The D&L Blog

“How Far Are You Riding Today?” 

Written by DLNHC Volunteer and Member Rob Ostry

The more time I spend on the D&L Trail the more connections I make. After a few years of being a quiet Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC) member, I finally attended a Bike and Brews event in September of 2024. That was my first experience with the community that the organization cultivates, and it was just the start of a series of new friendships and adventures for me. In a short period of time, I went from enjoying the D&L Trail solo, to meeting people that enrich my long bike rides, and being inspired to volunteer and do my part to make the corridor more vibrant.

Unexpected Friendships

Soon after the Bikes and Brews event I attended the DLNHC’s annual fundraiser, the Taste of the Corridor. There I met a woman named Laura with an enthusiastic and inviting personality and after speaking together for a few minutes she introduced me to her husband, Ed. Knowing her husband and learning a little about me, she said we needed to bike together.

After sharing Strava account information, we planned our first long ride together on the Delaware side of the D&L Trail. Ed can ride faster and farther than me, but he is a thoughtful rider and we found a rhythm that was challenging but sustainable. Long rides are great for getting to know people and that day was just the first of several rides together. We further developed an online friendship sharing our individual rides over Strava. I continue to see Ed and Laura at events up and down the Corridor. As a man in my mid-fifties, Ed was the first new friendship I have made in quite a long time.

On the other end of the spectrum, I met Andrew at a DLNHC Happy Hour held at the Weyerbacher Tap Room in Easton. Andrew is far younger than me and wasn’t on a bike since he was a teenager. While getting to know him I decided to make it my mission to get him back on a bike and on the trail.  It took a little time to schedule a ride, but this spring we set off from Hugh Moore Park for a ride to Bethlehem—a 20-mile ride roundtrip. I explained to Andrew that a good long ride should include a stop for coffee so we had a café break at The Joint Coffee Co. The warm spring air and the smell of espresso made for relaxing mid-ride rest. This fall we are planning to ride on the Lehigh section of the trail.

The Magic of a Simple Question 

My new experiences aren’t only from meeting people at DLNHC events. This spring I attended Trail Patrol & Trail Tender training at Hugh Moore Park which resulted in pushing myself to become a little more social on my solo bike rides. I developed a habit of asking people, “How far are you riding today?” as I come across people on my trail patrols. It has become my go-to icebreaker and oftentimes develops into conversations.

Two of my favorite patrol connections this year have been with an Olympic hopeful and a group of 5 friends. While on a trail patrol in June I caught-up with a man named Jeff and we rode together for about 12 miles. His bike seat broke during our ride and we jerry-rigged it back together to get him home. I learned that as a young rider he traveled to Florida to try-out for the 1980 Olympic team, but his hopes were dashed when the US Boycotted the games held in Moscow. You never know a person’s story until you take the time to talk together and let them tell it for themselves. Jeff was both unique and entertaining and our short time together was a great experience.

In May of this year I gave advice to 5 friends on a 2-day ride and ended up joining them. The Delaware Canal trail is closed on the south-side of New Hope at the Union Mills Bridge and after explaining how they could find their way around the bridge, I mentioned I was going that way and could lead them through. Before I knew it, we were riding together for 10 miles all the way down to Yardley, PA at a fast pace. It was heartwarming to hear their story about coming through the pandemic with a promise to each other to make the most of their time together by riding long trails. I got to join with them for one small part of just one of their adventures together. It was a heart-pounding, quick-paced highlight of my day.

Volunteering and participating in DLNHC events have led me to many other new connections, some are acquaintances and others are new friends. I always loved to ride on the D&L Trail and explore the historic towns, but now I have added meeting people as another layer of my experience. I surely get back more than I give as a result.

If you are unsure about coming out to a sponsored event, take my advice and do it. There is a whole lot more to the corridor just waiting for you. Take a chance on making new friends—you’ll find it’s more than worth the effort. And if you need an icebreaker, just ask me. I’ll help you find one of your own.