Fall Colors Ride XII

November 1, 2008



On November 1, 2008 we had a Fall Colors Ride XII on the path along the D&R feeder canal next to the Delaware River. We went from Washington Crossing to Lambertville to Frenchtown and back. Our total for the day was 45.8 miles.

Our group this year included Norm Jarosik, research physicist, his friends Enno and Cristina Peters from Queens, riding a tandem, Josh Shaevits, physics professor, John Appel, physics graduate student, his friend Bailey, chemical engineering graduate student, and me, Ed Groth.

The day was partly cloudy, cold in the morning but comfortable in the afternoon. Some trees were completely bare, some were still green, and many were various fall colors!



The rest of the story is in the pictures below.


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Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Bailey and John in the parking lot at Washington's Crossing at the beginning of the ride. Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Bailey and John again.
Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Josh at the start. Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Norm and Enno and Cristina getting ready.
Fall Colors Ride, 2008 I was only able to go on the ride because of this device: a crank shortener. I couldn't bend my right knee very far without pain and this shortened the effective crank length from 175 mm to 116 mm. A fourth hole (not seen) would allow a crank as short as 99 mm. My left leg had to do most of the work, but it's a flat ride! Fall Colors Ride, 2008 The bridge over the Delaware at Washington's Crossing.
Fall Colors Ride, 2008 About a mile north of Lambertville, Norm approaches. Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Bailey and John.
Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Bailey on the path. Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Who needs Enno anyway? Seriously, the shutter delay allowed the tandem to move partially out of the picture and captured only Cristina, with Josh in the background.
Fall Colors Ride, 2008 We took a break at Bulls Island. Here are Enno, Bailey, and John, and Norm who might be discussing the hill on Federal Twist Road. Norm often leaves the group and rides up this hill and rejoins the group at Bulls Island. This time he took Josh and John with him. They had various degrees of success in making it up the hill! Fall Colors Ride, 2008 We walked out on the bridge connecting Bulls Island, NJ to Lumberville, PA. Here are Bailey, John and Cristina.
Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Norm on the bridge. Fall Colors Ride, 2008 We made it to our turn around spot, Frenchtown. Here are John and Bailey with some coffee from the coffee shop just behind.
Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Josh relaxes in Frenchtown where there's also a bicycle shop in case there are problems. Fall Colors Ride, 2008 On the way back is Bailey with Enno and Cristina on the their tandem just behind.
Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Josh is ahead and about to pass a couple of walkers. Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Bailey, followed by the tandem with Enno and Cristina, then John and Norm.
Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Cristina at Bulls Island where we stopped for another break on the way back. Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Norm, Enno, Cristina, and Josh at Bulls Island with Route 29 in the background.
Fall Colors Ride, 2008 John and Bailey at Bulls Island. Fall Colors Ride, 2008 We had lunch at the Lambertville Station. Cristina, Norm, John, Baily and Josh wait for the table to be ready.
Fall Colors Ride, 2008 After 46 miles (7 miles from lunch), we're back at the parking lot where Norm is putting his bike in his car. Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Bailey and John have their bikes loaded.
Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Josh is ready to go home. Fall Colors Ride, 2008 Josh and Norm watch while Cristina and Enno secure the tandem.