By Becky Chanis, Magazine Intern

Few interns get to say their summer job required them to bike more than 200 miles in a single week. Perhaps even fewer can say they asked to do it. Luckily, I am one of those few. On July 16, 2010, I packed two duffel bags and joined the staff of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) for the 8th Annual Greenway Sojourn in Camden, N.J. For one week, it would be my job to cycle from Camden to Jim Thorpe, Pa., and back again with a group of more than 300 Sojourners, experiencing and documenting the trip from their point of view.

My main reason for volunteering for such a trip was that it, of course, seemed fun; however, the Greenway Sojourn quickly became something more than a quasi-vacation. It became a learning experience, in which I saw firsthand why the mission of RTC is so relevant.

I learned that trails open up a whole new world to their users. As a lifelong city kid from Manhattan, I haven't spent much time around green things. The Greenway Sojourn often felt akin to discovering an alien planet or entering the Jurassic period: I was continually surrounded by foreign, lush landscapes. When it rained on Day 3 while we rode the Perkiomen Trail, I felt as though my senses were deceiving me. The shaded trail was filled with the dewy scent of foliage; water came down from the sky in torrents, turning a leisurely bike ride into a muddy adventure. It was all so new and fresh; I had never seen anything so beautiful. I realized trail riding was an easy way to welcome nature into my daily life.

The Sojourners' use of rail-trails also contributed exponentially to the communities that had built them. Our visits to Conshohocken, Manayunk, Jim Thorpe and several other Pennsylvania "trail towns" helped support their local economies and encourage future development. We ate locally grown produce and patronized small businesses, from restaurants to bicycle shops. We learned about local history, natural life and politics. Our weeklong trip helped sustain these communities, as well as the beautiful land that surrounds them.

It was also great to see that the support did not begin and end with the Sojourners. Fuji Bikes donated bicycles to the kids and staff from the LEAP School in Camden, N.J. (one of two schools that were sponsored to ride the Sojourn). For the adults, in addition to sponsoring the ride, Fetzer Vineyards held several wine tastings with dinner. And the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Coopers Ferry Development Association also generously and enthusiastically supported the ride.

On a personal level, the Sojourn was a way of showing my friends, family members and others that sustainable, healthy living is a viable option when you have access to great trails. Although building rail-trails is the first step, the real benefits come from using them.

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Posted Thu, Aug 5 2010 11:17 AM by Karl Wirsing (RTC)