Cape Cod Trekkers on Martha's Vineyard

We made it to Martha's Vineyard today!

A short, late morning bike ride to the steamship authority brought us from our campsite in Falmouth to the ferry awaiting departure. Arriving a few minutes early, we stopped for ice cream, and we mixed and matched flavors to our personal preferences.

We loaded our bikes into the lower cargo area of the massive ferry, and headed to the upper decks, as we started across the Vineyard Sound.

Arriving in Martha's Vineyard, the port was packed with people, and fleets of anchored sailboats welcomed our arrival. We stopped at a grocery store around the corner to purchase our food for the next day. We had to resupply nearly all of our rations, so our bikes were filled as we rode another short distance into camp, at the Martha's Vineyard Family Campground.

When we reached the grounds, we came upon a beautiful sight - our cabin for the next few nights! ...a nice break from setting up our tents. A few of us wandered the grounds and then we unpacked our gear. In our cabin, we even have a mini fridge and a grill, so we stored our perishables, and decided to treat ourselves in true Vineyard style - by exploring Vineyard Haven and having a nice dinner out at the Blue Canoe Waterfront Grill. We had cheeseburgers, salmon and clam chowder above a small harbor, and we watched the famous Black Dog Cafe sailboat hoist its sails and head out to sea.

After a rather ritzy dinner, we explored some of the town and checked out some small gift and boutique shops.

We wandered the main street until about 8:00 p.m., when we were to meet up for a ghost walk around town. Our guide, affiliated with the town's newspaper, carried a lantern and led us around former ship Captains' homes, and down to the water, and up to an old graveyard. We learned some local history, while hearing some scary stories, and some of us even caught energy orbs in photos we took of the graveyard. Though some of us are believers, and others skeptics, the tour was a spooky way to get a taste of the area's rich seafaring history.

-- Trip leaders Annise and Cory

Cape Cod Trekkers Have a Busy Day 2

Day two of our journey in southeastern Massachusetts was one of many detours and miles, but we were fortunate to see some great sights.

First we stopped to see historic Lawson Tower in Scituate, however we couldn't climb to the top as planned, as we learned the tower was only open a few times a year. So we decided to head to Scituate Harbor and see the Scituate lighthouse, built in 1810. The low tide made for some surreal scenery as we walked along a jetty out towards the ocean. 

We stopped at a local market, and after grabbing our food for the next day, shared a couple tubs of ice cream outside the store.

Lunch was made very pleasant by the hospitality of a small lemonade stand run by a young boy, on the corner of a residential neighborhood. We stopped for lemonade there and made wrap sandwiches on the family's lawn.  The day of riding continued with many hills and more detours, and we took a short break to run through some sprinklers on an athletic field to cool off. A couple minor bike issues, including a flat tire, didn't slow us down. We ended up completing an impressive 40-mile ride.

We cooked our dinner of chicken enchiladas, enjoyed telling ghost stories, and some not-so-ghostly stories, next to the fire.

-- Trip Leaders Annise and Cory

Bike Trips for First-Time Explorers

Kids as young as 11 can get in on their first cross-country bike adventure with Teen Treks, on our First-Time Explorers and Easy routes.   These trips stick to quiet trails, tow paths, and little-used roads, and require as little as 15 miles biking per day. 

Some of these popular trips are already filling up!  Reserve your spot now, so you don't have to face the dreaded "SOLD OUT" label on that trip you had your heart set on.

First-Time Explorers trips (15-25 miles/day):

• D & R Canal Trek for students entering grades 6-8
• Connecticut-Rhode Island Trek for students entering grades 7-9
• Niagara-Toronto Trek for students entering grades 7-9

The D & R Canal Trek follows the historic D & R Canal Trail through Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Ride across the Delaware River where George Washington made his crossing, see 18th century farmhouses, and tour picturesque downtown districts and the Princeton campus on this great six-day introduction to bicycle touring.

The sandy beaches, charming New England towns, and winding back roads along the Connecticut-Rhode Island Trek are a biker's paradise.  This ten-day ride starts in NYC and goes through New Haven, Guilford, Hammonasset State Park, Block Island, Newport, and Providence before coming back to NYC by bus.

Our Niagara-Toronto Trek follows awesome bike trails around Lake Ontario.  We start in Buffalo, NY and cross into Canada on the first day to visit Niagara Falls and Goat Island, then see the lake freighters at on the Welland Canal, spend a day at Confederation Water Park, and head to Toronto for two days to explore Kensington Market, major museums, Chinatown, and the Toronto Islands.  This ten-day trek ends with a bus ride back to Buffalo for wings and last goodbyes.

Easy trips (20-35 miles/day):

• Cape Cod Trek for students entering grades 7-9
• C&O Canal Trek for students entering grades 7-9
• New England Shore Trek for students entering grades 7-9

The Cape Cod Trek heads south out of Boston past Plymouth Rock, to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard.  Over 14 days, you'll tour fishing and resort towns and enjoy cabin camping as you make your way up to Provincetown, then come back to Boston for two days visiting sites like Fanueil Hall and Harvard Square, seeing Shakespeare in the Park, and checking out trendy eateries and shops.

Bike the New England Shore with Teen Treks for 14 days, and see beautiful coastal towns and all the beaches you can handle.  We meet up in NYC, then take a train out of the city to start cycling up the coast through New Haven, Mystic, Groton, Block Island, Newport and Cape Cod, ending up with two days in lively, historic Boston.  A bus brings you back to NYC for a day, taking the trek full circle.

On the C & O Canal Trek, you'll bike for 16 days from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC, taking the Great Allegheny Passage (Rail to Trail) and the C&O Canal Tow Path -- no cars or traffic.  You'll get to go whitewater rafting, see Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water house, ride a 19th century canal boat, and visit Civil War-era sites at Harper's Ferry.  The last two days, we spend sightseeing in our nation's capital.

  

Our leaders get extensive training in first aid, mechanics, and leadership techniques, and they're all at least 21 years old. Many of them have taken trips just like the ones they're now leading, and many have led for Teen Treks before!

We love to help trekkers of all ages discover how much they can accomplish.  We camp out some, and we stay in clean, friendly hotels and hotels; we make oatmeal around the fire, and we eat out everywhere we go so you get to know places' local cuisine.  You'll make lifelong friends and come away with memories you'll treasure.

For more information on all our treks, including route maps, dates, and costs, visit Teen Treks' website.  Email or call us (716-566-7908) any time with questions.  We'd love to help you choose the best trip for a fantastic, unforgettable summer!