The Towpath Before the Storm

D&R Canal Towpath, Lambertville, NJ

19 January 2019

When Tom listed his pre-storm towpath ride the forecast for Saturday had a between-snow window of maybe six hours. By the time we all showed up for the ride there wasn't much of anything in the forecast for Saturday.

Friday morning's dusting was still around when two groups of Free Wheelers gathered at Washington Crossing. Tom's crew consisted of me, him, Jack H, Bob N, Peter G, Racer Pete, Chris, and Jerry. Ron was with Ken W and a couple others whose names I didn't know. For a few minutes he considered merging his group with ours, but when he found out Tom was going to start on the PA side he decided to stay separate and asked that I remember to mention him in the blog instead. (Hi, Ron!)

Ron didn't want to go up the PA side because a section of the towpath was closed near Stockton and would require a mile or so of riding on the road. Tom's Insane Bike Posse has no qualms about chain-link fences. There was room enough to walk, balance beam style, between the edge of the fence and the edge of the berm.

After the first few people got across they helped the rest of us by taking our bikes so that we could hold onto the fence. Notice that the sign forbids pedestrians; we're not pedestrians, so...

Jerry went around the construction the long way, walking his bike through the dry canal and up the side back to the path.

When we got to Centre Bridge we had to climb a steep staircase to cross over the Delaware River. I stopped for a few pictures first.

The Delaware River isn't tidal in Stockton (it's tidal to Trenton), but the shoreline mud made it look that way. We've had a lot of rain recently.

Ron's group was drinking hot chocolate outside of the general store by the side of the towpath. Tom chose not to stop.

Near the water treatment plant in Lambertville I stopped for a picture. Working my camera with thick gloves, I sometimes inadvertently rotate the setting wheel to something unexpected. Today I wound up with a series of shots in various color themes.

We were halfway through putting our bikes away when Ron's group rolled into the Washington Crossing parking lot. I spent enough time gabbing away that my hands got cold. Four hours later, as I sit in the coldest part of the house typing this, my hands are cold again. Outside there is no snow. Instead we're under a flood watch.