Written by Roberta Biros
The Bike Trail . . .
My loyal readers know that I enjoy various sporting activities. Cycling on local bike trails is one of those favorite past-times. Unfortunately, I’ve not been at 100% for over a month, and it has prevented me from partaking in my more ‘physical’ hobbies. An on-going bout with seasonal allergies and asthma has slowed me down a little, and a series of kidney stones had me ‘down and out’ for about 3 weeks. I only really started to get back to normal this week. While I’ve been continuing to enjoy basketball and walking, we haven’t headed out for a serious bike trip in well over a month. We were long overdue for a day trip, and Friday seemed like it should be the day.
Recent political business had me needing a day away to clear my head and think. A bike trip was exactly what I needed. We decided to head out to Venango County to take our first run at the bike trail that originates in Emlenton. As with most of the ‘rails to trails’ locations in the Oil City and Franklin circuit, the trail in Emlenton was flat, nicely paved, and in great condition. The trail head is located just outside of downtown Emlenton, and it heads north along the Allegheny River. While the trail was not as scenic as many that we’ve visited, it had one feature that we were looking forward to . . . the 2,868 foot Rockland Tunnel.
The Rockland Tunnel is a railroad tunnel that was originally built for the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1916. The bike trail that now passes through the tunnel was constructed in 2003. The “almost straight” tunnel was a blast to ride through, but riders need to arrive prepared for a bike trip like this one.
When we arrived at the trail head, we prepared our rides and safety equipment as usual, but due to the extra facet of the tunnel we took extra care. For a trip like this one, I would suggest helmets for ALL riders, and it is also suggested to have a light installed (either on your bike or on your helmet). I don’t know how you could make the trip through the tunnel safely without some source of light. The Rockland Tunnel is 2,868 feet with a bend in the center, so there is actually no “light at the end of the tunnel” to focus on. Upon entering the tunnel, you feel as though you are entering a huge black abyss. You can’t see the other side, and adjusting from the outside light to the darkness of the tunnel is difficult.
We made sure to prepare carefully before leaving the trail head. The trip to the tunnel was about 5.5 miles along the river. We stopped once briefly before entering the tunnel just to turn on our lights and gear down. The trip through the tunnel was really different. It was a little unnerving for me. After exiting the northern end of the tunnel, we stopped for a break and took some pictures to share. We turned around at the 6 mile mark and headed back.
In all, the day was a 12 mile ride with a round trip through the Rockland Tunnel. It gave us an opportunity to get some fresh air and think. On the ride home we did some talking and were able to clear up a few outstanding issues.
The Campaign Trail . . .
In the end, with complete clarity of thought and sufficient time to discuss all of our options, we have made a decision regarding the future of my campaign for the office of Mercer County Treasurer. I will be making a formal announcement early this week. Details will be included on this site as well as on my campaign site (http://www.electbiros.com/).
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Mercer County Conservatives 