Pleasantville to Forked River

May 26, 2015

Up really early today. Jerry is either a really good or a really bad influence. We were out the door by 7:30 AM, and except for the bad decision to take the free breakfast at the hotel (I am somewhat guilty for remaining silent), we were on our way by 8:30. There was actually a better prospect on our route, but . . . c'est la vie.

Today's ride to Fork River

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The route north was busy but with good shoulders. And after slugging it out on Tilton Road and US-30, we turned into some quiet residential streets and then entered a part of New Jersey known as the Pines or Pine Barrens. This really is (from my perspective) an area of joined wildlife management areas and natural preserves. It was very delightful riding. Pictures will help:

Bear Creek Preserve from the Mullican River crossing.

Happy riding through the Bass River State Forest.

After a pleasant and quiet ride, we ended up on US-9 with its wide shoulders but heavy traffic volumes. I was hungry and, being unsatisfied with breakfast, orchestrated a midday lunch, which is pretty rare for Happy and me. Normally a good breakfast supplemented with snacks throughout the day will get us through to dinner, but I had an urge for more. So we stopped at this great deli and sandwich shop on US-9 and dug in.

Lunchtime on US-9. This place was more popular than the picture implies, as a rush came in right after us.

Afterward, it was a straight shot up US-9, with the only diversion being a sidetrack to the Barnegat Branch Trail. We had been making good time and only had another 20 miles to go after lunch. By the time we had gotten to the trail, 10 of those had disappeared. It was well worth the diversion:

The Barnegat Branch Trail is not paved but is an easy ride.

The trail follows a former railroad alignment (like many today), so it is mostly straight and narrow and on a berm.

Our original plan was to camp at Cedar Creek; however, the campground there only allows one tent per site (no exceptions!). With three tents, that was more expensive than a hotel! Unfortunately, the one hotel in town did not have availability, so we stopped at Forked River and found accommodations there. A better choice and only four or five miles short and easily recovered tomorrow.

We had an early dinner and a late ice cream and are sated!

Today's ride: 53 miles (85 km)
Total: 1,975 miles (3,178 km)

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