Trenton to Bristol

The ride from NYC to Philadelphia tomorrow will use the same route as last year. The canal trail from Trenton to Bristol looked tempting on a map, but turned out to be discontinuous segments. 

The first task of my canal trail investigation required riding over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to the first stop of New Jersey's River Line, (the $1.50 train with 6 hooks for hanging bicycles on).

you can see i got a late start, considering the train takes an hour to get from Camden to Trenton.

The ride form the Trenton Transportation Center to the canal trail in Morrisville, (settled in 1623), was punctuated with three incidents of honking cars. Trenton, (capital of New Jersey), is not friendly to bicycles.

The canal was originally built in the 1830's to transport coal from the mines to the big cities like Philadelphia and New York.

Shortly after the canals were built, the railroad became even cheaper for moving coal. The railroads were often built right next to the bankrupt canals.

Occasionally the trail was obstructed and i had to walk along the Amtrak train line, (to bypass other crossing train lines or roads).

Over the years, many have died in transit along these routes.

The weather was hot and very humid. In Bristol, the $7 train back to Philadelphia was more appealing than riding over the Burlington - Bristol Bridge to take the $1.50 train back to Camden. Being soaked in sweat is not as bad on a bicycle as when sitting on a crowded train.

All told, i will cross the same bridge over the Delaware River tomorrow, but instead of riding the canal to Bristol, i will continue on Trenton Avenue - Hulmville Road to get back home.