For those of
you familiar with this kind of commute to and from work, I offer you
a different perspective. I bike commute to work. Instead of
gridlock, aggrevation and mpg. I really only have to deal with the
weather.
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My commute is roughly seven
miles. The first third is on road. Makes it kind of hard to take
pictures. The middle third is on bike paths - first
the Streuble
Trail, then the Uwchlan Trail. The last third is through the Eagleview Community
to my office. Along the portion of the Streuble
Trail that
I ride and most of the Uwchlan Trail there are interpretive centers
explaining the history of the vicinity. This particular spot was the
location of the Dowlin Forge (aka Mary Ann Forge) along the
Brandywine
Creek.
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Almost directly across from
the forge, on the other side of the creek, is this cool rock strata
formation.
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Just before I turn onto the Uwchlan Trail,
there's this cool bridge crossing the Shamona Creek before it spills
into the
Brandywine.
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Then it's the Uwchlan Trail. Lots of signage.
It's unfortunate, but they need to add a "Pay attention to other
trail users!" sign. I can't tell you
how many times I've run up
on people with my bell ringing and they don't realize there's
someone else on the trail. Literally at the last second
they
acknowledge me with a startled jump and say something like "Sorry I
didn't see you there." "Really? Cause I was riding right at you with
my bell
ringing."
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The ruins of a
grist mill powered by the Shamona
Creek.
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The sign speaks for itself.
What I don't get, and what you can't see in the picture, is the race
is elevated quite a few feet above the level of
the current
creek bed. I guess things have seriously changed since it was in
use.
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A little further up
the trail is a charcoal hearth. These are usually identified
by a large circular flat area located in the woods in an otherwise
not so flat area. Granted they can be in flat areas, but they
are more easily found in not-so flat areas. If you're riding in French Creek, you can
find them all
around. They are a sure sign a forge or furnace was located
somewhere near by. If the trail you're riding crosses one, they can
provide a brief moment of rest during a climb. There's a
particular trail we ride on Wednesday nights that crosses at least
one old hearth. The
trail is a brutal climb. Unfortunately
I end up using the brief flat section to spin faster - either to
catch up to those ahead of me or pull away
from those behind.
I'm a masochist. I
know.
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