Cycling Stony Valley Rail Trail and the Union Canal Tunnel

Located in PA State Game Lands 211 

outside of Jonestown, Lebanon County, PA

the Stony Valley Railroad Grade is pretty isolated. 

One end, close to where we started, 

is the Lebanon Reservoir and dam. 

The other end, 20 miles later, 

is near Ellendale Forge. 

But other trail users, 

and there were not many,

said you could get to Dauphin 

along the Susquehanna River from there as well.

The best sight along the trail was above...

do you see it?

There were several of them. 

Beaver Lodges. 

We saw 3 from one vantage point. 

We didn't see active beavers though.

This trail tends to be a little rough. 

My husband did not like it 

and was ready to leave way before me 

and I'm the one without shock absorption. 

We totaled 20 miles which means we 

completed half the trail. 

(20 mi is my mental limit 

unless motivated by something else...

ice cream maybe?)

I don't think either of us is in a hurry to 

complete the other half.

For trail info click here 

Since we were in the area we stopped to see the 

Union Canal Tunnel

which can be seen from a park with said name. 

The Union Canal Tunnel boasts being the oldest in the USA 

and was built 1825-1827. 

The mules used along the towpath made their way over top the tunnel 

while the boats were poled through it. 

For more canal info click here.

I would not go out of my way for either 

the rail trail or the tunnel, 

but if you are near it 

the tunnel is a nice stop.

Click here for my additional images.

Cycling Cape May New Jersey With My Camera

Cape May is located on the southern tip of NJ in Cape May County,

on an island south of the Cape May Canal. 

Cape May Lighthouse
215 Lighthouse Avenue, Cape May Point State Park, Cape May, NJ 08204

The Historic District encompasses Cape May City 

where there are many preserved Victorian homes. 

I definitely recommend a little extra time exploring 

the streets of this city. 

Cape May City (Historic District) 

Our 13.9 mile ride started and ended along the beach at Sunset Pavilion. 

Here are the details of our ride: https://goo.gl/maps/Wfs2JDykinFN8oMd8 

and here is a screen shot of the map. 

The ride is in the busier areas of the island 

so off season in April was a perfect time. 

I would not attempt this ride in peak season. 

Oh, and Cape May has clean public restrooms along the beach! 

A Beachfront Gal Gets a Lift

We've been to Cape May so many times, 

but only to the Lighthouse, Sunset Beach and the Lobster House. 

Riding the streets was new to us 

and finding all these beautiful Victorian homes 

was a delight. 

Fishing Boats, Cape May, NJ

But what impressed me most was 

the Fishermen's Memorial. 

Fishermen's Memorial, Cape May, NJ

I had never given much thought to the hidden cost of seafood. 

The fishermen who risk their lives to bring seafood to our tables. 

The list of names lost at sea here gave me great pause - 

And often many from the same family lost together.

The disabled Motivation returns by power of a tug. 

When I came home I researched some of those wrecks, 

but so far have only found details of a few.

Here are details of one from 1921

11 FISHERMEN LOST OFF JERSEY COAST.

Cape May, N.J., Nov. 1. -- Eleven fishermen were drowned last night off Anglesea, when they went out to take up their nets for the Winter. They were employed by the Hilton Fishing Company of Anglesea. Two boats, lashed together, went off shore to pull up the pound net poles, which are sixty-five feet long and weigh over one hundred pounds each.
It is supposed by Captain James A. Price of the Coast Guard Station of Anglesea, they pulled up the poles and started in shore when the heavy seas on the Anglesea bar caused their boat to fill and capsize. The seas were running high on the Anglesea bar at the time.
Augustus Hilton, former Mayor of Anglesea, President of the Hilton Fishing Company, notified
Captain Price that the men were missing at 8 o'clock last night. Despite the heavy sea running, Captain Price and his crew put to sea and searched the coast from Sea Isle City to Cape May for the boats. Not a light or a boat could be seen. At daylight the Coast Guard crew put back to the beach. Captain Jesse Hearon of the Coast Guard station at Stone Harbor on being notified put out to sea, but after an all-night search failed to find the boats.
Those in the boats were:

CHARLES STEVENSON of Dennisville.

RICHARD STEVENSON, a brother of Charles Stevenson.

JOHN LUNDY, Anglesea, whose body came ashore at Wildwood Crest, as did the bodies of the STEVENSON brothers.

Captain ANDREW HANSON, of Anglesea, commander of the two boats.

CHARLES JOHNSON, Anglesea.

Captain GUNNY JOHNSON, Anglesea.

JOHN JOHNSON, of Anglesea.

Captain GEORGE NICHOLSON, of Anglesea, who leaves a wife and two small children.

HARRY KEEN, of Brooklyn.

N. T. DALSTROM, of Brooklyn.

TONY DOMNICO, of Wildwood.

Crowds of anxious watchers lined the beach all day hoping that some one would survive the big seas and heavy tides that have prevailed on the New Jersey coast. Only the three bodies have washed ashore. It is thought that the southerly breeze now blowing will set the bodies on the Delaware shore.

New York Times New York 1921-11-02

And here is a link to another lost at sea story from 2009. 

Vintage Bath House, maybe? 
Sunset Beach, NJ

We lunched at the Lobster House Take Out, and at on their pier. 

It was a little more somber experience having just visited the memorial. 

Fishing Boats at the Lobster House, Cape May, NJ

Yes, I've watched Deadliest Catch, 
but that is in the Bering Sea. 
I had never thought of that with respect to Cape May, NJ! 

WW II Lookout Tower, Cape May, NJ

There are more photos from this set here 
which includes photos of the names lost at sea
and of course more photos of Victorian homes. 

Cape May Harbor, Delaware Ave. Cape May, NJ

Mostly flat on road ride. 
13.9 miles + exploration. 

Allow 1/2 day to include exploration 
or about an hour +  for the ride 
without stops.