Cycling the NW Lancaster River Trail

Located along the Susquehanna River 

on the western edge of Lancaster County 

is a paved multi-use trail. 

View from Koser Park

The trail extends 14 miles 

between the river to the west

and the river towns of 

Falmouth, Bainbridge, Marietta and Columbia

to the east. 

White Cliffs of Conoy

These cute towns are accessible from the trail. 

Look for the signposts that indicate 

the businesses in town. 

Columbia is the largest of the towns and appeared 

to be the busiest ,

so finding parking may be easier at another access point.  

We accessed the trail at Falmouth and rode south to Columbia. 

East Donegal Riverfront Park

Columbia offers a River Park 

as a half-way point destination. 

There are restrooms, tables and seating. 

We packed a lunch and ate at the park. 

Directly across the street is a 

take out stop if you'd rather not pack food. 

As you can see the trail is very scenic.

Chickies Rock Park

Columbia Wrightsville Bridge

Our lunch seats in Columbia.

After cycling we drove to Chickies Rock Overlook 

where we saw the train in the photo below. 

From Chickies Rock Overlook

From there we went to Weaver's Orchard 

and saw the typical Lancaster scenes on the way. 

Lancaster, PA

I highly recommend this ride! 

A good trail, great views, 

interesting towns to ride around...

and can easily do over 30 miles.

Click here to view the full photo gallery. 

Click here for a downloadable trail map.

 

Hello Mt. Laguna

Heading east from San Diego on Route I-8 

just above the Mexican border - 

then north on Sunrise Highway 

my daughter and I found Mt. Laguna. 

(Elevation 5,738 ft) 

Edited: Topaz

The air was cool 

and the views were breathtaking. 

Our plan was to hike a specific trail.  

But the problem: 

We couldn't find said trail. 

So after our failed search, 

we just picked a random trail. 

It seems that nothing on the trail map 

matched anything in real life. 

That trail map was useless.  

An agricultural burn with the Salton Sea immediately in the foreground. 

We ran into a local who was readying to do some mountain biking. 

He was fascinating to talk to and 

he explained much of what we saw. 

But we never learned what the story was with these 

cemetery markers found randomly along the trail. 

We didn't risk going too far 

for fear of getting lost. 

Being from the east coast 

where there are tree covered mountains, 

it seems much less likely to get lost when you 

have a clear view back to your starting point. 

The gallery to view all my Mt. Laguna images 

can be found here.

Deep, Dead Water

Pënëpèkw...that is what the Leni Lenape called the Pennypack Creek 

that runs through three counties before joining the Delaware River in Philadelphia.  

The land around the creek was built up with several mills. 

As mill power declined in use 

the land was converted to parkland. 

Now THAT was foresight.

Notice those stone pillars? 
I wonder what they supported.

I recently discovered the area around the Pennypack Creek.

Sadly it is one of those places I always lived around...

Well you know the story.

You live by something your whole life 

but because it was always there you never really noticed it.

Well, I just noticed it.

It is beautiful! 

Large! 

Interesting!

You could spend hours days here.

And then, BEHOLD, I fell in love.
{Insert Angels singing}



And guess what?



Yep, it's for sale!
Pitter Patter!

So my husband and I took a closer look.



Just look at this back patio, double french doors, picture window...
And the inside?
Completely refurbished.



This house was once a mill.
Sigh.
You know what that means?
Water, lots of water.
Potential flooding.
Headaches.
Our first house was by a babbling creek...
so  we KNOW what THAT is like.
:(
But the house is charming!
Really charming.

I decided I will just have to live in this house in my dreams.

The Village of Manayunk

The Village of Manayunk 

is in the north west part of the City of Philadelphia. 

The name Manayunk is from 

the Lenape Indian word for 'river'...or literally, 'to drink.' 

Which is funny, 

because today Manayunk is known for its night life.

So the word continues to apply! 

Manayunk got its start 

due to its location along the Schyukhill River.

At the onset of the Industrial Revolution

a canal was created 

to supply power for mills.

Today, along the canal is a wonderful path 

used for walking, running and biking.

The Manayunk Canal Towpath 

is part of the Schuykill River Trail 

which can get you from Philly to Valley Forge 

on a 20 mile path. Map here.

So if the 'Yunker' Nightlife isn't your thing, 

you can enjoy all Manayunk has to offer in the daytime hours. 

It is worth investigating!

Click here for more Manayunk Photos.

Manayunk, 1900s

"An old town, now a northwestern part of the city. An important manufacturing district. Water power, furnished by the Schuylkill Canal, has long been used to run numerous textile and paper mills. Many of the streets so steep that horses cannot use them. Sidewalks are flights of steps."