Yeomanlike would be a good word to describe my bicycle.

It’s a “hybrid,” which is a fancy way of describing a machine that’s too slow to compete with a road bike and too wimpy to manage any surface featuring rocks or roots, for fear of popping or bending something somewhere.

Buuuuuuuut… I still beat the heck out of it anyway, while having a blast! Maybe I’m not giving it enough credit.

It doesn’t click into top gear anymore and the right-side handlebar end got shorn off in a small crash last summer.

I ride with the seat as high as possible and imitate a “cyclist” at times.

Typically, I’m single-pannierred and doubled-over, laboring along, dry goods and frozen berries from Trader Joe’s, an acceptable drag on performance.

On occasion, this well-seasoned tool accompanies me on an adventure.

Come thither my trusted steed! We’re off to the North Shore! Crane Beach!

Crane Beach

Although I’ve written about Cape Cod here and here, I’m partial to the north shore of Massachusetts, if we’re talking beaches.

It’s certainly more than a little to do with sentiment – we went to Cape Ann as a family growing up for camping/beach adventures nearly every summer. It was always a ton of fun and I have lots of amazing memories exploring Wingaersheek Beach (it’s adjacent to Crane across Essex Bay) and the town of Gloucester.

If I had to pick a second, and I don’t, but I will for the sake of this train of thought, I would choose Crane Beach as my next favorite north shore beach. It’s big and flat with nice sand, beautiful dunes and immaculate facilities.

Related: Camping – White Mountains, NH

But (and it’s a big BUT, for me at least), you’re obliged to pay $30 to park in the summer. Be sure to get there before, say 10:30AM during high summer, because the lot (it’s massive) will fill up and you’ll likely leave, gnashing teeth and cursing some friend or family member that slept in 15 minutes later than they should have. Avoid this if possible.

Post-Labor Day, we were still looking at a $20 lot fee. I don’t like parking fees, I like parking free. I had other plans…

Googlemaps puts Crane Beach about five miles out of Ipswich proper. I figured this would be a pretty nice distance for a leisurely jaunt…

The Scheme – Free Parking at Crane Beach

1) Drop Ms IS at the Crane Beach front gate

2) Drive back to Ipswich to park and change into biker gear

3) Bike to Crane

4) Beachin’ for however long

5) Bike to Russell Orchards (way back)

6) Bike to Ipswich

7) Drive back to Crane to pick up m’lady.

Related: How to Cruise the PCH (Part 1 of 3)

How Did We Make Out?

A brief tale made shorter: the plan worked great!

Ms. IS got her sun in and I got my exercise, sun and a dozen apples out of the bargain.

The weather was exceptional, one of those perfect New England September days. We could’ve stayed for a couple more hours, but an aggressive seagull, coupled with empty stomaches, made for a shorter experience than normal. Sometimes, that’s OK too.

So we had our cake and ate it too: we were able to enjoy the Crane Beach with free parking for a good chunk of the day, without feeling like total chumps for dishing out a crazy parking fee.

A word of caution however, if you’re planning a similar day-venture: the road from Ipswich center to Crane Beach is narrow, windy, with basically no shoulder. Be careful out there and watch out for the distracted and just plain crazy drivers! If such roads make you nervous, maybe this one won’t be your cup of tea.

But, if you’re up for adventure, then here’s a creative way to visit Crane Beach with free parking.

What’s your favorite beach?