On a nice spring day, Gaynell (my wife), Symrna (Belgian Sheepdog), and I picked up a large Italian Submarine and headed for Buzzard Bay, Massachusetts.  That's where you can park on the edge of the Cape Cod canal and watch the tugboats pushing huge oil barges and other smaller craft go by as we enjoy our submarine.

There is usually a fisherman or two standing on the rocks that line both sides of the canal trying there luck by casting out into the canal hoping to snag a Striped Bass or Bluefish.

We found a spot right on the edge of the canal about 15 feet from the water.  The current in the canal rushes by at about 5 knots and the Railroad Bridge is to the right.  It is usually way above the canal so the ships and boats can pass under it long span.

About the only traffic it get at this time of year is the trash train bringing Cape Cod's garbage to the SEMASS incinerator and power plant in Rochester, Massachusetts about 10 miles from the canal.  When the trash train comes along, the bridge is lowered and the maritime traffic must wait.  Later on in the summer, they add passenger trains that run up to Hyannis and back with a dining car

I quote from my website, http://www.capecod-beaches.com/, "The Cape Cod Canal Railroad bridge is the world's largest salt water aerial vertical lift bridge".  Its an amazing 544 feet from end to end and at its highest position offers a 136 foot clearance for maritime traffic to pass. 

At one time, back in the days, you could take a train from Boston and go all the way to the end of Cape Cod at Provincetown.  It was called the Old Colony Railroad.  The last train left Boston in 1959.

It was all the automobile's fault.

Buzzards Bay is also the entry point for people to enter the road that parallels the canal and is used by hikers, bicyclers, rollerblading, kids, dogs and other assortments of humankind.  Dogs must be on a leash.

If you visit Buzzards Bay, don't overlook the Maritime Academy where they train young people for careers in the maritime business.  It was cited in US News magazine as one of America's best colleges.  You can find your way to the canal because there is a huge wind turbine that dominates the skyline and is used by the academy for electricity.  Best winds in the east blow up Buzzards Bay.  The training ship Kennedy is usually docked there.

Here is more information on Cape Cod.