Isn't anyone east of the Mississippi considered close by?
127/127A was my "ride" of choice for a long time. Still get out on it a few times a year. I still remember a car going up the hill in Gloucester with me about 40 feet behind it. A 2 liter bottle of soda came rolling down the hill at me.
Another cruise I used to do was head up 1A/1 and see how far I could get before I would turn around. The record day was 8 hours to get to Kennebunkport and not much more then an hour to be back home on the slab.
FYI: I'm not on Cape Ann, but I am in Central Ma (near Worcester)