Pedal & Paddle - a 5BBC weekend trip

5BBC - New York's Five Borough Bicycle Club

A 5BBC Trip to the Lehigh Valley in the Poconos

A lovely leisurely mostly downhill off-road ride along the banks of the bucolic Lehigh River. A rip-roaring, dam released, flotilla ON the Lehigh River. "Pedal & Paddle" as a 5BBC trip concept has been around for many years, in fact, it was the first weekend I ever did. But I've been hankering and mulling over a Lehigh trip for ages. Lee Ann and I scouted it over the Memorial Day weekend and we think this one's a keeper. Here are more details about the Lehigh Pedal & Paddle trip trip. If you’re interested in signing up or have any questions, please contact Ted at folkpro@aol.com or write to the weekend trips email address of weekends@5bbc.org as soon as possible!

URGENT! This trip is in danger of cancellation due to few signups. We are looking for a few good bikers as soon as possible. Please contact weekends@5bbc.org for the latest update.

TRIP COST: $360.00 per person
DEPOSIT: $150.00. You may sign up for the trip using the form in the Club newsletter or posted on the web site, and indicate the trip as "Pedal & Paddle". Payment may be by check or money order via mail. If you must pay in cash, please do so in person at the Club office on Wednesday nites, during regular Club office hours. Credit Card signups via Active.Com are accepted. Deposits will be refunded in full if the trip is cancelled due to lack of enough participants.

Hotel Shower?, Nahh

LODGING: will be at the Ramada Inn, Lake Harmony, PA, double occupancy. Most chain hotels seem to sit right off a pike exit; this one's a bit off the beaten track, with lovely surrounding wooded grounds, a bar, I think a gym, and the cream of the crop of an indoor swimming pool. It's not as quaint as the famous Mt. Airy heart shaped tubs, but it sure is weird shaped. There's also a bar/restaurant for the obligatory nitecaps.

GROUP SIZE: We need a minimum of 8 people to make this trip happen; the maximum number is 12.

TRANSPORTATION: is being planned as by passenger van, with luggage stowed inside the van. However we may convert the trip into a car pooling one.

Real Wheels

SPECIAL NOTE: You do NOT have to own or bring your bike (road, ATB, trike, or otherwise) on this trip! ALl-inclusive package includes bike rentals. However, you MUST bring your own Bike Helmets. Van or car loading should be a breeze.

FOOD: That same All-inclusive package includes two breakfast buffets (pancakes, hash browns, eggs, smoked ham, cereal, beverages) and two pack lunches (sandwiches with snacks, drinks) as prepped by our rafting outfitters, and a special Saturday nite dinner at a restaurant located a hop, skip and cross the road from the hotel. The cost of the trip does not include other meals.

Itinerary

Fun on the Bus

Friday, Aug 4, Day of Departure:
Our meeting place and time has not been set, but figure approximately 6:00 PM. As soon as we check in everyone and load people and luggage, we are off! Our hotel is just over 100 miles from the NY area; ETA may depend on traffic which is usually heavy on a Friday nite. We will likely stop for dinner at a local restaurant for chow before we check into the hotel.

The Wait Staff

Saturday, Aug 5
Breakfast in bed? Not quite, but we do need to be out by 8:30 am or so for our buffet and to be fitted for bikes. NOTE: The rentals are mostly Giant brand mountain bikes, soft seats, regular pedals, adjustable seat stems, the clunker type that is perfect for dovetailing along hard packed dirt roads that gently wind along a riverbank. And it's all downhill. Technical expertise on a mountain bike is not necessary. SPECIAL NOTE: Don't forget your helmet! The ones onsite probably will not fit you,

Sunday, Aug 6:
We will check out of the hotel with another early departure for breakfast, to be followed by probably the best rafting trip this side of the Colorado. It's a dam release weekend on the Lehigh, meaning the waters will be flowing. The rafts hold 5-6 persons, with safety vests mandated. Experienced river guides will be on the water making sure that everyone is having a good time. The pack lunches are stored in waterproof containers. Rafting time is about 4-6 hours. You WILL get wet! Shorts and sneakers are recommended (do not bring open toed slippers or "flip-flops"). Prior rafting experience is not required but you should feel comfortable out in open water.

Git yer souvenirs here

Row, Row, Row your boats! After we finish our navigations downstream, and change wet threads for dry ones (hence the changing rooms and showers), we've just got to head for an ice cream stop before hitting the highway for home.

Employees Only

This trip is brought to you courtesy of your friendly neighborhood Bike Club volunteers. Our tips are earned from your thanks. Oh yeah, if it rains, there's always the outlet stores.