The Anchorage LbNA #3083 (ARCHIVED)

The Anchorage Letterbox

(Sandwich, Massachusetts)

This one is on the Cape side of the Cape Cod canal -- Mary Manatee and
The Yachtsman.

THE ANCHORAGE LETTERBOX: Sandwich (Barnstable County)

Placed on October 19, 2002 by The Yachtsman and Mary Manatee


At the eastern end of the Cape Cod Canal in Sandwich, MA sits the
Sandwich Marina. This marina provides a stopping off place for boats
heading west to Buzzards Bay, or heading east into Cape Cod Bay. The
Anchorage Letterbox was placed in honor of all the boaters who have
stopped here for a short or long stay.

This is a very busy area for landlubbers also, with two recreation
areas, The Bulkhead Recreation Area on the west side of the marina,
and the Sandcatcher Recreation Area on the eastern side. Many
tourists visiting Cape Cod stop in here to see the beautiful views of
Cape Cod Bay. The Coast Guard maintains a station here, there is a
fish processing plant located here, and the Canal Station power plant
looms over the site to the west.

To get as close as possible to The Anchorage Letterbox, park in the
lot at The Sandcatcher Recreation Area. This lot can be reached by
taking Tupper Road, either from its intersection with Route 6A at the
Sagamore/Sandwich border (just across from the entrance to the Shawme
Crowell State Forest), or from its eastern end where it once again
intersects Route 6A at a traffic light in the town of Sandwich. If
approaching from the west, take Tupper Rd to Freezer Rd (which crosses
the railroad tracks). Turn left onto Freezer Rd, right onto Ed
Moffitt Dr, and drive past the Sandwich Marina. Continue to the Canal
Service Rd, and park in the lot at the end. If approaching from
Sandwich, take Tupper Rd to Town Neck Rd, turn right, and proceed
until you reach Coast Guard Road. Turn left onto Coast Guard Rd, and
proceed to the same Canal Service Rd. The parking lot is next to the
Cape Cod Canal Visitor's Center, a seasonal center run by the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers that highlights the building and history of
the canal. It is open from mid-May to early in October.

From the Visitor center, walk east along the dirt path to the right of
the canal access path. When the pavilion at Scusset (across the
canal) is at 0o take a right turn onto a path leading south towards a
large juniper. Just before reaching the "treeline", turn right (west)
and go 15 paces to a sandy area. From there, site a lone juniper that
rises above a beach plum bush to your right. Your prize is nestled
behind the bush and tree, hidden under some rocks.


Originally posted Wednesday, November 06, 2002