Lancaster to Somerville

I start at about 5am. Before leaving the Franklin & Marshall campus, I head for the centre of Hartman Green with a can of Veryfine, and offer a final toast of the summer to CTYers past, present, and future, wherever they may be and whatever they may call themselves. Then, after circling Sticks and Stones, I head north past Hensel Hall and onto College Avenue. I turn right onto Harrisburg Pike, which merges into James Street. At the cemetery, James Street veers left and becomes Park Avenue. I turn right onto Frederick Street, right onto Marshall Street, and left onto the 23 (New Holland Pike).

I continue on the 23 east out of Lancaster County. Between Lancaster and Leola I'm climbing out of the Landis Valley, so it's mostly uphill, but not very steep. I pass a few miles south of French Creek State Park in Warwick Township, and pass a county park on my right. I cross the 100 in Bucktown and continue into Brownbacks. Shortly after passing Brownback's Church on the right, I turn left onto Bethel Church Road. This is a tiny, county road, and it's ironic that I find myself on it on the way to New York City. The City still isn't much more than an idea, out here.

In Parker Ford, Bethel Church Road crosses the 724 (Old Schuylkill Road) and becomes Linfield Road. Linfield Road curves right and crosses a cantilever bridge over the Schuylkill Canal. Toward the west, two cooling towers are visible on the northern bank of the canal. I cross a bridge over a railroad and enter Linfield, a small town full of brightly painted Victorian houses and trimmed hedges. People must commute from here into nearby Pottstown. Linfield Road becomes Linfield Trappe Road, and then ends at a 'T' intersection with Lewis Road, opposite an on-ramp for the 422 east. I turn left (north) onto Lewis Road, heading toward Limerick, and pass under the 422. Lewis Road ends in a 'T' intersection with West Ridge Pike, where I turn right. After the turn, there are a Sunoco and a church on the left. At the church, I turn left onto Limerick Road.

On Limerick Road, a group from the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia led by Jeff Reardon catches up with me. They're on a ride up the Perkiomen Creek into Montgomery County. They turn left onto Hackle Road, and I continue straight and then turn sharply right to continue on Limerick Road. (If you miss this turn and continue straight, you'll find yourself on Mile Run Road.) It's rather visible; there's a sign on the corner that says 'stop except right turns'. In Schwenksville, Limerick Road becomes Perkiomen Avenue and descends a steep hill. At a 'T' intersection with the 29 (Main Street), I turn right. Shortly thereafter, I turn left onto the the 73 east crossing a bridge over Perkiomen Creek. Immediately on the north side of the creek, I turn left onto Haldeman Road as the 73 curves right.

There are many people out biking today. I encounter one of them while I'm stopped to check my map. He advises me to turn right onto Bergey Mill Road at another 'T' intersection where Haldeman Road turns sharply left. Bergey Mill Road climbs a long, steep hill and ends at Cross Road, where I turn left. From Cross Road I turn left onto the 113 north. It's about 11 o'clock, and I'm halfway to New Jersey.

The 113 takes me almost all the way to New Jersey, but there's one more ridge to cross between the end of the 113 and the Delaware River. The 113 ends at the 611 a couple of miles past Bedminster. At about 1.30pm, I cross the 611 onto Hollow Horn Road, a small, county road. At a covered bridge that carries Hollow Horn Road across a creek, I run into a couple of bicyclists out for a Sunday ride, and we talk for a few minutes. Just past the bridge, Hollow Horn Road turns sharply right. (If you miss this turn, you'll find yourself on Cafferty Road, which leads past a small airport where gliders and powered airplanes operate. At the north end of the airport, turn right onto Headquarters Road, and follow the directions below.) At a 'T' intersection with Headquarters Road, turn right. The road follows a mostly dry creek bed before turning sharply left. (If you miss this turn, you'll find yourself on Tinicum Road, which should also lead eventually to the Delaware, though at a point farther south.) At the Enwinna post office, Headquarters Road turns sharply right. It ends shortly thereafter, at the 32 (River Road), which runs along the Delaware River. The hilly terrain since the end of the 113 has been tough going, although that's been mitigated by the cool shade of the forest. I'm looking forward to the flat land along the river. At Tinicum Park, there's easy access to the river, and I stop for a swim to cool and to get the dirt from the road off my skin. There's a lot of activity on the river: canoes from a summer camp, families swimming, people tubing. After a mile or two, I turn right and cross a bridge over the Delaware and into Frenchtown, New Jersey.

I curve left through the centre of town and then turn right, following a sign for the 12. The 12 ascends a long hill on the New Jersey side of the Delaware Valley, and continues to the 202 just south of Flemington. I stop here for a more substantial meal. I continue on the 202 to Somerville, where I take the 28 into town. I've come about a hundred miles and have another thirty or so to go, but I'm having difficulty persuading my legs to move. Weighing the alternatives, I decide to take a commuter train the rest of the way into the City. I turn right onto South Bridge Road, which leads to the Somerville train station, and put myself and the bicycle on the next inbound train. (Note: New Jersey Transit requires a permit in order to allow a bicycle on a train. These are free, but must be applied for in advance, during business hours, at Penn Station in Newark or New York.)

(Hardcore riders may want to continue on the 28 all the way to Linden, where one can take any of several routes into the City.)