FALMOUTH – We always expect different scenes along the Shining Sea Bikeway. After all, Mother Nature is full of surprises, always changing in intriguing ways.
We certainly were not expecting such a delightful wildlife sighting as a giant swan’s nest right next to the bikeway, near the Sippewissetts Marsh section of the path. We watched mesmerized as the female (we assume) stood on top of the nest, moving sticks around and positioning herself above what appeared to be one egg.
The male swan was nearby looking busy as he grabbed at grasses, but actually seeming like he was not doing much at all to help. (Sigh.)
Nearby, another new sighting for us was a flock of geese taking up a good amount of real estate on the high ground section of the Great Sippewissett Marsh, as it curves out to the coast. We had not seen so many in that spot before, but perhaps it is not that unusual.
At Chapoquoit Road, we could not help but travel a little ways off the bike path to check out West Falmouth Harbor where two windsurfers were testing out their equipment on the calm, shallow waters.
Another new sighting is not so much Mother Nature as Father Developer. From the bikeway, there is now a clear view of the changes at the former Sippewissett Campground with dozens (hundreds?) of Airstream trailers. We know these are meant to be very cool and luxurious. And we’re sure that a lot of tree planting and attractive landscaping is sure to come soon.
But right now, with the trees all cut down and the campers seeming to be very close, let’s just say that from the bikeway, it looks a bit, um, shiny.
Those are the changes we saw in a recent trek on the bikeway. There is always something new to see.
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