A bike ride and a hike, August 12

My bike ride

The most basic reason I ride is connect with my surroundings.  Bats flew overhead as I biked near the June Fete Grounds.  A couple of days before that, I saw a red fox by Abington High School.  There are places close to Jenkintown where you bike through the woods on streets and enjoy the musty smell of woods.  Or you might pass by the scent of campfire.

Close to home, places I’ve never been become real to me.  I learn the terrain, see the views, follow fences, appreciate the diverse housing, and observe changing landscapes.

When I get home, I can focus.  I feel a calm amidst challenges.  What would I do without a bike?  I could explore 27 miles and get home before anyone was up.

Family Hike at Lehigh Gap

The Lehigh Gap Nature Center is located at Lehigh Gap, where the river passes through the ridge between Lehigh County and Carbon County.  It’s a restored superfund site, and the Appalachian Trail follows the ridge.  I think it’s worth the hour and twenty minute drive.

What’s here? All kinds of native plant life, including the Eastern Prickly Pear cactus.  And there are all kinds of birds and diverse habitats.

Our four mile hike from the nature center took us uphill along the Appalachian Trail.  An AT through hiker passed us then stopped for water at a spring.  Sandi photographed a large black snake beside the trail. I photographed some mushrooms.

We took the Blue Trail –> Appalachian Trail –> North Trail –> Charcoal Trail –> Prairie Grass Trail –> L & NE Trail and back to the nature center.

The trail loop was more overgrown than the last couple of times I hiked there.  Spring or fall might be a better time to hike here. There were lots of birds though.  Sandi didn’t appreciate hiking through the tall grasses on the north side of the mountain.  She liked the trail in the woods though.  Jessica wasn’t happy because she had wanted to go to the Devils Pulpit for the view .  We didn’t quite get to the overlook.  Actually, we walked right past it.  It was hot.

Near the end of the hike, I got a phone call and learned that a friend from Davenport, Iowa is moving to Bucks County.

The next time I hike this trail, I’d like to bring more ice water, sunscreen and bug repellant.  And I’d like to wear long pants because there could be ticks.  Finally, having a walking stick would be nice.