The Great Ride Around the Mountains of PA Camping Tour Scamp 'n' Rascal Cycling Adventures
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Registration deadline is June 30
We love the intimacy of cycling. You see more traveling at these speeds, and it's
so easy to stop to explore or take pictures. It's relaxing and comfortable and fun.
Camping, getting away from the bustle of hotels and crowds, takes that intimacy to
a whole 'nother level. Especially when done the Scamp 'n' Rascal way. You bring
your bike, sleeping bag and tent and we'll take care of the rest. We have no doubt
that you, too, will declare this a GREAT Ride Around the Mountains of
Pennsylvania.
By the way, don't be afraid of the word "Mountains" in the title. This lively tour of
the eastern hills of Pennsylvania sticks close to the rivers. While it isn't flat, any fit
cyclist will love this adventure.
Day 1 - Saturday
We meet up today at our host hotel near the Lehigh Valley Airport in
Allentown, PA. Dinner will be on your own so you have a chance to get
yourself organized, but we hope you’ll come back to the bar afterwards.
We’re having a little “get to know you - get together”.
Day 2 - Sunday
Welcome to our home base. We know all the best back roads to take us over
Blue Mountain, a part of the Kittatinny Ridge, You can really rocket down the
back side of Blue. Paul’s hit 50mph on the descent. It put some serious
roses in his cheeks! After Blue we’ll meander along the foot of the mountain
until we climb through Wind Gap. These roads are beautiful, often traveling
beside creeks and streams, with plenty of cool canopy overhead. You might
want to stop for a bit at Coumicille; our own little Stonehenge, or get some
yummy soft ice cream along the way. There's tons of down hill on your way
into Portland, on the Delaware River. The day ends with an easy pedal
downstream to our home for the night, the quiet, serene Driftstone on the
Delaware.
Breakfast, Dinner
Approximately 60 miles
Day 3 - Monday
This morning we’ll follow the river north through the famous Delaware Water
Gap where we cross into New Jersey. You’ll love riding the freshly paved
Coppermine Road as it winds along the Jersey side of the river. It will seem
like you’ve gone back at least a hundred years in time when we stop at
Millbrook in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. From here
we’ll climb over the Appalachian Ridge, rocketing down the other side to one
of Karen’s favorite haunts; Peters Valley Craft Village. We’ll cross back into
PA on the only privately owned toll bridge in America. (Don’t worry. It’s free
to you.) Once we’re back in PA, it’s only a stone’s throw to our home for the
next two nights, Dingman's Campground. Wait ‘til you see the sites we’ve
reserved!
Breakfast, Dinner
Approximately 45 miles
Day 4 – Tuesday
It’s our layover day. You can join us on our bikes riding in the beautiful
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. We’ll visit waterfalls, gaze at
vistas, ride to the top of New Jersey and roam through historic mansions to
our heart’s content. There will be various options for ride distances. You can
stay on your bike all day, or if you like, you can go hiking on the Appalachian
Trail or arrange a canoe trip down the Delaware. Or you can just hang out in
your campsite on the river shore and enjoy the quiet, steady rhythm of the
water easing by.
Breakfast, Dinner
Multiple Routes
Day 5 – Wednesday
How often can you say you have ridden three states in the same day? We’ll
start the day in Pennsylvania, ride back across Dingman’s Bridge into New
Jersey, ride across the tip of Jersey into New York and back into
Pennsylvania by way of the historic Roebling’s Bridge. Whew! We’ll be riding
right alongside the upper Delaware, designated as a wild and scenic river.
It’s common to see Bald Eagles and Osprey, Great Blue Herons and a host
of other wild life. Zane Grey made the shores of the Delaware and
Lackawaxen rivers his home because of their great beauty. We’re certain
you’ll see why as we move up the smaller, more intimate Lackawaxen on our
way to our campsites in Promised Land State Park.
Breakfast, Dinner
Approximately 70 miles
Day 6 – Thursday
Promised Land State Park is on the Pocono Plateau. Of course plateaus
here aren't exactly flat, but it's a delightful jaunt over to our final night’s
lodging, the spectacular Pocono Manor Golf Resort and Spa. This is one of
the great ladies of the eastern mountain resorts, listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. We suggest you get there early. There is a lot of
fun to be had in this place. There are two golf courses, shooting ranges for
sporting clays, trout fishing, including an Orvis fly fishing school, and much,
much more. You can even trade your saddle for one with stirrups and go
horse back riding. Oh, and don’t forget the Spa. Wouldn’t a massage be
perfect right about now? Then again, you can simply pull up a chair on the
veranda and embrace the views. They really are spectacular.
Breakfast, Dinner
Approximately 50 miles
Day 7 – Friday
Down hill. Lots and LOTS of down hill. Of course it doesn’t stay that way, but
at least that’s how your day will begin. We’re headed back down to the
valley, taking a different route through Wind Gap and working our way down
roads that grow progressively flatter. It’s hard to believe the week has
already passed. Certainly this has been one lively, energetic GRAMPA!
Breakfast
Approximately 45 miles









