Successful catch!

Another beautiful day after a cloudy start. Today we went to the Falmouth area in the south-west area of Cape Cod. We planned to cycle the Shining Sea Bike Path, which in our guide book was listed as being four miles long, linking Falmouth to Wood's Hole. However, we discovered it has been extended (officially opened on July 4th of this year) and is now 11 miles in length (one way), so we didnt complete it, but we did about 15 miles return. The trail follows the old Penn Central Railroad line, and passes beaches, marshes and bird sanctuaries, and towards Wood's Hole, offers lovely views of Martha's Vineyard, Vineyard Sound and Naushon Island. We parked close to what we had thought was the beginning of the trail, and cycled first into Wood's Hole. Wood's Hole is home to three major scientific institutions: the National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (or WHOI, pronounced hooey), and the Marine Biological Laboratory. It is also a terminus for the Steamship authority auto and passenger ferries to the Vineyard. We parked our tandem, and went for a wander round on foot, and had lunch at a restaurant by the water. Then we rode back, past where we had parked the car and continued in search of the beginning of the trail, which we never came to! We crossed the beautiful Sippewissett Marsh, which is where we saw a number of Great Egrets (?), including this one with his catch, and a green heron. Then we returned to the very attractive center of Falmouth, with its range of shops and eating places, and the picture-perfect village common, surrounded by historic houses, many built for wealthy ship captains and now converted into B&B's. We enjoyed a wonderful ice cream at one of the shops before completing our ride back to the car.

Be sure to check it out in large