Trip Report: Allentown, Port Clinton, Bethlehem, and Easton PA

[dabaron]

i wanted to get out for another cycling/trains/camping adventure before i tear apart the Westy suspension. i really need to get the parts out of the dining room! i reserved a campsite at the Port Clinton area of the Weiser State Forest and did some maintenance to the Surly Long Haul Trucker...

the Westy has been running great since replacing the heads and having the OEM Bosch injectors serviced. the addition of the oil pressure and temp gauges was a smart move, knowing what is happening in the engine is important. the oil pressure and temp are looking good while running 65mph on the Turnpike.

i started in Bethleham at the Sand Island trail head along the D&L Trail. the plan was to head north/west along the canal and do about 20 miles. after the Allentown Canal Park, the route basically evaporates and is 7 miles of road riding. not what i wanted to do, boo. after a few road miles i decided to head back to the Westy, relocate to the canal park and hang out.

this is a bit of a famous train watching location. the Westy is proving to be a great railfanning platform. i made some coffee and ate lunch, talked to passerbys about Vanagons. after an hour of hanging out i decided i better get moving to Port Clinton...

i was watching the clock and had to be in Port Clinton by 2:30 if i wanted to catch the Reading and Northern's NRFF (North Reading Fast Freight) which left North Reading at 1:55pm (sharp!).

of course a railroad employee flagged me down and we had a nice conversation about Westys, Vanagons, and the railroad. the sun was pretty harsh and i was trying to find a new angle at Port Clinton. i could not resist setting up a shot featuring the Westy

with the NRFF gone it was time to head up the mountain. the Westy was struggling a bit, the road is stupid steep and it had been pretty dry recently making the loose gravel very difficult to get traction. luckily i went with a Peloquin and boy could i tell it was working... it's a very wise upgrade for those interested in running forest roads.

the Westy in it's natural habitat.

why yes, i did ride the stupid steep hill on my Surly. my legs were not pleased with this terrible idea.

the Dometic CRX-50 has a very nice freezer. these Ben and Jerry's 4 oz ice cream containers fit easily in the freezer and make a nice treat after a long day of adventure.

in the morning i was up early and after coffee and breakfast, it was time to head back down the mountain.

i headed back to Sand Island and rode the 14 miles to Easton. it was a lovely trip along the canal, and then a not so nice stretch that had a serious washout in the last few years, then a 2 mile section of pavement before crossing the Lehigh River.

if you are riding the canal, i suggest you try the skills track. i could not stop laughing, the long wheel base of the LHT made for some interesting moments on the wooden curved platforms.

i was lucky enough to catch a westbound on the NS Leigh Line at CP Easton. the line is very busy and in total i saw 9 trains Sunday while riding.

just before the confluence of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers, this is the scene that unfolds as the trail skirts the edge of the Lehigh and the former Lehigh Valley Railroad's Easton Station.

a very dusty Surly after covering 50 miles in two days along the D&L Trail.

that was a fun adventure, looking forward to the next one!
_________________
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[dobryan]

Fun!
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

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[sanchius]

Very nice, road trip, trains, bikes, forests... A classic!
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[thatbaldwinlife]

Looks like a nice trip, thanks for posting. Maybe I'm the only one here who doesn't see the fascination with trains? Or airplanes? Area looks nice to ride in.
nate
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1987 Westy
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[4Gears4Tires]

Automobiles, trains, and planes are probably the most accessible and understandable high technology we get to interact with on a regular basis. The amount of engineering and logistics required for them to exist is a truly impressive feat by mankind.

Very cool trip, putting the van to it's intended purpose!
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[dabaron]

[vanagonjr]

This says I need to add PA to my places to go.
I remember nice countryside there when I rode my bicycle across country some 35 years ago.
Still have the bike. Early 80’s Fuji Touring Series IV with bar ends and a Blackburn rack like yours.
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[4Gears4Tires]

[Abscate]

[dabaron]

[jimf909]

dabaron, I love your trip reports! Beautiful scenery, van tripping, bike riding and trains (not that I know much about trains).

[Schnippzle]

Great trip report and excellent t-shirt!

[Abscate]

[djkeev]

Trip reports like this are great!

Many think the Eastern Seaboard is nothing but wall to wall houses and strip malls!
That the only good outdoor natural places to be found are in the Western States.
Yes, there is still a lot to be said for areas of the West no doubt, but from my travels I've seen that the population has absolutely soared out there!
The old sleepy cow puncher towns are quickly vanishing!
Bend Or. springs to mind, as does Brookings Or. Get into the Rogue Valley, white City and the highway out towards Crater Lake?
Wow! What a change!!

Yes, there are a lot of people here in the East, but also a lot of space, a lot of history and a lot of beauty still to be found.

Dave
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[thatbaldwinlife]

[jimf909]