Got to participate in a great ride yesterday. A group from Philadelphia organized a ride along the Abandoned Turnpike between Sideling Hill, PA and Breezewood, PA. There were over 30 riders, with folks coming from from Philly, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Maryland, and probably more. I'll let the pictures tell the story.
This is the parking area at Sideling Hill, the east end of the 13-mile stretch.
A friend commented that this shot looked like a scene from Stranger Things.
The two tunnels are easily the coolest part of this ride. The eastern one is over a mile long and the western one is something like 2/3 of a mile. Be advised: YOU WILL WANT A LIGHT for the tunnels. Particularly in the eastern tunnel, where you can't see through from one end to the other because of the slight crown at the center. Also, this stretch of highway was closed in 1968, so the condition of the pavement ranges from slightly broken to extra chunky. Best to bring a bike with wide tires that can handle it.
This is the western end of the ride, at Breezewood. The steep road down to the left leads to a small parking lot.
I would definitely do this ride again, but probably on a multi-geared bike, since there are long, gradual ups & downs that are just enough to make you wish you could drop a gear.
More information:
https://pabucketlist.com/exploring-the-abandoned-pennsylvania-turnpike/
This is the parking area at Sideling Hill, the east end of the 13-mile stretch.
A friend commented that this shot looked like a scene from Stranger Things.
The two tunnels are easily the coolest part of this ride. The eastern one is over a mile long and the western one is something like 2/3 of a mile. Be advised: YOU WILL WANT A LIGHT for the tunnels. Particularly in the eastern tunnel, where you can't see through from one end to the other because of the slight crown at the center. Also, this stretch of highway was closed in 1968, so the condition of the pavement ranges from slightly broken to extra chunky. Best to bring a bike with wide tires that can handle it.
This is the western end of the ride, at Breezewood. The steep road down to the left leads to a small parking lot.
I would definitely do this ride again, but probably on a multi-geared bike, since there are long, gradual ups & downs that are just enough to make you wish you could drop a gear.
More information:
https://pabucketlist.com/exploring-the-abandoned-pennsylvania-turnpike/
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