We venture even further south in New Jersey to a rare area where people are relatively scarce.
The final ride of the 2021 edition of Tour de Pines may be my favorite yet: so much time bicycling on quiet roads plus my first time in gorgeous Belleplain State Forest. Who would have expected all this in the most densely populated (and can I say most congested?) state in the U.S.?
Continue reading “Tour de Pines 2021, day 4: I’m in love with Belleplain State Forest”We looked hard. What we found instead.
Oh I looked for the Jersey Devil on this 51-mile ride on the Tour de Pines, particularly around Leeds Point, the eastern-most part of our route and its alleged birthplace.
No luck.
Continue reading “Tour de Pines 2021, day 3: The hunt for the Jersey Devil”A tale of immigrant New Jersey deep in the Pine Barrens.
We aborted this bike ride after nearly 5 miles (I’ll spare you the explanation, but all is fine — we’ll find another day to ride the 52 miles, maybe a bit less, and finally see Chatsworth, the heart of the Pine Barrens).
On the other hand, I had time to explore historic Whitesbog Village, once New Jersey’s largest cranberry farm and a place where they apparently treated their workers better than the rest. It also was home to Elizabeth Coleman White, who developed the blueberry cultivar we eat today.
Continue reading “Tour de Pines 2021, day 2: Historic Whitesbog Village plus Potato the baby pig”We biked nearly 50 miles in southern Burlington County.
This is my third year exploring New Jersey’s giant Pine Barrens ecosystem and preserved open space, thanks to the Tour de Pines bike rides organized by the Pinelands Preservation Alliance. It’s back as group rides this year, though over four days instead of the five pre-COVID.
Continue reading “Tour de Pines 2021, day 1: Cranberries and ice cream sandwiches”
Another day off from work to take advantage of perfect fall weather — and this bike ride was so worth it.
Continue reading “Tour de Pines 2020 finale: Perfection”Tour de Pines is a winner. And a bargain to boot.
I finally discovered New Jersey’s Tour de Pines — five days of bike rides in and around the Pine Barrens.
I always thought the Pine Barrens and its sandy soil was centered around Brendan Bryne State Park and otherwise was home to some cranberry bogs and that mythical creature called the Jersey Devil.
Continue reading “Tour de Pines: New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, plus penny farthings, pizza vs Wawa — and only a bit of weird beer”
Exploring by bicycle 