RR: Blue Marsh Creek (4/25/04)

Ride-A-Lot said:

Well, the idea was a JAR ride (Jersey Action Riders) at Blue Marsh Creek
just outside of Reading, PA. We were supposed to do the epic 23 miler with
a choice of doing the extra 6 mile ski slope ride. That was until the
weather turned crappy. It wasn't supposed to rain until later that
afternoon, but wunderground.com lied, and they are usually pretty reliable.
We got to the visitor center around 10 AM. The sun was still barely shining
but you could see the clouds rolling in fast. We headed out onto the trail.
Blue Marsh is a nice fun, fast, not too technical LONG ride with many very
steep but short climbs. The trail was fast and dry but in the first two
minutes of a short downhill ST to the woods, a rut would claim the first
victim. Big Mike (a larger police officer) took a flying sideways dive
right in front of me at about 25 MPH. It was not a pretty site, but he
survived and we forged ahead. The fresh spring green was wonderful (sorry,
no pics) and riding along the lake almost slowed us down so that we could
capture the picturesque beauty of it all. I was doing some nice fast and
tight turns (my confidence goes up when I ride in a group) and all was well.
At about the 10 mile mark, things got ugly. The rain started coming down
hard. The ground became soft, slow, and messy. Then the temperature went
down and we all became very miserable. When we reached the crossover road
at mile 13, we decided that it was in the best interest of the trails and
our health to roadie it back. This was the most miserable, cold, slimey,
dead critter infested, nasty truck driver road ride I ever had. The rain
was cold and I was soaked to the bone. Needless to say we did the 10 miles
back to the visiter center in record time. Muddy, wet, and cold we packed
up and headed home.

Blue Marsh Creek is a beautiful park with miles and miles of trails. I
can't wait to go back when the weather is more predictable.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Nice RR. I grew up there, before the trails went in. I plan on riding it
this summer when I go back for a visit.

--
Craig Brossman, Durango Colorado
(remove ".nospam" to reply)

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, the idea was a JAR ride (Jersey Action Riders) at Blue Marsh Creek
just outside of Reading, PA. We were supposed to do the epic 23 miler

with

Quoted message said:

a choice of doing the extra 6 mile ski slope ride. That was until the
weather turned crappy. It wasn't supposed to rain until later that
afternoon, but wunderground.com lied, and they are usually pretty

reliable.

Quoted message said:

We got to the visitor center around 10 AM. The sun was still barely

shining

Quoted message said:

but you could see the clouds rolling in fast. We headed out onto the

trail.

Quoted message said:

Blue Marsh is a nice fun, fast, not too technical LONG ride with many very
steep but short climbs. The trail was fast and dry but in the first two
minutes of a short downhill ST to the woods, a rut would claim the first
victim. Big Mike (a larger police officer) took a flying sideways dive
right in front of me at about 25 MPH. It was not a pretty site, but he
survived and we forged ahead. The fresh spring green was wonderful

(sorry,

Quoted message said:

no pics) and riding along the lake almost slowed us down so that we could
capture the picturesque beauty of it all. I was doing some nice fast and
tight turns (my confidence goes up when I ride in a group) and all was

well.

Quoted message said:

At about the 10 mile mark, things got ugly. The rain started coming down
hard. The ground became soft, slow, and messy. Then the temperature went
down and we all became very miserable. When we reached the crossover road
at mile 13, we decided that it was in the best interest of the trails and
our health to roadie it back. This was the most miserable, cold, slimey,
dead critter infested, nasty truck driver road ride I ever had. The rain
was cold and I was soaked to the bone. Needless to say we did the 10

miles

Quoted message said:

back to the visiter center in record time. Muddy, wet, and cold we packed
up and headed home.

Nice RR!

Quoted message said:

Blue Marsh Creek is a beautiful park with miles and miles of trails. I
can't wait to go back when the weather is more predictable.

So what major road leads to Blue Marsh?

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

Carla A-G said:

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, the idea was a JAR ride (Jersey Action Riders) at Blue Marsh
Creek just outside of Reading, PA. We were supposed to do the epic
23 miler with a choice of doing the extra 6 mile ski slope ride.

<SNIP>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

soaked to the bone. Needless to say we did the 10 miles back to the
visiter center in record time. Muddy, wet, and cold we packed up
and headed home.

Nice RR!

Quoted message said:

Blue Marsh Creek is a beautiful park with miles and miles of trails.
I can't wait to go back when the weather is more predictable.

So what major road leads to Blue Marsh?

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

All roads lead to Bule Marsh. Actually, Reading PA is readily accessible
from a lot of directions. It was once a major industrial commerce hub
(Reading Railroad).

Route 183 goes right by it. It's basically a few minutes from the PA
Turnpike up I-176 or just off Route 100 and 422. I think even Route 80 is
not too far from it. If you know where the Amish Country is in PA, that's
pretty much the area. It's a great day trip from NYC (my parents took me to
the Amish Country when I was 4 and we lived in NYC). You could even
overnight it in one of the local inns and eat some great fresh, local farm
raised food along with the great riding, boating, swimming, etc. If you
decide to go, bring a LOT of water! There are no places to refill and no
bail points on the trail. The short steeps are deceiving and will suck the
life right out of you. I used most of my bladder and it wasn't even hot
outside.

It was once a CCC project so the army still does work there:
http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/sb/bm_guide.htm

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

All roads lead to Bule Marsh. Actually, Reading PA is readily accessible
from a lot of directions. It was once a major industrial commerce hub
(Reading Railroad).

Route 183 goes right by it. It's basically a few minutes from the PA
Turnpike up I-176 or just off Route 100 and 422. I think even Route 80 is
not too far from it. If you know where the Amish Country is in PA, that's
pretty much the area. It's a great day trip from NYC (my parents took me

to

Quoted message said:

the Amish Country when I was 4 and we lived in NYC). You could even
overnight it in one of the local inns and eat some great fresh, local farm
raised food along with the great riding, boating, swimming, etc. If you
decide to go, bring a LOT of water! There are no places to refill and no
bail points on the trail. The short steeps are deceiving and will suck

the

Quoted message said:

life right out of you. I used most of my bladder and it wasn't even hot
outside.

It was once a CCC project so the army still does work there:
http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/sb/bm_guide.htm

Thanks, we might check it out.

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

Ride-A-Lot said:

Carla A-G wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

So what major road leads to Blue Marsh?

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

All roads lead to Bule Marsh. Actually, Reading PA is readily accessible
from a lot of directions. It was once a major industrial commerce hub
(Reading Railroad).

Route 183 goes right by it. It's basically a few minutes from the PA
Turnpike up I-176 or just off Route 100 and 422. I think even Route 80 is
not too far from it. If you know where the Amish Country is in PA, that's
pretty much the area. It's a great day trip from NYC (my parents took me to
the Amish Country when I was 4 and we lived in NYC). You could even
overnight it in one of the local inns and eat some great fresh, local farm
raised food along with the great riding, boating, swimming, etc. If you
decide to go, bring a LOT of water! There are no places to refill and no
bail points on the trail. The short steeps are deceiving and will suck the
life right out of you. I used most of my bladder and it wasn't even hot
outside.

It was once a CCC project so the army still does work there:
http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/sb/bm_guide.htm

Let me add, I80 is pretty far north, at least 1.5 hours. Reading, as a
city, sucks, much like the rest of the industrial PA towns, it is
rotting from the inside. Bernville, the town just to the NW of Blue
Marsh, is the town that time forgot, but probably the closest place to
stay. They must have some sort of accomodations by now. Stop by The
"Jeff" for cheese steaks.
Even though I have never ridden the trail, I know the area very well. I
would have a hard time recommending someone drive more than 4 hours just
to ride the trail and stay overnight in the area, unless there just are
not that many options, or you are visiting relatives, or you also like
shopping for antiques. I guess the Kutztown Farmers Market can be fun in
the fall.
There are endless road biking options in the area though.

--
Craig Brossman, Durango Colorado
(remove ".nospam" to reply)

"Carla A-G" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

All roads lead to Bule Marsh. Actually, Reading PA is readily

accessible

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

from a lot of directions. It was once a major industrial commerce hub
(Reading Railroad).

Route 183 goes right by it. It's basically a few minutes from the PA
Turnpike up I-176 or just off Route 100 and 422. I think even Route 80

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

not too far from it. If you know where the Amish Country is in PA,

that's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

pretty much the area. It's a great day trip from NYC (my parents took

me

Quoted message said:

to

Quoted message said:

the Amish Country when I was 4 and we lived in NYC). You could even
overnight it in one of the local inns and eat some great fresh, local

farm

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

raised food along with the great riding, boating, swimming, etc. If you
decide to go, bring a LOT of water! There are no places to refill and

no

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bail points on the trail. The short steeps are deceiving and will suck

the

Quoted message said:

life right out of you. I used most of my bladder and it wasn't even hot
outside.

It was once a CCC project so the army still does work there:
http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/sb/bm_guide.htm

Thanks, we might check it out.

As Craig said, the area outside the city has some charms but I don't know if
I 'd say it's worth a drive from NYC. If you're going to be passing by it's
worth a ride. Depends on what you like, if long, nontechnical trails around
a lake are your thing you may like it. But I wouldn't drive three hours for
it. There are better places in PA. More info:

http://www.chrisgroff.com/rides.htm

click on Blue Marsh.

Chris

Quoted message said:

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

"Ride-A-Lot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Blue Marsh Creek is a beautiful park with miles and miles of trails. I
can't wait to go back when the weather is more predictable.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Blue Marsh mud turns to glue in a matter of minutes, once it actually ate
one of my derailers, got so gummed up it ripped it up parrallel with the
seat stay, you made the right choice to bail.

Chris