New Hope, Pennsylvania 10/6/2011

We had decided to sleep in but of course were up at our regular time, about 6 am. It is not light until after 7am and we do not ride in the dark. We came down stairs and Adam, the manager, told us two other cyclist had checked in last night. Rudy asked, "Young couple, the guy pulling BOB trailer?" Yep, it was the couple we had seen go by the Fly Shop outside of Union, CT on 9/29. They stayed in the B&B we had been trying to call all afternoon and were present when the operator of the B&B returned our call, so they were aware that we were on the road somewhere. Anyway, Drew and Shira started in Bar Harbor and are on their way to Key West. It was nice to meet with them and discuss the things that happen along the road, and the road itself. They made it through the closed bridges and roads as we did. We exchanged blog addresses and were on our way. Check their blog at billydontlosemynumber.blogspot.com. They told us they were going to stop for a few days at Shira's home, near Lambertville.

We had a good day of riding, nice weather, little climbing, quiet backroads for the most part, nice people to give directions along the way when we had questions about the right route.

We stopped in Frenchtown, NJ for lunch and there was a group of 8 people out for a days ride seated near us. We chatted with Macon and Bob. Bob has done some long trips, some on a motorcycle and some on bicycle. He retired after 35 years in the cut flower business. Like the Rose of Sharon Flower shop we visited several days ago, he got most of his flowers from South America. Travel time was 2 1/2 days from time the flowers were cut until they were in his store. Bob suggested we ride down the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware to Stockton instead of the New Jersey side as our maps listed. Go with the local knowledge and hope for the best. The Pennsylvania side was pretty but Bob forgot to mention there are no shoulders on much of the ride. It was not a problem as traffic was light.

We continue to see lots of evidence of the damage caused by the hurricane and heavy rains during the last month. Road damage, lots of trees uprooted and in Belvidere virtually every house we walked by on our way to dinner at John the Greeks was pumping water out of their basement.

When we reached the bridge at Stockton, NJ we crossed the Delaware River again thinking we might find a cheaper place to stay for the night. I had chatted with a pretty blonde at an inn on the Pennsylvania end of the bridge who told me her midweek special rate was $105. We stopped in the parking lot of the Stockton Inn and spoke with a lady just coming out of the inn after attending a music concert (classical guitar). She was very friendly and interested in our ride. She pulled out her IPhone and interviewed us on camera! As other ladies came out from the inn, she introduced us to them. We asked about sleeping on her couch but determined she lived to far off our route. We said goodbye and bypassed Lisa's where Bob in Frenchtown had told to be sure and stop for a cookie. How good the cookies are, we will never know. One of the concert ladies said the cookies had too much sugar.

We headed south on Highway 29, with heavy traffic and no shoulder, so as soon as we could we moved to the tow path along the Delaware Canal right along side the Delaware River. What a change, much more relaxed and quieter, for a mile or so until the path quality went bad after crossing a road. Then we noticed the good path continued a bit to the east. We chatted with a couple of young people employed by the local water district who were riding the canal tow path checking for damage from the storms. The canal is a major water supply source for the local area. They also suggested a Ramada Inn on Highway 202 out of New Hope.

Back on the trail and we arrived in Lambertville to find Shira's mother, Penny, her sister in law Karen, with lovely 11 week old Julie and family friend Deb awaiting the arrival of Drew and Shira. They had nice welcoming signs so we had our photos taken with the signs. Nice people and Penny invited us to dinner and, although it sounded great we declined, wanting to stay close to our route. They had spoken with Drew and Shira who were in Frenchtown, so they were not far up the road. We crossed the Delaware again for at least the 9th time and headed west. On the bridge, a couple stopped Rudy and said they had seen us having lunch Frenchtown and commented that we were making good time. The bridge had lots of foot traffic as everyone was out enjoying the beautiful sunny day.

Checked into the Ramada and walked down the road to Giuseppe's for a good dinner.

A better day than yesterday. 51 miles. Check out the photo post and Along the road post now and then. I might post photos tonight or tomorrow, it is getting late.