Sunday Supplies More Selfish Satisfaction ...

That's right... Wendy and I woke on Sunday with the promise of another day of biking together. We had already planned today's journey along New Jersey's C&R Tow Path (a converted rail line). The weather forecast again was for cooler temps, some cloudiness, but absolutely no chance of rain. So after breakfast we loaded our bikes, filled our bottles, and packed up with the car with every item we would want for or need for today's adventure,

A few years ago we were able to bike from our house all the way into New Hope along the Lehigh and Delaware Canal Tow Paths, both along the Pennsylvania side of the rivers. This was a grande journey and encompassed just short of 100 miles of round trip cycling without ever leaving the comfort of the graveled paths. Floods of two and three years ago have changed that, and forced us to seek refuge on the Jersey side of the river, where the waters chose a different path and only did minor damage to the Tow Path System. It is longer possible to ride the paths from home to New Hope, so we (SIGH) load the bikes on the car and start over in Jersey at Frenchtown, giving us merely a 35 mile Round Trip pedal. It's an easier ride, less hours, with the pay-off of New Hope at mid-point. But not quite as rewarding as riding from home without ever being on the road (short of the mile and a half from home to tow path).

The struggles of resolving the Pennsylvania Canal Path System are a conversation for a long night and a sympathetic ear. We'd love to see the pat rebuilt, but it must first be engineered so that next year's repairs don't again wash down stream in the following year's floods. And with such mismanagement of public funds, it's hard to say if making a road crossing better at the Country Club wouldn't take priority over public land for public use, for family and even fitness. But as I said, this is another conversation for another day.

Today's ride was pleasant and comfortable after yesterday's pavement pounding path. One draw back to a perfect day on a weekend is that everybody was out, but in a way, that was okay as we always LIKE to see the trail systems being used and not ignored, proving their development and maintenance a worthy target for continued funding.

This trail, as I stated earlier, wanders through the wooded Jersey shore, with a constant, yet sometimes obscured view of the Delaware and its crossings, along with the distant shores of PA. Just as the trains did only a few years prior, the path takes us through small communities, and alongside architecturally appealing structures which once serviced those same rail lines. Many of the old stations are now restaurants or cafes and the towns have been turned into a haven for artists, business people and others seeking relief from the big city. These communities have become quaint and provide tourists and respite from the road's strains.

As we continue toward Lambertville and New Hope, we pass cyclists, families on foot or bike, joggers, dogs, and young children, all making good use of this trail system. And as we peer over to right we occasionally catch a glimpse of some rafters or kayakers paddling along the Delaware. did I mention it was a BEAUTIFUL day? And I was given an opportunity to relax, kick back, and enjoy it all with my wife. With all the struggles and responsibilities of the film fest, I have been feeling somewhat guilty about neglecting Wendy, and had hoped that this weekend would allow me the opportunity... and it did.

NEXT STOP... NEW HOPE:
So as we approached Lambertville, we decided to take the diversionary path and cross the Delaware at center Bridge, and follow the PA ow Path for the final leg into New Hope. Call it "sentimental", call it "wishful thinking", call it "loyalty to state"... call it whatever you want, but we just needed a little "fix" of Pa Tow Paths, in all their splendor. face it, Jersey may still have tow paths, but none compare to the beauty that is to be found along the Delaware and Lehigh Canals in Pennsylvania. My opinion may be a bit tainted, and possibly biased, but I challenge you to find another path of equal. I've seen hawks, golden eagle, blue heron, bunnies, horses, mule, and even deer.

So yes, the short pedal on the PA side was a bit indulgent, but damn... it was as beautiful as I remember, spotted with farms, beautifully landscaped mansions, and the occasional homestead stuck on a narrow strip of land between the canal and the river. When there aren't flooding waters, this is like no other. I love PA, and I love sharing it with my wife. But soon we approached New Hope's Train Station, complete with billowing Steam Engine and accompanying period train station and costumed station manager. Every kid just LOVES this when visiting New Hope. I know our nephew just couldn't get enough when we last met his family here a few months ago. I can't get enough either... maybe it's the kid in me, maybe it's the testosterone levels that build when you see that large steaming engine, or when you feel the rush of steam as the train begins to move or the power of the whistle as it screams out, announcing it's departure (or arrival). Boys love trains, always have, and always will.

We wandered through town, towing our bikes alongside and weaving in and out of pedestrians, strollers, and shop displays. We stopped at Suzie's Hot Sauce, for our "fix" of hot stuff. But soon it was time for the return trip. We crossed the river and turned North once we got to Lambertville. Lambertville is almost a mirror image of New Hope, though with a bit more "Jersey" obviously. New Hope is more about a Gay Community, influenced by the Arts, where Lambertville screams more "I'm from NYC and miss it", with pricier restaurants, more antiques and less chiatschka. More seriousness and less vampy or silly. They co-exist in peace, offering two sides of the same river. And to Jersey's credit... you can buy booze on Sunday at the wine stores!

So we made our return to the car, wound our way through New Jersey, and eventually headed toward Bethlehem, and home. It was another great day spent with Wendy, ending a nearly perfect weekend. But this week would offer three small weekends in the course of 9 days... more to come.