Year 2 - Day 3 - Linden NJ to Bensalem PA






Day 3 takes us through New Jersey to almost Philadelphia! It was about 60% off road or trails. About 42 miles of the total 76 miles were on former canal tow paths. We passed Rutgers University agriculture teaching areas and then entered the Delaware and Raritan Canal Tow Path. The first thing we had to do was ford one of the canal’s overflow areas. Not too much water, but enough that if you slipped, you would get wet feet! The canal had frequent overflow areas that when ridden across were like riding cobblestones! 

We stopped for lunch at an artisan pizza place in Kingston NJ called Toni’s Artisan Pizza Company. I had their daily special, a 12” pizza thin crust white sauce pizza with chunks mozzarella, ham, and figs! I am always open to try new stuff, but I really prefer the old standby, a hand tossed tomato sauce greasy meat pie! You know the kind, pick it up and let the grease drain off before eating!

We encountered several former canal locks that have been fitted with more modern flow control devices in order to keep the canals filled to the proper levels. 










The tow path trail led into Trenton NJ. As we followed the path, it become more and more difficult to determine exactly where the trail was as it wound around streets and homes. We abandoned the tow path for the last several hundred yards in favor of the streets. 

We were within striking distance of the Delaware River and PA when Gary had another puncture! There we were in the “good” section of Trenton repairing another flat! 


Progressing from Trenton we crossed the Calhoun Street Bridge into Morrisville PA. We were required to walk our bikes across the bridge. Below are several photos of the Delaware and us crossing. 






Once in PA, we connected with the Delaware Canal Towpath. The ECG route took us away from the path for a block or two and then directed us to connect with the path again, but we encountered a long set of stairs to get back down to the path. A “local” who just happened to be walking by instructed us to go through the local hotel parking lot and out the back where we would find a more suitable level connector. 

Along the path we found a canal lock that still had both wooden gates. Although age and weather have taken a toll on the lock, it gave us a much better concept of how the lock actually functioned. 




You will note that PA does not do a great job of keeping the canal filled. There was some, not much, water at the place where we started along the towpath, but none at the lock in the photos. 

We were soon back out on the streets and making good speedy, for loaded touring bikes, progress toward our hotel. A short diversion off State Road into Bensalem put us at our hotel for the evening!

After today, we will have ridden a total of 206 miles and climbed a total of 5,967 feet in elevation! 

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