6:30 A.M. MONDAY WEATHER UPDATE: Ride is on!!  Forecast and radar make it look like we should be able to get our ride in before serious rain sets in. Please be on time, and to be extra safe,  bring a rain jacket!!  (I’ll toss a few extras in my bag, so don’t worry if you don’t have one.)

For any last minute communications, please feel free to reach me at annef@lvcat.org

Hi everyone, Monday September 5 is LABOR DAY, signaling among other things the end of the Summer season. Let’s do a ride that will give us some miles in the country side where we can stretch out and enjoy all that the season has to offer — plenty of roadside blue chicory flowers, red-tailed hawks, the steady buzz of cicadas and who knows, maybe another chicken like we saw several times in the City of Bethlehem during last week’s ride?

Our starting point will be about a half hour’s drive north of the Lehigh Valley – at Lower Cherry Valley Road, near the Sorrenti Family Winery (130 Lower Cherry Valley Road, Saylorsburg, PA).  Plan to be there by about 8:45 a.m. so that you have time to unload and check over your bike.  We’ll begin our ride at 9 a.m.. 

PARKING: When you pull in at the Sorrenti business, stay to the right on the dirt road (in other words, don’t go into the Winery property), and you will come to a parking lot for the National Wildlife Refuge (largely unsigned, last time I was there) where you can park. It’s only a tiny bit off of Lower Cherry Valley Road, but not easily visible from the road, so have faith that you’ll land there. Ride leaders will probably be lounging about the entrance, if you need direction.

From the Sorrenti winery on Lower Cherry Valley Road, we’ll head east on the many quiet roads to Delaware Water Gap. The route is gently rolling, but there are no BIG climbs. The distance is roughly 15 miles to Delaware Water Gap, where we’ll stop to refresh ourselves at one of the businesses in the tiny downtown, before heading back. Total trip distance, about 30 miles. We are not about speed on this ride, and we’ll take as many breaks as people want. If you’re up for the adventure of a leisurely ride in the open country, by all means, come along!

Even if you don’t generally feel comfortable riding the roads, this ride could be a deal changer — we’ll be in a group and very visible, and the terrain and views are sweet! Come prepared with water and your helmet. We look forward to seeing you, and feel free to spread the word to your friends.

We see that the forecast for Monday is iffy, so keep an eye here for any last minute changes due to weather conditions. If we have to postpone, we expect we’ll do so no later than 7 a.m. Monday.

(This ride may be funded in part by a grant from Lehigh Valley Greenways.)