Happy Holidays

It’s been 2 months since my last post. There are several reasons for that. The seasons are changing and it’s become increasingly uncomfortable to go out riding. But the real reason is that I’ve returned to the workforce. My new job is located in one of the most beautiful places in the United States; Napa Valley. I’ve begun working at Trinchero Family Estates located in St. Helena, CA. My residence is located in Napa which I am discovering is a very bike-friendly place. I’ve had the opportunity to begin riding again, having had my Trek bike shipped out here. During the winter months there is frequent rain but I’ve been able to get out on two occasions and it’s been just fantastic. At this time I’m not sure if I will continue this blog or begin a new blog for this new adventure. Stay tuned. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Glen Onoko, Lehigh Gorge State Park Trail, and Jim Thorpe

Saturday, October 2nd was another beautiful day. We met our 4 friends in the Glen Onoko parking lot at 8:40a. The first thing we had decided to do was hike the Glen Onoko Falls. After a false start we asked a kind woman for directions. She got us back on track. Everything you read about this trail is pretty much true. It can be treacherous and you need proper footwear but the rewards are worth it. Our experience was further enhanced because of a storm 2 days earlier which caused the water flow to be spectacular. We took our time and paused often to take in the wonder of these falls. It was a steep climb to the top. We followed the trail (mostly marked in orange) across the top and then proceeded down the trail away from the falls. This part of the trail was not as dangerous but was still a challenge to our legs. Once at the bottom we wandered along the Lehigh River for a bit and then sat down at a picnic table and had our lunch. I think we all had a sense of accomplishment at having made this wonderful and challenging hike. After lunch, we got out our bikes, got our gear ready, and then rode north on the Lehigh Gorge State Park Trail; also know as the D & L Trail. There was so much to see and appreciate. There were scores of people navigating the Lehigh River and riding the trail. The trail follows the river as do the rail road tracks, which is still active. We rode as far as the Rockport trailhead. The round trip was a little over 25 miles. Now it was dinner time so we headed into Jim Thorpe. We parked our cars in the lot behind the train station and headed to Molly Maguires where we had a pint or 2 and real burgers and fries. After dinner we took a brief walk around town. By now we realized our adventure was coming to an end so we said goodbye to our friends and set off for home.

Keep on trekkin'

Assateague Island National Seashore / Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

Recently, friends of ours talked enthusiastically about this place so we decided to check it out. It's more than a 4 hour drive from our home but it is sure worth it. At this time of year there aren't as many visitors and many shops are closed for the season but we think this added to it's beauty. The ocean water temperature was comfortable and the few days we were there the weather was gorgeous.

We left early in the morning on Thursday, September 29th with the idea we would picnic at the north end of Assateague Island National Seashore. Entering the park we saw our first of many wild horses right by the road side. We made our way to an area on the bay side where we ate our lunch. While there, wild horses appeared and gathered around a water pump. One of them was scratching it's back against it. We thought this was odd until this activity flipped the pump handle up and turned on the water. How clever. They now took turns drinking, except for one horse which they were obviously preventing from approaching the pump. This was great theatre for us.

After lunch, we drove to the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge. After exploring and getting our bearings we decided to get our bikes out and ride the trails. We parked at the Woodland Trail parking lot. Then rode the Woodland Trail, the Beach Road, the Black Duck Trail, the Wildlife Loop, and then back to our car. Just beautiful. Wildlife was all around us.

We then checked into our hotel, unloaded our bags and headed to dinner at AJ's. Very good food, moderately priced.

We were up early Friday as we had an appointment with park ranger, Alex at 9a. We were the only ones who had signed up for a kayak adventure on Little Toms Cove. Alex made it interesting and we came away with a greater appreciation of this natural area. Afterwards, we headed to the beach where we had our picnic lunch, swam in the ocean and generally daydreamed. Just an idyllic day. Friday evening we ate at Famous Pizza and ice cream cones at Island Creamery Ice Cream. Then we walked around town and watched the sunset.

Saturday morning, we drove back to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. We had decided on an early morning bike ride. We were richly rewarded. The air was cool, the sun was warm, and everything was alive. We checked out of the hotel by 11a and began the journey home. We just loved this place. Can't wait to go back.

Keep on Trekkin'

Heritage Rail Trail County Park - Part 2

Thursday, September 16th, was an absolutely gorgeous day, so we decided to continue our exploration of the Heritage Rail Trail County Park which starts in York, PA and connects with the Northern Central Railroad Trail in Maryland. Please see our previous posting, Heritage Rail Trail County Park - Part 1, for our initial adventure last year.

We drove to the Glatfelters Station Trailhead to begin our ride south. The landscape surrounding this part of the trail is rural wide open spaces. The trail is shaded in parts and open in others; a very pleasant mix. We stopped at the Railroad Trailhead to eat our picnic lunch. We had ridden 10.5 miles. Reflecting on our ride we thought we had been laboring harder than usual. We thought we were out of shape. But on our return trip we realized that we had been riding on a gradual uphill grade. The ride back was much easier as now we were traveling back on a downhill grade.

As mentioned in our previous post, Heritage Rail Trail County Park - Part 1, this trail connects with the Northern Central Railroad Trail in Maryland. Our ride had brought us to within 3 miles of the border. This will be the starting point for our next adventure.

Keep on Trekkin'

Mohonk Preserve - Mohonk Mountain House - New Paltz

Friday, September 10th, my wife and I drove to Bangor, PA where we gathered at our friend's home. Saturday, September 11th, 6 of us left Bangor at 7a and drove to New Paltz, NY. We stopped at the local Subway to pick up some sandwiches for our planned picnic lunch and then drove 6 miles west to the Mohonk Preserve.

There is a $10 admission fee for hikers and bikers and $15 for climbers. We were warned that the West Trapps Trailhead parking lot fills up fast because it is favored by the rock climbers. We arrived at 9:30a and found the lot nearly full. After us, only 3 cars were admitted to the parking lot.

Once we were geared up we rode along a trail that hugged the cliffs. Here there were numerous rock climbers scattered along the trail in various states of ascent or descent. We continued on through the woods into grassy fields (we got lost but we won't get into that here) where we found a bike rack to lock up our bikes.

We hiked through the woods until we came upon this amazing sight; a grand old hotel, the Mohonk Mountain House, on the cliffs of Mohonk Lake. We really felt like we stepped back in time. We found a nice spot in their gardens to eat our lunch. While we ate we kept hearing music in a secluded section of the garden. We soon realized we were witnessing a wedding. What a beautiful setting for such an event.

After lunch we hiked to the summit of a nearby mountain for a fabulous view of the surrounding area. After a brief rest we hiked back to our bikes and rode back to the West Trapps Trailhead where we loaded up our gear. We then traveled west on Route 44-55 to Minnewaska State Park Preserve where we took in the sights from the cliffs of Lake Minnewaska.

By now it was dinner time so we drove back to New Paltz where we dined at the Gilded Otter. The food was delicious and capped off a great adventure. After dinner we were sad to say goodbye to our friends because of the good times we had had and it was such a long drive home. This was an outstanding adventure for us, not soon to be forgotten.

Keep on trekkin'

Lebanon Valley Rail Trail - Part 3 and Conewago Recreational Trail

Yesterday, Saturday, September 5th, we decided to complete our investigation of the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail starting at the Colebrook trailhead and biking west. Arriving at the Colebrook trailhead we found the parking lot fairly full of cars. We were disappointed thinking there would be a lot of traffic to deal with on the trail.

As we headed west we found that most, if not all of the people had traveled east because we found few people on this section of the trail. After 4 miles this trail ends at the county border and there the Conewago Recreational Trail begins and travels for another 5 miles to Elizabethtown. There are beautiful country sights all along this mostly shaded trail. The only distraction we found was that the trail is raised for most of it's length and this forces you to not let your mind wander because if you drift off the trail you will surely have a rough landing. At the trail head in Elizabethtown we ate our snacks and had a brief rest and then headed back to Colebrook. Once there we had an "interesting" lunch at the Twin Kiss. For us, this was another great ride.

Please see my other posts for reviews of other sections of the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail:
Lebanon Valley Rail Trail - Part 1 and Lebanon Valley Rail Trail - Part 2.

Keep on Trekkin'

Ricketts Glen State Park

It has been on my bucket list for 35 years. Ever since some college buddies raved about this place I have been wanting to go here. Well, Friday, August 27th, my wife and I finally did it! After spending Thursday night at Yellow Gables bed and breakfast in Bloomsburg we set out early Friday morning. (I don't plan to review the bed and breakfast here but George and Camille were just great.) It was a beautiful day, low humidity, clear skies, and moderate temperatures for this time of year. If you decide to hike here you definitely want to follow the recommendations about footwear. Hiking the Falls trail can be treacherous.

It was about a 30 minute drive from Bloomsburg. We entered the park and proceeded to the Lake Rose Trailhead. Looking at our trail map we chose to walk down the Ganoga Glen. Then at Waters Meet we walked up the Glen Leigh. We finished up by walking the Highland Trail back to the Lake Rose Trailhead. What a fantastic adventure. We took lots of photos.

We drove to the Beach Lot #2 parking lot by Lake Jean. Here we had our picnic lunch. Then we rented kayaks for an hour. Being on the lake with clear sunny skies was just beautiful and so peaceful.

This is just one of the most beautiful places in Pennsylvania. I am so glad we have finally made the journey here.

Keep on Trekkin'

Perkiomen Trail – Part 3 – Spring Mount to Green Lane

Friday, August 20th, we returned to the Spring Mount Trailhead. This is a rail trail. Starting out you cross the Perkiomen Creek on a bridge that gives you some really beautiful views of the creek. This is a leisurely ride through mostly shaded areas with numerous views of the Perkiomen Creek. This trail passes the location of the Philadelphia Folk Festival which was to begin the following day. There were a number of people on the trail obviously there to participate in this longstanding musical venue.

Once you approach Green Lane the trail crosses Route 29. You need to be alert here and pay attention to the traffic to cross over to Green Lane Park. There are several hills to climb but once you reach the summit in Green Lane Park you are rewarded with a beautiful view of the lake. As it was midmorning Friday this was a very peaceful and tranquil setting. After a brief stop at the lake’s edge for a snack we rode back to Spring Mount Trailhead.

The bridge that is under construction at Spring Mount is actually part of the trail’s path. There is a detour that connects you with the trail on the other side of the bridge. We explored this detour. We picked up the trail on the other side of the bridge until we arrived at the point in the trail where it started to climb up the mountain. We are assuming that this is the same section that we stopped at on our previous adventure (see Perkiomen Trail – Part 2 ).

Keep on Trekkin'

Perkiomen Trail – Part 2 – Hollywood to Cedar Road

Sunday, August 15th, we continued our journey to explore this trail (see Perkiomen Trail – Part 1). We drove to the Hollywood Trailhead. It is located in one of the lesser populated areas of the trail. Traveling north, the trail is wide and paved macadam for a bit and then returns to crushed stone. The trail mostly follows an old railroad bed but there are parts of the trail where the land has been reclaimed by property owners and the trail circumnavigates around these areas. In downtown Schwenksville, the trail travels closely behind the buildings on Main St. We passed a bike-friendly breakfast-lunch eatery. We thought it’d be a nice place to stop but we had already eaten and were interested in exploring more of the trail.

Once you leave Schwenksville the trail turns right and heads up the hill. This was a bit challenging so we stopped at a bench at the top of the hill for a breather. The Cedar Road Trailhead is close by. The trail then proceeds down hill. When we got to a spot where a sign indicated the slope was a 12% grade we decided to turn around. We were disappointed but were dreading the thought of having to climb back up this hill on our return. Our map indicates that from the Cedar Road Trailhead to the Spring Mount Trailhead is only a mile.

Once we got back to the car and loaded the bikes we proceeded to locate the Spring Mount Trailhead. It’s about a mile off of Route 73. There is a bridge there that is closed and under construction. We returned home knowing that we wanted to come back soon and explore the rest of this trail.

Keep on Trekkin'

Schuylkill River Trail - Hamburg to Auburn

Yesterday, we traveled to the Kernsville Dam, just north of Hamburg. Here, there is a section of the Schuylkill River Trail referred to as the John B. Bartram Section. It's 6 miles long and ends abruptly at the banks of the Schuylkill River where a rail bridge is in a state of decay. This is a great trail to ride on a hot day because the entire trail is shaded (except for a very short section near Auburn). Early on, there are benches, picnic tables, and educational stations. The Appalachian Trail, crosses the trail at Port Clinton. The surface of the trail is crushed stone and the ride is generally flat. The trail is wide enough to ride side by side. All in all, a very enjoyable ride.

Keep on Trekkin'

Schuylkill River Trail - Brentwood to Gibraltar

Saturday, July 10th, we decided to do our regular "Loop" with a twist. When we got to the Brentwood Trailhead we went south to Gibraltar and then back again. This is about 4 miles each way and an easy ride. There are 2 bridges over the Schuylkill River which give you beautiful vistas in both directions. Sometimes when we get to Gibraltar we stop at Scoupe DeVille for ice cream, but not today. We were riding in the morning, to avoid the heat, and they don't open until later in the day. This turned our regular 9 mile loop into 17 miles.

Keep on Trekkin'

Perkiomen Trail - Part 1 - Oaks to Hollywood

Sunday, June 27th, 2010, we set out on a new adventure; this time to a section of the Perkiomen Trail. There is a large parking lot in Oaks, just off of Rt 422, where many people gather to enjoy the trails in this area. Riding one way takes you to Valley Forge and Philadelphia. The other direction goes to Green Lane. Last year we had ridden part of the trail to Norristown so we decided to try the opposite direction on this day.

We rode about 9 miles to the Hollywood trail head where we turned around and headed back. This trail is very popular. It's a beautiful ride and most of the trail is shaded. You do cross public roads at several points and there is a bridge that crosses the creek that gives you a wonderful view. The terrain is not all railroad beds and so the trail does have it's ups and downs and bends. Nothing too difficult, but if you're used to riding rail trails this will be a bit more challenging. All in all, we had a great ride.

Keep on Trekkin'

Schuylkill River Trail - Birdsboro to Pottstown

Last Saturday, July 3rd, 2010, my wife and I made our way to Birdsboro where we unloaded our bikes and rode to Pottstown. This part of the Schuylkill River Trail is about 9 miles, one way, and very beautiful and peaceful for most of the ride. Several times you must cross public roads, with 1 steep grade where you are warned to dismount your bicycle to cross the road but for the most part it's a very pleasant experience. The trail is shaded for the better part of the ride and at one point you cross the Schuykill River on the old railroad bridge which gives you a great view of the river in both directions. We have done this portion of the trail several times in the past and it's just as lovely now as we remembered it.

Keep on Trekkin'

Hopewell Lake Paddling Program

Last night my wife and I participated in the Hopewell Lake Paddling Program at French Creek State Park. For $5 you are given instructions, a kayak, paddle, and PFD (personal floatation device). Then, for 2 hours you paddle around the lake with an environmental education specialist. She tells you about all the neat things that are going on in and around the lake. If you don't own a kayak (or even if you do - you can bring your own) this is a great way to enjoy nature.

You can find out about all the great Pennsylvania state parks and all they have to offer at this link: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Keep on Trekkin'.

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia

If you're into bicycling and you live in the greater Philadelphia area this is a great resource for keeping up with what going.

Keep on Trekkin'.

Delaware River Heritage Trail

This is some great information if you're interested in traveling on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River.

Keep on Trekkin'.

Lebanon Valley Rail Trail - Part 2

It's another beautiful day for a ride. My wife and I returned to this trail. Once we got unloaded and ready to ride at the Cornwall Trailhead we decided to head toward Lebanon. During our last trip we had traveled in that direction for 3 miles and then turned around. So off we went. It was mid-morning. We passed many bikers, hikers, and joggers. We ended up in Lebanon after about 4.5 miles. The last 1.2 miles was paved macadam. We turned around and headed back to the Cornwall Trailhead. All in all, a pleasant ride, plenty of shade along the way and a short trip.

We decided to have a picnic lunch at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area near Kleinfeltersville. We made our way to the kayak launching area and found a picnic table that gave us a great view of the lake. Much to our surprise there was a "wild" turkey wandering around. I have wild in quotes because it wasn't afraid of us at all. In fact, it seemed to be begging for scraps. When it wasn't making it's calling sound it was absolutely quite, like in stealth mode. It kept inching it's way closer and closer to us until it was directly behind me at the picnic table. It was about 6" from me. We got kind of freaked out by it.

After lunch we decided to top off the meal with a stop at Boehringer's Ice Cream in Adamstown. So now we need another bike ride :-)

Keep on Trekkin'.

Walk and Bike Berks County: New SRT Maps and Berks County Trails

Walk and Bike Berks County: New SRT Maps and Berks County Trails


Keep on Trekkin'

The "Loop"

My wife and I have created our own little riding route we call "the loop" that starts and ends at our home (clever name). It about 9 miles (depending on several variations taken) and takes less than an hour. Today is a beautiful day and so my wife, my one son, and I headed out mid-morning to do the loop. We rode over to the Ken Grill Rec Center trailhead of the Angelica Creek Trail. This trail consists of several sections that connects to the Schuylkill River Trail. We enter this trail at the Brentwood trailhead and continue on until we get to West Reading where we pick up the Wyomissing Creek Trail. After you get to the Reading Museum the trail continues on public roads. The trail ends near Old Wyomissing Road. We ride this road until we arrive at the old quarry. Finally, we wind our way through Shillington back to our house. 

Keep on Trekkin'.

Shillington Park

This morning, my wife and I took our semi-regular hike through Shillington Park, near our home. As we walked along the trail, directly in front of us on the trail, we came upon 3 fox pups playfully enjoying the day. We stopped and watched them rolling around for a few minutes. It was so wonderful to see. Once they became aware of us they stopped and stared at us so we continued on our walk over the top of the mountain. As we were approaching the cemetery we saw an adult fox bounding ahead of us and then it disappeared into the woods. I had seen a fox running through the woods before but never fox pups. Just a fantastic way to start the day!

I wish I had a link to a map or something to share with you but I could not find one any where on the web. The park's not hard to find and it's relatively small with a few trails and several creeks in a mostly wooded area. If you google or mapquest it you should be able to find it.

Keep on Trekkin'.

Berks Awhile

If you like getting outdoors and you want a preview of some of the beautiful places in the area check out Berks Awhile. Mike Roush aptly calls his blog a "photo walking journal". There are lots of great photos as well as links and maps to many locations in and around Berks County.

Keep on trekkin'

Berks Conservancy

I've just become a Trail Ambassador for the Berks Conservancy. Their vision is "to be a cornerstone of excellence in the stewardship of the environment." They oversee a number of trails in Berks County that are really worth exploring. Visit Greater Reading Trails to see what they have to offer. As trail ambassador I have chosen the Angelica Creek Trail which is close to my home. If you love exploring trails and are looking for a way to help this is a great way to get involved.

Keep on trekkin'.