Back to the blog.......
We spent a rest day yesterday near Phoenixville PA. I rode my bike about 22 miles - over to Valley Forge (where about 12,000 continental troops under the leadership of General George Washington over-wintered in 1777-78). There was a nice museum & movie at the visitor centre and then about a 5-mile ride/drive to visit many historic sites on the property. We were joined for dinner last night by two more of our Southern Tier 2013 seestahs. Jan from DL and Leilani from WA. They are riding with us for 3 days; so good to have them with us, if only for such a short time.
The first thirteen miles today were on a really pleasant bike path - the Schuykill River Trail. It was a flat trail through the river valley - nice surface, wide, good sight-lines, etc. We came tantalizingly close to Philadelphia - at least the bike path signs kept pointing us that way.
We paralleled the commuter train (SEPTA) route for a while as we got into more urban areas and let's just say that the upperclass folks don't live across the street from the train tracks.
We almost overwhelmed the coffee/bike shop at the turnoff from the bike path in Conshohocken. He was ready for us, though, and most folks spent some time and money there.
Then it was on to 40 more cue sheet turns over the next 30 miles. We were never too far out in the country. Some residential areas, some big farm properties and continuing lush vegetation with lots of rolling hills. We passed a very impressive winery/estate - Karamoor Estates. It is quite a new winery, but the 250 private acres have been involved in farming in some form or fashion since the days of William Penn. A very pretty ride, although with all the turns it felt as if we were going in circles at times. All in an effort to keep us off major roads and ultimately headed in the right direction.
With just a 44 miles ride today, we were to the hotel before noon. Most rooms weren't ready yet so we headed a few more miles across the Delaware River to have a fine lunch in Lambertville, New Jersey. We didn't think we would be riding in that state, so we figured this was a "bonus state". We found out after dinner, though, that we'll be riding there most of tomorrow but coming back to PA for the night.
I came back over to further explore New Hope PA before heading back to the hotel. Cute little tourist town with a long history, including canals to haul coal before the railroads were built.
Seems the canal hasn't been used for a while............
It was another hot and humid day. The skies opened just as we were about to sit down to dinner so the hotel let us eat in their bar/lounge area. What a treat to eat at a table!
Stats for the day:
81 km from Phoenixville PA to New Hope PA, including a side trip to Lambertville NJ. 2500 feet of climbing. Hot & humid. 21C to 33C. Often a bit of a tailwind :)
You don't usually eat dinner at a table? I can understand lunch is standing up as you are on the road, but dinner? Aren't you at a hotel by the time dinner rolls around? Or am I all mixed up?
ReplyDeleteWe eat sitting down, with the plate on our lap. We carry 35 plastic lawn chairs in the front half of the trailer (along with all our luggage). The back half of the trailer is the kitchen where our chef, Emily, works wonders every night. She puts food out buffet style. The chairs are set up in a circle in the parking lot near the trailer and that's where we eat. Dishes are done outside as well, ready to repeat the whole process the next day.
DeleteBTW, we were celebrating Joe's birthday on the 27th with a Volunteer Appreciation reception at our Curling Club.
ReplyDelete