Northern Delaware Greenway Trail - Delaware

May 24, 2018
14 miles

Washington Bridge, Wilmington, Delaware

When I picked this Delaware Trail to ride I chose the filter to only give me the Rail Trail options, which are usually mostly level. While we were in New Jersey we started looking more closely at the trail and reading comments about it. Many people talked about how hilly it was and that there was even a 9% grade on one of the climbs. So we debated about changing to a different trail in a different city. We had our minds made up to switch. Then, this morning on our way to Delaware we decided to go back to our original choice. We weren't going to end our vacation riding a wimpy trail - we would go out in a blaze of glory riding a challenging trail!

Found a great parking spot in Brandywine Park close to the Wilmington Zoo. We enjoyed a picnic lunch, provide by Ben and Linda Novick, under the shade trees. The weather was perfect for a picnic and a ride.

Less than a mile after beginning our ride we encountered the first hill, which was just a taste of what was ahead. Later, as we started up the 9% grade, we were pedaling in a standing position and kept feeling the back tire slip. I was feeling unsafe, plus I could hardly breathe, so we stopped and walked the rest of the way up. After riding up and down, and round and round, through the woods and into a neighborhood, we decided we were lost. Stopped to check the computer and sure enough we had missed our turn so we had to backtrack. It makes things exciting, right? This trail was so curvy and had lots of off shoots that we got lost several times today. It's hard when you are visiting a trail and your not familiar with with the path and the signage is not good.

One interesting thing we found today was the historic Blue Ball Barn. We stopped for a break and to read the history about the barn, which really doesn't look like a barn. The farmhouse, now gone, was once the Blue Ball Tavern, so named because it hoisted a blue wooden ball to tell passing stagecoach drivers that passengers were waiting. The later dairy and this barn were named for the tavern.

We were pretty proud of ourselves, after walking up the big hill, known to locals as "Death Hill", we did not walk up any other ones. Delaware was our 48th state to ride in. The only two states left now are Alaska and Hawaii and our beloved and trusty Cannondale tandem will not make those trips with us. We plan to ride those states on a rented tandem. It won't be the same but we look forward to the last two states.

Sandy Hook Multi-Use Pathway - New Jersey

May 22, 2018
12 miles

Started early this morning to beat the rain. As we neared the park entrance several schools buses were coming in behind us. We figured that it must be end of year school trips to the Gateway National Recreation Area. This trail spans the length of New Jersey's Sandy Hook peninsula. We had fantastic views of the ocean and even went through some maritime forest areas. At the northern end of the trail we were treated to  the historic Fort Hancock and the picturesque lighthouse dating back to the country's colonial period. At several points we could also see the New York City's skyline. It was very interesting biking through the old fort and reading all the information. And, best of all we beat the rain!

Sandy Hook Lighthouse

Lighted for the first time on June 11, 1764

 Lifeguard Visitor's Center

 The Big Apple

Seriously, I didn't know the USA had any nude beaches!

Heritage Trail - New York

May 21, 2018
22 miles

Homemade Salted Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream

YUMMY!

We are headed to New Jersey and decided to ride another trail in New York on our way through. We started at what the locals call the Airplane Park in Monroe, New York. We had a perfect weather day, sunny and in the low 70's. We passed through Chester where there was a restored  stone train station that is now a museum. On our way back we stopped for a break here. Unfortunately, the museum was closed so we weren't able to visit it but, we met a couple from this area and enjoyed talking with them.

Before getting to Goshen (the other end of the trail) we came across a Trail Closed Sign. We didn't want to cut short our ride so we proceeded. A few minutes later we came upon workers repaving little sections of the trail. Clay asked them if we could pass if we walked the bike around the part they were working on. They granted us permission. 

You May Pass Go

According to the information we had we thought the trail continued a few miles past Goshen but there was no signage. After stopping in a park, with the majestic First Presbyterian Church in the background, and checking the map we finally figured out where to pick up the trail. But to our disappointment it wasn't paved so we turned around. I guess that's why we couldn't find any signs directing us to that section of trail! As we passed the Trailside Treats Creamery we decided to stop and try their homemade ice-cream. Amazing!

First Presbyterian Church

Goshen, New York

Est. 1720

On our way back to Monroe we passed an old cemetery that we totally missed going the other way. Most of the headstones were weathered and hard to read but many dated back to the 1800's.

Not the usual trailside scenery 

Rain is predicted in the afternoon tomorrow so we are hoping to get to the trail early and beat the rain. New Jersey here we come!

Farmington River and Farmington Canal Trails - Connecticut

May 20, 2018
28 miles

Yesterday we headed to Connecticut even though we knew we wouldn't be able to ride because of rain. And, there was a possibility that Sunday would be a rain day also. We ended up at Chapin Park B&B in New Hartford, CT which was close to the trails we planned to ride. That way if there happened to be a break in the rain we would be able to ride. After breakfast this morning the weather forecast was promising so we loaded the bike and headed to the trail.

Chapin Park B&B

New Hartford, CT

We combined one trail with part of another trail so that it would be a loop trip instead of an out and back trip. We began in Collinsville, CT on the Farmington River. Once again, it was very scenic pedaling beside a river. Many people were out enjoying the beautiful day and the peaceful trail. Out of all the trails we've ridden on this trip, these two trails have been the busiest. That may be due to the fact that this is the first weekend day that we have ridden and, since the weather was bad yesterday,  everyone wanted to get outside today!

We experienced many different trail surfaces today. Most of it was actual asphalt trail but parts were on city roads and some parts were crushed stone. The parts on city roads were marked fairly well but we still had to make frequent stops to check our phone to make sure we hadn't missed a turn. This slowed us down considerably. But, we weren't too rushed for time, our only concern was the possibility of rain moving in. We finished without getting wet and enjoyed some pizza and soda at Lasalle Market in Collinsville.

Lunch stop after the ride

Shining Sea Bikeway - Massachusetts

May 18, 2018
15 miles

Started at the southern end of this trail yesterday because of the stiff winds out of the northeast. Woods Hole, MA is a historic seaside fishing village right across the sound from Martha’s Vineyard. This trail is rich in history - the peaceful Wampanoag Indians greeted pilgrims in this area and then in  the 1850’s Penn Central Railroad constructed rails following the Wampanoag trails. The railroad stopped services in 1957, and within 20 years, the bikeway was built and dedicated as part of Falmouth’s bicentennial celebrations.

The Shining Sea Bikeway is a path affording many different views. Woodlands, marshes, salt ponds, cranberry bogs and seascape and is the only bikeway on Cape Cod to skirt the shore. Being by the shore made for a very brisk ride due to the temperature and wind! The trail’s other end is Falmouth, MA. The name of the trail comes from “America the Beautiful”, the famous poem by Katherine Lee Bates, a Falmouth native.

Loved this trail! Loved the smell of the ocean. Loved the smell of restaurants frying fish. Loved the views and loved the architecture.

Atlantic Ocean

Cranberry bog

Bike arbor in someone's back yard

Blackstone River Greenway - Rhode Island

May 18, 2018
22 miles

We had a change of plans today due to the forecasted rain for Saturday (our planned riding day in RI) and Sunday (our planned ride in CT). We decided to ride in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts today instead of taking a day in each of those two states. This will free up at least one of the rainy days. Today’s weather is in the 50’s which is cold for me but at least it’s not raining!

This trail treated us to many picturesque scenes of the wide, churning Blackstone River and the placid, historic canal towpath. We spotted lots of wildlife today; a snake, a heron, some Canadian geese and a drake. We parked by the old large brick textile mill and the canal was built to transport cotton goods from the mill to Worcester and Providence in the 1800’s.

This is the first trail that we’ve ridden that had walkers facing bikers instead of walking in the same direction and same lane as bicycles. Makes the pedestrian see the bikers coming at them. That makes more sense to me. There were some areas of the trail that were very bumpy, which we had been warned about in reviews and comments on Trail Link. This trail will most likely earn the distinction of “Bumpiest Trail”!

Now, we are headed to Falmouth, Massachusetts to bike the Shining Sea Bikeway and we are hoping that the traffic won’t be too bad but it’s POET’S day (Push Off Early Tomorrow’s Saturday) so we’re not going to hold our breath.

New Hampshire Trails

Derry Rail Trail
Windham Rail Trail
Salem Bike-Ped Corridor

May 17, 2018
16 miles

Two blue modes of transportation

Today we combined three trails together for our ride. These three trails will eventually join with several other trails to the north and will span the length of New Hampshire to create the Granite State Rail Trail.

We started in Derry, NH and pedaled south through woods, wetlands and swamps. All along this trail were memorial benches to honor fallen veterans from Derry. They also had flags placed on them. I thought this was a very nice way to honor these individuals . As soon as this trail ended the Windham Trail began.

The Windham Trail was very scenic, running along the abandoned Manchester and Lawrence Rail. We passed the Windham depot which had a restored Boston and Maine caboose (C16) and was interesting to see. Along all of these trails you could see old stone walls on both sides. These stone walls separated the Scottish immigrants fields back in the early 1700's. As we got to the end of this trail the Salem trail began.

The Salem Trail was just over 1 mile long but had some historical markers placed along the trail so we made several stops to read them. We learned that in the early 1800's there was a turnpike that went from Boston, MA to Concord, NH. It was the first time that a road traveled that far into New Hampshire from Boston, and Salem was the halfway point. After our bike ride we drove by the house that served as the traveler's Inn for that turnpike. Love the history!

Two Trails in Maine

Mountain Division Trail - Fryeburg, Maine
May 16, 2018
8 miles

Left Stowe, Vermont this morning after visiting the Trapp Family Lodge. Our next visit to Stowe will be spent there! Drove across New Hampshire and once in Maine pulled into the Maine State Visitor Information Center in Fryeburg. This is where this trail begins. It was a beautiful sunny day, temperature was 65 degrees.

The trail followed the railroad tracks straight out from the Visitors Center and stayed with the tracks the whole time. I think this was the straightest and shortest trail we have ridden. A deer crossed in front of us at one point, bounding across the trail, over the railroad tracks and up into the woods. Loved seeing the jonquils blooming along the trail and the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the distance. Wish it had been a longer ride!

Papermill Trail - Lisbon, Maine
May 16, 2018
8 miles

Some states don't have many paved trail options of significant length in the area of the state that works best for our travels. So sometimes we have to go with shorter trails. Fortunately, Maine had two shorter trails not too far from each other. This is why we rode two trails today.

Arrived at trail #2 late afternoon. It is about 10 degrees colder here but still sunny (yay)! Biked along the Androscoggin River. It was very lovely. Had a nice young skateboarding fellow offer to take our picture. He was very interested in our biking and thought we were "cute". Wish it had been a longer ride!

Stowe Recreation Path, Vermont

May 15, 2018
11 miles

What a day! Original plan was to drive to Burlington, Vermont. Bike Island Line Trail along beautiful Lake Champlain. Eat lunch somewhere with a view. Drive to Stowe, Vermont. Bike Stowe Recreation Path. But, the weather was uncooperative. It was raining when we arrived in Burlington. We tried to wait it out but finally gave up, had lunch at Five Guys and then went to Stowe.

 Before our rainy ride in Stowe

When we arrived in Stowe it was lightly raining. The forecast predicted that it would come to an end around 4 pm. We checked in early to the lodge and unloaded. By that time the prediction of rain stopping had moved to 6 pm. So, as much as I don't like riding in the rain, I didn't have many options left if I was going to ride a trail in Vermont.

The path started right by the lodge, which is always nice. As we began our ride we passed some stables. The horses found us very interesting. They started running towards us and followed along until the fence prevented them from continuing any farther. The trail meandered along West Branch River through farms and woodlands and then through parts of the beautiful town of Stowe. The trail crossed the river ten times. We also got glimpses of the ski area which still had snow. I enjoyed the bike ride today even though it was cold and wet. The sounds of the river and the scents of mountains are wonderful!

Found this painted rock while on the trail today.

Warren County Bikeway, New York

May 14, 2018
Lake George to Glens Falls
20 miles

It's been a while since we've ridden the tandem and our legs and rear ends are reminding us about it tonight. The last time we rode was September 3rd (how did we let so much time go by?) and we are so out of condition. Today is the first day of nine consecutive days we will be biking, weather permitting.

Lake George

For our first ride on this trip I picked a trail that claimed to be "family friendly" and "gently rolling terrain with an occasional short climb". Needless to say, that is not how I would have described it! Our legs got a good workout this afternoon. And, I'm hesitant to admit it, but we actually got off our bike and walked up one incline.

We started out in the resort town of Lake George, New York. Nestled in the southern part of the Adriondack foothills. It is still "off season" so all the amusement parks, mini golf places, water parks, etc are closed. It looks like a very fun and lively place when it's "in season". We biked south ten miles to Glens Falls and then back to Lake George. There were several pubs and ice cream places with outdoor seating right on the trail to stop and refresh yourself, probably from all the "gently" rolling hills! Clay especially enjoyed stopping and reading all the historical markers along the trail, dating back to 1755.

One of the closed amusement parks

Even though we are sore and tired tonight, it felt wonderful to be riding again! Tomorrow we are headed to Vermont and are planning to ride two trails. The forecast is predicting rain so we are crossing our fingers that we won't have to cancel our rides!