Jim Thorpe - The Town
We rode the D&L Trail northwest of Allentown, PA starting mid-trail after Beth fixed her flat. The rail trail parallels the Lehigh River where an adjacent canal was built in the 1800s for moving anthracite coal downriver to the more populated areas and burgeoning steel industry. The ruins of the old canal locks are still visible in some places. Today bridges take all the trucking and tourist load. After 20 miles, the rail-trail bridge into the town of Jim Thorpe is striking as well as the town. It is known as the "Switzerland" of the USA. It has always been touristy and the desired place to be because of the clear air. This "Poconos" area is only about 100 miles from NYC. The town has its own opera house and the Marion Hose Company Restaurant was a great place for lunch right beside the Opera house. On the way back to camp, Beth stopped to admire the pink Lilacs along the trail. Here, Beth and Sandy herd a Northern Water Snake down the canal. After a p...