The weather was a nice 75F and sunny, just perfect for any kind of outdoor activity. So decided to make full use of it and plan hiking and biking trips for the two days.
Day 1 - North Side Trail at Valley Forge National Historic Park
The Valley Forge National Historic Park is located 25 miles north of Philadelphia near King of Prussia. There are 27 miles of walking and biking trails there. One trail which interested us a lot was the North Side Trail, which follows the Schuylkill River during the entire 6 mile span. Caught bus 125 from 30th Street Stn and reached Valley Forge in an hour. From the Welcome Center, walked towards Rt 422 to cross the river. It was an awesome experience walking on the wooden section high up on the river with the winds tearing down you and the vehicles on the road behind you making growling noises. After crossing the river, we followed the Schuylkill River Trail for half mile to reach the North Side Trail. From there on, it was a six mile walk along the river. The best thing about this trail was that there were continuous access points and you could keep on going to the river bed regularly. It was fun climbing a fallen tree which was overlooking the river. A long walk through deeply wooded section next to the river brought us to the parking lot at the other end of the trail. Here we went down to the river bank and sat on the rocks there and had our lunch. After lunch, had a small session enjoying bouncing rocks on the river water. While returning, we took a diversion midway and found ourselves back on the Schuylkill River Trail. On the way back, spotted several deers along the trail. Once we crossed the river on the same bridge, a short walk got us back to the welcome center from where we caught 125 again back to center city. In all, a wonderful day spent outside hiking. The photos from the trip can be found at
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=233885&id=613978677
Day 2 - Schuylkill River Trail Norristown to Philadelphia biking
I have been reading about the Schuylkill River trail from Philadelphia to Valley Forge for a long time and always desired to do the biking trip. This summer, I realized I can get bikes on rent from Drexel and so the desire to do the trail was overwhelming. After doing the 5 miles from Philadelphia to Wissahickon and back for a few weekends, I wanted to do the entire trail. When I realized that the trail passes by the Norristown Transportation Center, I knew I had to do the trail before the winter sets in. The second day of the long weekend was also fabulous. Not hot, not cold, not humid. So I decided this was the day.
The start was really inauspicious as I messed up the tire. Instead of filling air in it using the automatic pump, I ended up blowing it out. However got a manual pump just in time and headed to 30th street station to catch the R6 train to Norristown. This train follows the trail as well as Schuylkill River from Wissahickon and thus I had a preview of things to come. Started the trail from Norristown and then realized that the train tracks were in between the river and the trail, which meant I would not be having access to the river bed for some time. But even if the river is not accessible, the trail is pretty good with lots of trees surrounding it. This trial was earlier a train track section and thus its pretty level. After crossing both I-276 and I-476, we pass through beautiful apartment complexes in Conshohocken. Just north of Manayunk, we cross the tracks and touch the river bed for the first time since Norristown. Here, there is a beautiful dam across the river and the view of the dam and the surrounding scenery is really beautiful. After taking pictures to the heart's content, I proceed on the trail towards Manayunk. This section is a mix of unpaved trail and wooden sections and follows the Manayunk Canal. It is really nice as you are biking next to the canal. As you reach the Southern end of Manayunk, the trail is diverted onto the road and the next section is a mile long path on the road. At Wissahickon, the trail again becomes a paved bicycle/pedestrian trail and follows Kelly Drive into Center City Philadelphia. Near Wissahickon creek, I take a diversion onto the Lincoln Drive Trail. After taking pictures along the trail, I head back to the River Trail and follow Kelly Drive. The turn after Columbia Bridge gives me the first view of Center City. I stop here for some time and take pictures of Amtrak, Septa and NJTransit trains crossing the Schuylkill River. A half an hour ride brings me to Market Street. As I climb up the ramp to the street, I can feel the tiredness of biking 18 miles, but with it comes a feeling of content and happiness as I finish something that I have been wanting to do since the past two summers. My next target is to finish the entire trail from Philadelphia to Valley Forge and back.
The photos of the trail can be found at
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=243612&id=613978677
Day 1 - North Side Trail at Valley Forge National Historic Park
The Valley Forge National Historic Park is located 25 miles north of Philadelphia near King of Prussia. There are 27 miles of walking and biking trails there. One trail which interested us a lot was the North Side Trail, which follows the Schuylkill River during the entire 6 mile span. Caught bus 125 from 30th Street Stn and reached Valley Forge in an hour. From the Welcome Center, walked towards Rt 422 to cross the river. It was an awesome experience walking on the wooden section high up on the river with the winds tearing down you and the vehicles on the road behind you making growling noises. After crossing the river, we followed the Schuylkill River Trail for half mile to reach the North Side Trail. From there on, it was a six mile walk along the river. The best thing about this trail was that there were continuous access points and you could keep on going to the river bed regularly. It was fun climbing a fallen tree which was overlooking the river. A long walk through deeply wooded section next to the river brought us to the parking lot at the other end of the trail. Here we went down to the river bank and sat on the rocks there and had our lunch. After lunch, had a small session enjoying bouncing rocks on the river water. While returning, we took a diversion midway and found ourselves back on the Schuylkill River Trail. On the way back, spotted several deers along the trail. Once we crossed the river on the same bridge, a short walk got us back to the welcome center from where we caught 125 again back to center city. In all, a wonderful day spent outside hiking. The photos from the trip can be found at
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=233885&id=613978677
Day 2 - Schuylkill River Trail Norristown to Philadelphia biking
I have been reading about the Schuylkill River trail from Philadelphia to Valley Forge for a long time and always desired to do the biking trip. This summer, I realized I can get bikes on rent from Drexel and so the desire to do the trail was overwhelming. After doing the 5 miles from Philadelphia to Wissahickon and back for a few weekends, I wanted to do the entire trail. When I realized that the trail passes by the Norristown Transportation Center, I knew I had to do the trail before the winter sets in. The second day of the long weekend was also fabulous. Not hot, not cold, not humid. So I decided this was the day.
The start was really inauspicious as I messed up the tire. Instead of filling air in it using the automatic pump, I ended up blowing it out. However got a manual pump just in time and headed to 30th street station to catch the R6 train to Norristown. This train follows the trail as well as Schuylkill River from Wissahickon and thus I had a preview of things to come. Started the trail from Norristown and then realized that the train tracks were in between the river and the trail, which meant I would not be having access to the river bed for some time. But even if the river is not accessible, the trail is pretty good with lots of trees surrounding it. This trial was earlier a train track section and thus its pretty level. After crossing both I-276 and I-476, we pass through beautiful apartment complexes in Conshohocken. Just north of Manayunk, we cross the tracks and touch the river bed for the first time since Norristown. Here, there is a beautiful dam across the river and the view of the dam and the surrounding scenery is really beautiful. After taking pictures to the heart's content, I proceed on the trail towards Manayunk. This section is a mix of unpaved trail and wooden sections and follows the Manayunk Canal. It is really nice as you are biking next to the canal. As you reach the Southern end of Manayunk, the trail is diverted onto the road and the next section is a mile long path on the road. At Wissahickon, the trail again becomes a paved bicycle/pedestrian trail and follows Kelly Drive into Center City Philadelphia. Near Wissahickon creek, I take a diversion onto the Lincoln Drive Trail. After taking pictures along the trail, I head back to the River Trail and follow Kelly Drive. The turn after Columbia Bridge gives me the first view of Center City. I stop here for some time and take pictures of Amtrak, Septa and NJTransit trains crossing the Schuylkill River. A half an hour ride brings me to Market Street. As I climb up the ramp to the street, I can feel the tiredness of biking 18 miles, but with it comes a feeling of content and happiness as I finish something that I have been wanting to do since the past two summers. My next target is to finish the entire trail from Philadelphia to Valley Forge and back.
The photos of the trail can be found at
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=243612&id=613978677
