June, 2018, "It's Almost Summer" Bicycle Ride
	Delaware and Raritan Canal Tow Path
	Turning Basin to Blackwell Mills and Back
	Ride Date: Saturday, June 16, 2018.
	No Rain Date.
	organized by Ed Groth, May 15, 2018.
URL of this page:
http://edandjane.net/bikerides/ride_june_2018.html

Update: June 16, 7:30 am A beautiful day. The ride is on!

This is an informal ride for people who'd like to get out and enjoy the beginning of summer. Members of the physics department, family, and friends are invited.

I'll put the disclaimer right up front. I am not responsible - if you come along, you are supposed to know how to ride a bike and you are responsible for whatever happens to you and you release me from all liability! (Don't you just love lawyers!)

Ride summary: we'll ride the tow path along the Delaware and Raritan Canal. We'll start at Turning Basin Park and ride past Princeton, Kingston, Rocky Hill, to Blackwell Mills where we'll turn around. On the way back, we'll stop for lunch in the Pub at the Palace of Asia restaurant in Kingston. After lunch we'll continue back to Turning Basin Park. The round trip distance is about 25 miles.

This is our twenty-first annual Almost Summer Ride and will be similar to our previous rides, especially, the June, 2005 and June, 2004 rides.

We'll start at 10:00am and expect to have lunch about 12:30pm. Depending on how long we spend at lunch, we should be back to Turning Basin Park by 2:30-3:00pm or so.

Check this page for whether the ride is on or off. I'll try to post something by 8:00 am as to whether we will cancel due to rain or mud. (The goal is to have an enjoyable ride, not slog though mud and rain!) The URL for this page is http://edandjane.net/bikerides/ride_june_2018.html.

If you're planning to come on the ride, please let me know. Email is a good way: groth@princeton.edu. Please include your cell phone number for coordination at the start.

Also be sure to read note 1 on what to bring, note 2 about cautions, and note 3 on trail courtesy!

There is a parking lot at Turning Basin Park. Directions to the park: proceed from Princeton towards Route 1 on Alexander Street. After passing West Drive, go over the first bridge (the Stony Brook) and the entrance to the park is on the right (before you get to the second bridge, the canal). To the left is a canoe rental place.

We will meet in the park. You can carry your bike to the park in your car or if you live in Princeton, you might bicycle to the lot. There is a path from the circle on Alexander Street (near Forbes College) all the way past the park and canal.

We'll leave the lot at 10:00am, and you should plan to get to the lot 10 or 15 minutes before that.

On the way back, we'll take Route 27 in Kingston for a short distance to get to the Palace Bar in the Palace of Asia Restaurant.

The path is dirt with some gravel. There are occasional ruts and places where water collects (so if it has rained recently, it could be sloppy!). There are several spillways (100 feet or so) which it is best to dismount and walk. Heavy rain on Thursday or Friday will make the path very muddy and we will cancel the ride.

Here is a link to the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park website. It has lots of info including maps and mileages.

Note 1. What to bring. You should bring enough tools to do minor repairs on your bike. This includes a patch kit, spare tube, a pump and whatever else you need to repair a flat. Also bring some bottled water (a lot if it's going to be really hot!) and perhaps a snack like fig bars or bananas. You should bring a good lock, since we will have to leave the bikes unattended while we have lunch. Bring money for lunch. A helmet is a good idea

Note 2. Cautions. Along the path, you will have to be aware of other riders, joggers, and walkers - even horseback riders! Also, there can be wildlife you need to avoid. There are a number of places where roads cross the path. At these intersections there are gates to prevent cars from turning onto the path. There is generally enough room for a single bike to go around the outside of the gates on each side of each intersection. You should be careful of cars at these intersections and also you need to be careful of the other riders, joggers, etc., trying to get through these narrow openings. There are places where there are steep drop-offs on either side of the path. Pay attention for overhanging branches that you might run into. Watch out for poison ivy. Also keep an eye out for the occasional big rut or rock in the path. The key idea is to be alert and use common sense.

Note 3. Trail Courtesy. If you stop, you should pull off the path. If bicycles or other traffic is coming the other way, you should get into a single file line in order to pass smoothly. A single file will also be necessary when overtaking and passing traffic going the same direction or when being passed by traffic going in the same direction. Be sure and let the other riders know what you are going to do, so we don't have any collisions within the group!