Our route took us on a 75+ mile journey along the back roads of South Shore communities like Weymouth, Scituate and Duxbury. Terrain was mildly rolling with no seriously challenging hills. Fog persisted until around 10-ish, obscuring many of the otherwise breathtaking coastal views, nevertheless it was a very pleasant ride. I could not wear my biking glasses because of the moisture constantly collecting on them. Our way led eventually down along the Cape Cod Canal to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy at Bourne.

There participants had the option of staying in the dorms at Mass. Maritime or camping on Academy grounds for free, or staying at local lodging at a reduced rate. I opted for the dorms just as I did last year. They are a little stuffy and one does get a roommate or two, but all in all accommodations are quite adequate.

Riders who raised more than $1500 for the cause were treated to a wine and cheese reception aboard the Academy's vessel, Enterprise, shown at right.

At left is the MS compound at the Mass. Maritime Academy as seen from the fantail deck of the Enterprise. The big tent is the main dining tent and the other small tents are for teams.

In the foreground is one of the orange lifeboats of the Enterprise - not part of the MS event.

The 4-story buildings to the left are the dorms. There one of the conference rooms was turned into a massage facility for the day to serve aching bicyclists.

Obscured by buildings in the foreground is the beer truck, sponsored by Wachusett Brewery, where I enjoyed a pint plastic cup of Green Monster Ale. What could be betta?

The next day we were woken at 4am. I had a quick breakfast of eggs and melon with just a little coffee. It was strangely warm for pre-dawn - about 82 degrees and very humid: tropical weather as we rode over the Bourne bridge. The sun came up as a glow amid the haze.

The second day was much hillier. These hills are not very challenging in and of themselves, but as you try to keep up your momentum on the downhill to help you crest the uphill, they take their toll.

By 11am the fog and haze burned off and it was sunny, hot and humid as we made our way through Chatham and Wellfleet. By the time we got to Provincetown it was about 90 degrees.

At right is the rest stop at Cook's Beach at mile 53 on day 2. Some hilly terrain is just after this. All along the route, every 10 or 20 miles, MS Society volunteers manned rest tops for the riders. The event could not take place without the volunteers.

In Provincetown they fed us again and provided well-needed shower trucks. I was somewhere toward the middle of the pack and arrived around noon or 12:30. The route was open until 2:30 for those who might have had mechanical or other difficulties. Like last year, there were already many riders there when I arrived, and many continued to arrive after I had showered and eaten.

The MS Society offered two means of getting back to Quincy: bus or ferry. As I did last year, I elected to take the ferry because it affords room to stretch out. The ferry was scheduled for 4pm, so I had lots of time to enjoy the P-Town ambience.

Photo at left was taken from the pier looking inland. In the background is the towering Pilgrim Monument.

On the ferry ride back to Quincy there was music and dancing on the upper deck. Below there were beer and grilled burgers, sausage, or hot dogs available, and on the deck below that, room to stretch out. The ferry takes 3 hours (or so) to get from P-Town to Quincy.

I went got a burger and a beer and went down to the lower deck to watch the water go by for a while. Then I sat down on the deck with my back against a bulkhead and stretched out, trying to minimize the aches I'd be feeling the day after.

As we neared our destination, I climbed to the upper deck and took the picture at right.