Pennsylvania Dutch Country Roads Adventure: a bike trip

This is a nice 3 day bike trip to Pennsylvania and Maryland I will lead August 22-24 to Valley Forge National Historic Park and then across Pennsylvania to a house in the town of Intercourse, in the heart of bicycle riding and Amish country. On Monday, we will spend a day riding around Lancaster and points north without our luggage. On Tuesday, we will ride back across Pennsylvania to Philadelphia and the train home, stopping for a look at French Creek State Park (a famous mountain-biking destination and campground) and the adjacent Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site  before we continue on to
dinner in the Elkin Park section of Philadelphia. After dinner, it's on to 30th St. station and the train home.

In order to make it more flexible for people outside of NYC and Long Island, the price of the trip doesn't include transportation.


On Sunday August 22, I'll take the 7:14 AM Trenton train from NY Penn station, change for the SEPTA train to 30th St. station Philadelphia arriving 9:45 AM. Anyone not coming from NY Penn with me will meet up in the main level of the station at the north arcade waiting room.  From the station we'll ride with our panniers on our bikes at a 16 mph pace out and over the Schuylkill River Trail to Valley Forge as the first leg of our trip. After we ride around the Valley Forge site, we'll continue west across Pennsylvania with a quick stop at Marsh Creek park.

The trip price includes two nights lodging and two days worth of expertly prepared freshly cooked delicious and nutritious meals by  Sharron The Kitchen Maven : Sunday dinner, Monday breakfast/lunch/dinner and Tuesday breakfast and lunch. All meals are glatt kosher / cholov yisroel / pas yisroel. The restaurant in Elkin Park is glatt kosher. 

Of course cue sheets and Garmin routes are provided.. I've also arranged for a car service on demand to come get anyone, at their expense, who cannot continue but doesn't need emergency medical attention and take them wherever -- back to the hotel, a bike shop etc. .
 

Day	Miles	Cruising speed - mph	terrain
Sunday	70	16+	Flat to rolling
Monday	60-80	17	Mostly hilly, some climbs
Tuesday	82	16+	Rolling to flat

Before the ride
Make sure your bike is in GOOD working order. Pump up tires to the pressure specified on the sidewall. Bring essentials: helmet, 2 spare tubes, a pump, patch kit, 2 water bottles or a hydration pack of at least 50 oz., pocket food, ID, money, credit card, and if you are using Metro North or LIRR to get to/from NY Penn station you need a train pass. Eat a good breakfast consisting of carbohydrates and proteins before you leave home. Bicycle helmets are required head attire for all rides on this trip, and "ipod"-like devices are not allowed.

Lodging:
There are 3 available bedrooms.
Bedroom 1: 1 King bed and a TV, $500
Bedroom 2: 1 Queen bed and a TV $500
Bedroom 3: 2 Queen beds and a TV: each bed, $375
Bedroom 4: Women only (sharing room with Sharron) no TV, 2 beds available $300 ea.
Bring your spouse for Bedrrom 1 or 2:: $225

Deadlines:
Paying by check: $175 deposit before July 21st.  Receipt of full payment is required by August 1st. Your registration is transferable but non-refundable after July 21st. The above prices expire July 21st; after July 21st, add $150. No registration possible after August 19th.

To pay by credit card, use this Active.com event.

All prices include PA tax.


Please note: there is absolutely no smoking permitted on this trip.