MARGARET KNIGHT
508-627-8894
This time of year it always takes me awhile to get used to the arrival of tourists; it makes the craziness of summer seem too soon. But it’s a good time of year to be a tourist because there are no crowds. Last week I left the Island with only my bike for transportation — that and the bus system that covers the entire Cape. I was sensitive to being one of the early tourists on the Cape; I figured it will make me more forgiving later when I’m stopped by a herd of ice-cream-cone-lickers standing in the middle of the road trying to figure out which way to go.
I almost never go anywhere east of Falmouth, and then almost always by car, but I’d decided to do a little exploring close to home. I’d heard about the Cape Cod’s rail trails — bike paths made on old railroad beds. The first trail I rode on was a very pleasant bike path to Falmouth by way of the beach and a nature preserve. From the Falmouth bus depot, I caught a couple of local buses (that take bikes on a rack in front) to the beginning of the Cape Cod Rail Trail in South Dennis.
The trail is a paved path that leads through Harwich, Brewster, Orleans and Eastham and ends 22 miles later at Wellfleet. Off it are trails to Chatham and Nauset Beach National Seashore. Most of the path is back from the road, sometimes even in the woods, as it is where the train went. It passes many small and large ponds and interesting areas. Along the way, many backyards abut the bike trail, and almost every one has a little path leading out to the bike trail. Some have fancy garden gates or lined pathways; others are just dirt paths, but they give the feeling that people use and appreciate the bike trail. I passed many people walking and skating, as well as biking.
The farthest out on the Cape I went was Nauset Beach in Eastham. The beach is on the outside of the arm of the Cape, and is an amazing place to experience the power of the ocean. Giant waves roll in a long distance to crash on the wide sandy beaches. The shallow water made it easy to picture the many past shipwrecks, as boats tried to sail around the Cape.
The Cape is beautiful, like the Vineyard, but much more built up and busy with shopping malls and traffic. If I had heard about the wonders of the Cape and then ended up in one of those motels strips along Route 28 with asphalt everywhere in sight, I would definitely feel gypped. But with a good map, there are many beautiful spots to be found.
The high school Minnesingers are just back from their tour of Prague and Paris, and will present their 2011 spring show, The Music of America: Give Our Regards to Broadway, on May 7 at 8 p.m. and May 8 at 3 p.m. at the high school Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. For information, call 508-693-5255.
Planning for a Graceful Exit, a program and interactive discussion about end of life planning and choices, is sponsored by the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury on Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; a $10 donation is requested. A light lunch will be served. Topics include the importance of having a will, health proxy and power of attorney, the options available in using financial planning to benefit those you love, what end of life issues and decisions your may face, what hospice can do for you or a loved one. It is open to all. Please make a reservation by May 4 by calling Meg at 508-693-2842.
The Edgartown library has started its latest film series: Paris in the Spring. For the next four weeks on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. through May 17 you can see French films on the big screen downstairs, with tasty French desserts to set the mood. You can find announcements of each screening online or pick up a bookmark listing the whole series.
On their Web page, the library staff expresses their gratitude to the outgoing library trustees for their devotion to ensuring and improving library services for the Edgartown community. “Patricia Rose, first elected in 2004, and Ann Tyra, first elected in 2005, guided the library through two grant processes as well as numerous building-related environmental setbacks. Ellen Kaplan graciously stepped up to fill a vacant board position in 2010 and proved invaluable during this last grant process. Thank you to all.” They also welcome the three new trustees, Julie L. Lively, Deanna Ahearn Laird, and Robert C. Avakian.
The Chappaquiddick Road is put back together again with new black asphalt scabs over all of this winter’s diggings. Even most of the potholes have been filled. The new underground line is “energized” — it’s not clear whether that means it’s in use yet or just ready. But according to Peter Wells, talk has it that regarding the project, “Everything’s good.”
The Trustees of Reservations are asking for help with winter cleanup at Mytoi garden on Saturday, April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. You can call TTOR at 508-693-7662 if you want to RSVP.
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