The Sojourn Experience

Karl Wirsing (RTC) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:17:00 GMT

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.

RTC's 8th Annual Greenway Sojourn Under Way

Todd Christopher (RTC) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:58:00 GMT

Take 350 riders, ranging in age from 4 to 90 and hailing from 30 different states. Spend seven days riding 250 scenic miles through Pennsylvania and New Jersey on some of the most historic rail-trails and towpaths in the nation. And, for good measure, add in amazing points of interest -- not the least of which is the Battleship New Jersey in Camden, where the participants bunked down for the first night of their journey.

That's the recipe for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's 8^th Annual Greenway Sojourn, which runs from July 17-24.

And while it's an amazing adventure, there's more to this year's Sojourn than an unforgettable bike ride. It began in Camden on Sunday with a rally to celebrate one trail victory -- the start of a long-awaited, federal TIGER grant-funded improvement project to the road leading to the Ben Franklin Bridge -- and to call attention to the importance of safe, convenient walking and biking options as an integral part of sound transportation policy.

For more, read RTC's press release on the 8^th Annual Greenway Sojourn, or follow the action virtually with daily photos and Sojourn updates on RTC's Facebook page.

Sojourners at the Battleship New Jersey. Photo by Becky Chanis

RTC TrailBlog : camden

The Sojourn Experience

RTC's 8th Annual Greenway Sojourn Under Way