My day started chilly and very cloudy. I had a breakfast at the hotel lobby then packed my bike up. I headed off at about 8:30am on the canal trail. By around 9:30am it started raining. Good thing I forgot my rain jacket!
I put on my rain pants and pushed forward, and after a few miles I found a highway overpass to take shelter under for a bit. The rain eventually stopped and the temperature reached about 45 degrees F. I switched my layers and kept going.
The trail was at first hard packed dirt but after a while it turned to a mud/soft sand combination that made me fight for every pedal stroke. It was a long slogging ride to the states capital. I got to Trenton, which is super ghetto, and it was the only time so far on this ride that I was nervous for my safety. Apon arriving in Chris Christie ville, I decided that I didn't want to travel at night. I crossed the Delaware river into Pennsylvania and found a comfort inn motel to stay at. They were very nice and welcoming and there was a great sandwich shop right next door that sold beer!
After a great nights sleep and even better breakfast, I decided that I would head north towards Frenchtown. It was about 24 degrees at 8am so I decided to stay inside for a few more hours as it was forecasted to reach 50 degrees by 11am. Being I plan on reaching my pickup spot by tonight a late start should be OK. Today will also be the shortest mileage day and hopefully drier trail conditions.
Today I started my journey from Hackensack onward. I ate some really good bagels in the morning and set out on a mission for new Brunswick or bust! It was foggy in the morning and chilly. I was a bit nervous about crossing Newark but it honestly wasn't so bad. The bike paths are well marked and street quality was good.
Before you know it, I was past Newark and Elizabeth and riding on some very nice bike paths and parks weaving through new jerseys suburbs. I soon met and followed the rahway river to where it meets the Raritan river entering new Brunswick. The hotels there were all either overpriced or crime/bedbug infested so I pushed onward up the finally approached d&r canal towpath. I rode until about 6 pm where I found an econolodge branch from travelocity for only 65 dollars. I was so thankful to see my first night destination because it was really dark by the time I got to the motel.
I had an excellent dinner at a pub called Freddy's in piskataway and took a cab to and from the motel. Tomorrow breakfast is included in the morning and I hope to get leaving by 930, 10am. I feel so good about this trip knowing that the urban portion of the ride is behind me now.
Tomorrow looks forward to mild temperatures and a sweet dirt path ride that's chock full of new jersey history. I really would like to do the ride again in the spring and take it all the way to Philly. So far so good!
Roughly two weeks until my next bike trip. I got a rear rack for the pug and I'm going to install the front rack from my other bike. I was second thinking going the other day but those thoughts were pushed away from a talk with my good friend from Colorado. I'm excited to have some more adventures in 2014.
I just got this zeki android tablet to blog while I'm on the road for my silly, chilly bike trip. I'm leaving January 15th from frenchtown, nj to Trenton. Then I'm riding to new Brunswick back to the bergen county area. I'm doing this trip on a single speed fat bike. I'm doing this trip t recharge my soul and get some Adventure in my life. I hope getting this device will inspire me to post more blog entries.
