JIM THORPE, PENNSYLVANIA
What a beautiful place this Jim Thorpe is. It was not the start I wanted but it was a beautiful ride and a great day on the bike.
I parked in Lehigh Gorge State Park to meet a shuttle, although the shuttle was a no-show. There are companies, including the train, that will take a cyclist and their bike 30-35 miles into the gorge so they can ride back to Jim Thorpe. The trail, alongside the Lehigh River, trends downhill, as much as 3-4%.
I wanted to ride the entire distance but didn’t have time for 70 miles out-and-back, so the shuttle would have been a great option. It just didn’t materialize.
From the park I took the road, not the trail, into Jim Thorpe. I knew that I would be returning via the trail.
I took the main road back into Jim Thorpe and admired the architecture. I would call it Victorian although former resident Hans Egli identified Federalist, Greek Revival, Second Empire, Romanesque Revival, Queen Anne, and Richardsonian Romanesque. It is beautiful for sure.
Riding into Jim Thorpe the train station immedialty captured my attention. I stopped and admired the building and saw a bike rental across the street.
I decided to explore the town a little bit although I really wanted to ride on the trail. I only went two blocks and it looked like the road seriously turned up to escape the valley. I didn’t want serious climbing to be on my plate and turned around.
Back at the train station I decided I would take the trail to the next town, Lehighton, if it wasn’t too far away. The bridge over the Lehigh River is beautiful in its own right and I stopped and watched a man doing some fly fishing in the river.
The trail was paved for a few hundred meters and I hoped for good luck in that it would be paved for miles but my luck ran out. It is a stone crushed limestone surface easily ridable on my road bike.
I track my biometrics using my Whoop band and when I woke up this morning I saw that my body’s recovery was in the red. Badly. That was my warning to go easy today and maybe even take a day of rest. Tomorrow is the Hincapie Gran Fondo so light riding was all I should do. That was the reason I decided not to ride into the gorge and back.
It was a day of exploring. Going slow. Enjoy nature. The trail hugs the river on one side and the old canal on the other.
Driving in this morning I passed a caboose in Lehighton and wanted to explore the trail near there. It was four miles (6 km) from Jim Thorpe to Union Hill, a small town across the river from Lehighton.
Once on the other side of the river in Lehighton I looked to see if a trail continued ob this side of the river to Jim Thorpe. It does not although the road does. I had drive it this morning and remembered it was two lanes without a shoulder. I thought of just taking the pavement back to Jim Thorpe but then decided to head back on the trail the same way I came. I think that was wise.
Just easy pedaling although now I was going against the river and terrain. I was going back every so slightly uphill.
Back at the train station I was intrigued with the Bike Train option. That would not be an option for today but perhaps for a second trip.
TripAdvisor is your friend. Mostly. I did not use it and found a shuttle online. They were a no-show and later I would read about 1/5th of his reviews were one-star, often because “I couldn’t give it zero.” When the owner agreed to refund my booking less a 10% booking fee, I was satisfied. When he hadn’t done it within a week and I informed him it would be simpler for me to dispute it, he went off on me. “May the best man win.” LOL
My charges were 100% reversed.
The train still looks like a great option except all bikes seem to be stacked without padding in one of two gondolas. Note to self: take the Checkpoint.
The train – bike option is available one weekend a month. I may still try this option.
