Brandywine Battlefield

Yesterday, I took my last bike ride in Philadelphia. Despite being pressed for time, I managed a healthy bike ride to a new destination, Brandywine Battlefield Historic Park in western Delaware County. Unlike South Jersey--where I rode last week--the terrain this week was very challenging, especially on the ride out. It seem like I was always pushing up a hill or coasting down one. Despite riding only two-thirds the distance, my GPS recorded twice the elevation gain! For all that extra effort, I was rewarded with much more interesting scenery. Although, there wasn't a lot to see at the visitor center as most of the battle took place off-site. Even had I had the time, I wasn't about to bike the driving tour route. However, before beginning the return ride, I did rest and eat some snacks under the shade of a sycamore tree that was alive when the Declaration of Independence was signed. I had a good ride back and made it it time to shower and attend 6:30 PM mass at St. Patrick's.

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Trip Statistics
Length: 67.2 miles
Ride Time: 6 hours 23 minutes
Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
Avg. Speed: 10.2 MPH
Max. Speed: 33.0 MPH
Avg. Cadence: 56 RPM
Total Ascent: 4,800 ft.
Max Elev.: 488 ft.

Elevation Profile

Octagon Schoolhouse

Washington's Headquarters

William Brinton House

Wheat Field

Glen Mills Train Station

Singing Fountain

I'm perambulating in South Philadelphia & came across this fountain square. It's called the Singing Fountain but it is not singing now. I figured this would be a good place to attempt my first mobile post.

----- Non-mobile update -----

OK Clearly I still have to get the hang of mobile posts. Here is a better picture taken with my digital camera.

South Jersey Bike Trails

The portion of the Philadelphia suburbs which I have explored the lease is Southern New Jersey. Last weekend, I filled in a little bit of that area with a ride that connected a couple bike trails I found while pursuing Google maps. I had a pretty good idea my route before I left, but I never calculated the distance, which with a little extra added the end exceed 100 miles.

I started crossing the Ben Franklin Bridge, the only way to get to New Jersey directly from Center City and always a enjoyable, unique ride. After crossing through Camden I found a trail that started at Haddon Lake in Audubon and led through a series of parks along a small stream. That trail didn't last long and soon I was working my way to a longer trail that passed through the town of Blackwood. My next destination was Glassboro where I picked up a nice trail that connected to Williamston, about five miles away.

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In Williamston, I stopped for lunch and for the first time I realized how long the ride would be. I thought about cutting it short by I had enough time and even though I hadn't been on my bike for two weeks wager I had enough energy. Plus, that extra miles gave me the chance to ride through part of the Pine Barrens, which I didn't get to last year. My next stop was Atsion Lake, once part of a bustling iron industry town, now a recreation area. Today, a hot day, a lot of people were swimming in the lake.

After Atsion, I started to head back to Philadelphia, I kept a pretty good, steady pace in to the wind for eleven miles until I stopped for provision at a Wawa convenience store. Refreshed and rehydrated I rode a mentally-shorter eleven miles to Haddonfield, which has a great downtown with shops and restaurants. From there it was a pretty easy ride back to Philadelphia. I rode a portion on bike trail that loops around the Cooper River. Once across the bridge, I realized I'd need another two miles to surpass 100. Those were easily obtained with a jaunt into South Philly. I managed to make it back to my apartment just after dark.



Trip Statistics
Length: 100.8 miles
Ride Time: 8 hours 33 minutes
Total Time: 10 hours 50 minutes
Avg. Speed: 11.8 MPH
Max. Speed: 24.7 MPH
Avg. Cadence: 54 RPM
Total Ascent: 2,300 ft.
Max Elev.: 373 ft.

Elevation Profile

Walt Whitman Bridge

Glassboro Bike Trail

Indian King Tavern

Philadelphia Skyline

Geno's Steaks

A.C.

Jonathan Pitney developed Atlantic City in the 1850s as a seaside resort primarily to cater to Philadelphia market. For decades, city-dwellers escaped the din of urbanity for the refreshing Atlantic breezes. I've never been much for the Shore, but after seven-plus years, I finally broke down to investigate one of the pioneer mega-resort towns. Like those yesteryear, I took the railroad to get there. New Jersey Transits runs a direct train from 30th Street Station in downtown Philadelphia. It takes about ninety minutes.

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I spent about five hours in A.C. Catering to my stronger interests, I walked a couple miles of the historic boardwalk, checked out the local history museum and climbed the 228 steps of the tallest Lighthouse in NJ. I did walk through a couple casinos, but didn't place any bets. Out of professional interested, I checked out the the ailing Pier Shops at Caesars. I arrived in time to watch the hourly water show. I bought some salt-water taffy, but no fish n' chips. I only saw once place they even sold it. At the last minute, I decided to catch an early train back to Philadelphia rather than have lunch in town. I ran about as hard and long as I've done in a while, I caught the train with perhaps thirty seconds to spare.

Atlantic City Casinos

Zoltar

Absecon Lighthouse

Inlet from Absecon Lighthouse

Monopoly Streets

Atlantic City Boardwalk

Swedesburg

I rode slightly more than half as many miles today as last Sunday. Since I planned to dial back the distance, I chose a route that passed through much hillier--and tonier--territory. Over this shorter route, I climbed 80% as much vertical distance, including three very challenging ascents.

Leaving Philadelphia via West Fairmount Park, I spent much of the ride in Lower Merion Township, one the wealthiest suburbs. The Gladwyn zipcode, in particular, is usually listed among the top 10 zip codes in the country. More present for my purposes, the terrain is among the most challenging around Philadelphia. It is quite hilly and the roads tend to amble in random directions. I even had to ford Mill Creek along Righters Mill Road (see picture). Immediately following this stream crossing, I pushed up the steepest hill of the ride, a sustained 14% grade over 1/4 of a mile. After moseying among the posh real estate, I enjoyed a rapid descent down Conshohockon State Road.

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I continued north along PA-23 to through Swedesboro to Swedesburg. A section of the road was closed to traffic, but on my bike I was able to pass. It was very nice because it kept cars to a minimum for that leg of the ride. I challenged some more hills in Swedesburg and Bridgeport, two towns I drove through when I first moved to PA but had not been to since.

Finished with these sister cities, I connected with the Schuykill River Trail on the other side of the river. I felt I had one more climb in me so I took on Shawmont hill (a 6.8% grade over 0.8 miles) for the first time since 2007. I intended to descend in to Wissahickon Valley, but when I saw Eva--the name of my new niece--Street, I decided to track it for awhile and ended up riding through the Roxborough/Manayunk neighborhoods. The Pro-Cycling race was this morning. People still partying after the event launched a few wisecracks--"You're winning!"--in my direction as I rode by.

Trip Statistics
Length: 51.3 miles
Ride Time: 5 hours 2 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours 41 minutes
Avg. Speed: 10.2 MPH
Max. Speed: 29.2 MPH
Avg. Cadence: 55 RPM
Total Ascent: 2,500 ft.
Max Elev.: 483 ft.

Elevation Profile

Righters Mill Ford at Mill Creek

Norfolk Southern Train

Ukrainian Catholic Church

Norristown Skyline

Old Bethlehem Steel Plant