Fall Colors Ride V

October 20, 2001

On October 20, 2001 we had a Fall Colors Ride V on the path along the D&R canal next to the Delaware River. We went from Scudders Falls to Lambertville to Frenchtown, then crossed the river and rode to New Hope on the towpath of the Delaware Canal on the Pennsylvania side of the river. We joined up with my wife Jane and Michelle, Denis' friend, for lunch in New Hope and then returned to the New Jersey side for the ride back to the starting point. The total was 52 miles!

Participants included Jim Peebles, professor emeritus in the physics department, Dan Angelescu and Denis Barkats, graduate students, Natalie Deffenbaugh, a senior, Chip Coldwell, a graduate student visiting from Harvard to help out with our SETI project, and me, Ed Groth. Chip has ridden across country twice and Natalie may go across country this summer. It was a small group; it was a beautiful day for riding and everyone had a good time.

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger picture.

Denis, Dan, Natalie, and Chip at the start, in the parking lot just of Route 29 where it intersects I-95. It's chilly and foggy at 8am. Jim starts to unload his bike.

Riding through Lambertville, about 10 miles from the start. Natalie, followed by Jim, then Denis and Chip, then Dan. Chip and Jim arrive at the Bulls Island recreation area where we took a rest. About 16 miles from the start.

Denis plays catch with his apple. We walked out on the Bulls Island to Lumberville footbridge across the Delaware. Pennsylvania is on the far side.

Pennsylvania a little upriver. The colors were really quite nice. Another view of the colors just across the bridge.

Dan and Jim made it to Frenchtown, about 25 miles from the start. So did Natalie and Chip. The path (former railroad line) is between Natalie and the building to the left.

Finally we found someone to take a group photo. That's Dan, Denis, Natalie, Chip, Ed, and Jim. We crossed the river at this point and rode to New Hope, PA (opposite Lambertville) on the Pennsylvania side. We had to ride on route 32 for a few miles before being able to get on the towpath of the Delaware canal. Headwinds blowing down river can be pretty strong! Behind Denis is the bridge to Pennsylvania.

The Delaware Canal and its towpath are gradually being restored. Here's a section with some water in it and a lock. Although the lock is no longer used to raise and lower canal boats, it's still required to provide a net drop (about 10 feet?) in the water level from the upstream to the downstream side. This is the upstream gate. Dan and Denis examine the downstream gate. It's partially open.

Here's the Bulls Island to Lumberville bridge again. This time from Lumberville, PA. A large flag has been hung from the bridge to demonstrate American spirit in the face of recent events. We made it to New Hope, PA, about 42 miles from the start. We had lunch at the patio of The Landing Restaurant overlooking the Delaware. Jane and Michelle joined us. Also in the photo are Dan, Denis, Natalie, and Chip.

In this picture, you can see Jim as well. I'm talking to Jim while we take a break from carbo-loading. In the background is the bridge from New Hope to Lambertville.

Ed, Jim, and Jane discuss the reason for Jane's camera not working. Dan must be sad because he and Denis are going to leave the ride in New Hope with Michelle so they can get back early and get to a party in New York. The rest of us rode the remaining 10 miles alonf the Delaware and Raritan feeder canal back to the parking lot where the cars were parked.

Michelle was feeling a little under the weather this year and didn't ride as she did last year. Besides, she had to divert Denis and Dan to New York City!

	Denis, Dan, Natalie, and Chip at the start, in the parking lot just of Route 29 where it intersects I-95. It's chilly and foggy at 8am.		Jim starts to unload his bike.
	Riding through Lambertville, about 10 miles from the start. Natalie, followed by Jim, then Denis and Chip, then Dan.		Chip and Jim arrive at the Bulls Island recreation area where we took a rest. About 16 miles from the start.
	Denis plays catch with his apple.		We walked out on the Bulls Island to Lumberville footbridge across the Delaware. Pennsylvania is on the far side.
	Pennsylvania a little upriver. The colors were really quite nice.		Another view of the colors just across the bridge.
	Dan and Jim made it to Frenchtown, about 25 miles from the start.		So did Natalie and Chip. The path (former railroad line) is between Natalie and the building to the left.
	Finally we found someone to take a group photo. That's Dan, Denis, Natalie, Chip, Ed, and Jim. We crossed the river at this point and rode to New Hope, PA (opposite Lambertville) on the Pennsylvania side. We had to ride on route 32 for a few miles before being able to get on the towpath of the Delaware canal.		Headwinds blowing down river can be pretty strong! Behind Denis is the bridge to Pennsylvania.
	The Delaware Canal and its towpath are gradually being restored. Here's a section with some water in it and a lock. Although the lock is no longer used to raise and lower canal boats, it's still required to provide a net drop (about 10 feet?) in the water level from the upstream to the downstream side. This is the upstream gate.		Dan and Denis examine the downstream gate. It's partially open.
	Here's the Bulls Island to Lumberville bridge again. This time from Lumberville, PA. A large flag has been hung from the bridge to demonstrate American spirit in the face of recent events.		We made it to New Hope, PA, about 42 miles from the start. We had lunch at the patio of The Landing Restaurant overlooking the Delaware. Jane and Michelle joined us. Also in the photo are Dan, Denis, Natalie, and Chip.
	In this picture, you can see Jim as well.		I'm talking to Jim while we take a break from carbo-loading. In the background is the bridge from New Hope to Lambertville.
	Ed, Jim, and Jane discuss the reason for Jane's camera not working.		Dan must be sad because he and Denis are going to leave the ride in New Hope with Michelle so they can get back early and get to a party in New York. The rest of us rode the remaining 10 miles alonf the Delaware and Raritan feeder canal back to the parking lot where the cars were parked.
	Michelle was feeling a little under the weather this year and didn't ride as she did last year. Besides, she had to divert Denis and Dan to New York City!