Northern Loop

The thick black dotted line around the Northeast Airport on the Philadelphia Bicycle Map I sometimes use for inspiration indicates a paved off-road recreation trail. Sandwiched between busy roads and the airport, I never gave it much thought. But after sleeping too late to endeavor on my plan for the day, I set my sights on the northeast airport as a back-up goal.

I got started around 10:00 AM. I rode 16 miles though the neighborhoods of Northeast Philadelphia before I reached the airport. The trail was a nice surprise. It was only 4.5 miles, but with few interrupting driveways and very few other users, it was an easy ride. I even got to see a couple of planes land.

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At the end of that trail, I wasn't yet ready to head back in to town so I struck out in northwesterly direction. On Red Lion Avenue, just before leaving the City, I stomped out a smoldering grass fire started by a discarded cigarette. I continued in that direction until I nearly crossed the Turnpike, which I then roughly paralleled to the Cross County Trail, which as recently extended to Germantown Pike near Plymouth Meeting. The Cross County Trail merges with the Schuylkill River Trail above Conshockon so from that point on it was a familiar ride in to town.

Statistics
Length: 57.6 miles
Ride Time: 5 hours 2 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours 17 minutes
Avg. Speed: 11.7 MPH
Max. Speed: 30.2 MPH
Avg. Cadence: 59 RPM
Total Ascent: 2,250 ft.
Max. Elevation: 398 ft.