Philly to FL...anyone interested?

[garland2213]

Planning to go from Philadelphia to Florida and would love some company. Never done a trip like this before and fairly new to cycling, but I have free time until summer, and think it would be a great experience.

Any advice or help would be awesome too.

Thanks

[fitz]

Absolutely!  I'm leaving Hazleton PA on Sunday.  When were you planning on leaving?

[indyfabz]

Absolutely!  I'm leaving Hazleton PA on Sunday.  When were you planning on leaving?

What route are you taking? Note that Sunday is the final day of the final fall foliage weekend in Jim Thorpe. Be careful if you pass through there. Traffic can get crazy around the center of town, although this Sunday is supposed to be chilly and windy, so the crowds might not be as bad as usual. Thinking about going up Saturday to ride the Lehigh Gorge Trail.

It just occurred to me that you could follow PA Bike Route V from Hazleton to Delaware Water Gap to pick up the Adventure Cycling Route, which is a nice, relatively easy way to head south. The sections between Belvedere, NJ and Philipsburg, NJ and between Carpentersville and Lambertville, NJ are quite nice. The guy who owns the campground in Upper Black Eddy, PA, just off route at Milford, NJ, charges cyclists only $15. Let me know if want any info re: that area. I have ridden from DWG to Philly a couple of times and have done Belvedere to Frenchtown and Lambertville many more times.

[fitz]

Thanks for the heads up, that's the route I'm taking.  I've never done the Lehigh trail, so any info would be much appreciated.  See you on the trail!

[indyfabz]

I am not sure which route you mean.

The Lehigh Gorge Trail is not on Bike Route V. If you will be taking the trail instead of Route V to the river, it's a nice ride. There is one water source closer to the White Haven end and nothing after that until town. You can get into JT without riding on the road. Follow the park access road and then cross the rover using the old railroad bridge. One half is still used for trains and the other for bikes/peds. The trail continues to the municipal parking lot in the center of town. Don't think I am going p on Saturday. The weather does not look ideal.

[fitz]

Yep, I'm taking Route V from Hazleton to the river.  Is there a good way to get from Allentown to Philadelphia?  From looking at the map, it looks like my best route is to follow the Lehigh river past Bethlehem, link up with the Delaware river and continue to Philly, where I can go north to meet the Atlantic Coast trail.

[LegsBPedaling]

I'll ride with you when you get down to Florida!

[indyfabz]

Yep, I'm taking Route V from Hazleton to the river.  Is there a good way to get from Allentown to Philadelphia?  From looking at the map, it looks like my best route is to follow the Lehigh river past Bethlehem, link up with the Delaware river and continue to Philly, where I can go north to meet the Atlantic Coast trail.

Yep, I'm taking Route V from Hazleton to the river.  Is there a good way to get from Allentown to Philadelphia?  From looking at the map, it looks like my best route is to follow the Lehigh river past Bethlehem, link up with the Delaware river and continue to Philly, where I can go north to meet the Atlantic Coast trail.
[/quote]

Missed this. Hope you simply took Route V to where it ends in Portland, PA. That would have put you on the Atlantic Coast Route. In fact, if you did you joined the Atlantic Coast Route in Delaware Water Gap, PA. Both routes use PA 611 to Portland which, by the way is the birthplace of the guy who rote "All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth."