sue climbing back to the car

The next stop did not offer much of a view of the canal. It commemorated the people who designed and built the canal.

Commemorating William Barclay Parsons, the Chief Engineer	Commemorating August Belmont who had the idea for the canal	Commemorating Monica Dickens Stratton, founder of the US Samaritans
National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark	Award of excellence to the US Army Corps	Our hire car
	Mike near the commemorative plaques

Our final stop on the Cape Cod Canal was at water level at the Cape Code Visitor Center. We walked a little along the bank, looking in particular at the cormorants and ducks, but it was really too hot and sticky for much activity.

Water bird sitting on a lamp post	Water bird sitting on a lamp post	Water bird sitting on a lamp post
Water bird sitting on a lamp post	Sagamore Bridge	Sue looking at the Sagamore Bridge
Sagamore Bridge	The Canal looking West	Water bird in the canal
Bank side flower	Water bird in the canal	Water bird in the canal
Sagamore Bridge	Cape Code Visitor Center and Restrooms	Sue near the visitor center
Mike near the visitor center	The trail along the side of the canal	Water bird in the canal
Water birds in the canal	Water bird sitting on a lamp post	Water bird sitting on a lamp post
Water bird sitting on a lamp post	Water bird sitting on a lamp post	Water bird sitting on a lamp post
Mike near the visitor center

We had consumed enough time, so now headed towards Plymouth and the Sheraton Inn. We stopped on the way for lunch at the badly named "Friendly's". The staff were not only surly, they were all wearing dirty stained clothing. Sue commented that she would not use the "Reliable Cleaners" opposite. We spent some time in the hotel and then went out for a walk late in the afternoon. The temperature had dropped a little, but not much.

First stop was the Town Pier and Harbor, to book our tickets for Whale Watching for the following morning.

Harbor Tour boat	Harbormaster's office	Harbor Tour boat
Mike and Sue at the end of the jetty	Captain John Boat	Fish being landed
Fish being landed	Captain John Boats sign	The Pilgrim Monument - heroic statue of Faith

Next we walked along the harbor wall.

Mike and Chris on the harbor wall	The Pilgrim Monument - heroic statue of Faith	Mike and Sue on the harbor wall
Lonely boat in the sea	Boats in the harbor and the Mayflower II	Captain John Boat
A windswept Sue on the harbour wall	Captain John Boat	Splashdown Duck Tour
Splashdown Duck Tour	Mike on the Harbor wall	Splashdown Duck Tour
Sue and Mike	The duck tour in the harbor	Mayflower II
The Pilgrim Monument		Seaweed

Walking back towards the hotel, we encountered a flock of gulls perched on the car park sign.

Bird near the harbor	Birds near the harbor	Birds near the harbor
Bird near the harbor	Birds near the harbor	Birds near the harbor
Bird near the harbor	Birds near the harbor	Bird near the harbor
Birds near the harbor	Bird near the harbor	A bird in the bush
Mike near the harbor	Splashdown tour on land	Mike with precious water
	Mike with precious water

We finished a tiring day with a relaxing drink in the hotel bar and a light meal from the bar snack menu.