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Neils On Wheels Christmas Tour, or Oh Litttle Town Of Bethlehem

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Neils On Wheels Christmas Tour, or Oh Litttle Town Of Bethlehem

Old 12-25-07, 06:03 PM
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Neils On Wheels Christmas Tour, or Oh Litttle Town Of Bethlehem



Some lowlights from the recent four day Neils on Wheels tour of Philadelphia, Doylestown, and Bethlehem:

- Neil B. accidentally lead our heroes the wrong way on a one way street in downtown Philadelphia.

- Neil F. neglected to eat a proper breakfast and bonked one day.

- Neil B. rode through a large puddle of water that contained a pothole, and fell. Fortunately neither bike nor rider were injured.

- Both Neils had a hotel room reserved at an establishment located on a highway marked "Motor Vehicles Only". They only discovered this during a pouring rainstorm.

- Neither Neil realized just how high up on a mountain Bethlehem, PA, is located.

- Neil F. SAGged on the final day. Neil B. got a ride partway home, got dropped off at the wrong place, and rode for 45 minutes to get back to the right area. This involved riding 7 miles of ground he'd covered in a car an hour before.

And highlights:

- Neil B. bought a large bike bell that sounds like an old-fashioned doorbell.

- Neil F. bought a cargo net for his rack.

- The Hotel Bethlehem was the most bike-friendly hotel I've come across. The front desk gave me a larger room once they discovered we had bikes with us, and the doorman took my dirty, heavy bike up to my room for me. Besides that, it's a darn nice hotel.

- The weather for the ride into Bethlehem was cold, but clear and crisp. Yes, the hills were brutal, but we both made it. And the city was beautiful, or at least the historic district.

- Neil F. took LOTS of photos:

Lake Galena, near Doylestown, PA:


The Clothespin, Philadelphia, PA, at night:


Clock tower, City Hall, Philadelphia, at night:


Light show, Macy's, Philadelphia. This is the former John Wanamaker's building, and that's the store's pipe organ in the background:


Central Moravian Church, Bethlehem, PA:


Neil B. next to an odd sign, with Central Moravian in the background:


Seasonal cyclist in front of the "Rocky" steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art:
 
Old 12-25-07, 09:29 PM
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Naturally, I had to look up the 'Putz' photo:

https://www.centralmoravianchurch.org/seasonal/putz.php

I'm still trying to figure out how your seasonal cyclist manages to see around the tree!

Are we going to get more of a write up?

Looks as if it was an excellent adventure.

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Old 12-25-07, 09:48 PM
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Nice pictures!!!

I am going to start working on taking pictures on some rides I take with the wife for enjoyment. Most of my bike rides are for health and I push myself pretty hard. Stopping to take pictures doesn't happen.

Do you carry much for equipment, or just a cheap digital??
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Old 12-25-07, 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by East Hill
Naturally, I had to look up the 'Putz' photo:

https://www.centralmoravianchurch.org/seasonal/putz.php

I'm still trying to figure out how your seasonal cyclist manages to see around the tree!

Are we going to get more of a write up?

Looks as if it was an excellent adventure.

East Hill
Patience, East Hill, patience. Both Neil F. and I will provide detailed accounts of our ride in due time. He's recovering from what was a very wearying tour, and I'm relaxing after 35 miles along the Perkiomen Trail this afternoon. The 55 miles from Bethlehem to home might have done me in. Oh, those rollers! :-)

It WAS an excellent adventure. The only downside to the visit to Bethlehem, aside from Neil F. not riding with me the final day, was my missing Christmas Eve Vigil at Central Moravian. Fortunately, I picked up the CD the Church recorded for their 200th anniversary:

https://www.centralmoravianchurch.org...hristmascd.php

While I couldn't attend the service, I could partially experience it via the CD.
 
Old 12-25-07, 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted by The Historian
- The Hotel Bethlehem was the most bike-friendly hotel I've come across. The front desk gave me a larger room once they discovered we had bikes with us, and the doorman took my dirty, heavy bike up to my room for me. Besides that, it's a darn nice hotel.
Wow, nice hotel; I believe that's a rarity these days; glad you guys made it safely there...
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Old 12-25-07, 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by East Hill
Are we going to get more of a write up?
I'll write it up tonight, before Neil B publishes every single one of my photos for me.
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Old 12-26-07, 03:05 AM
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Philly's a great city. Sounds like a fun time.
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Old 12-26-07, 08:19 AM
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Originally Posted by neilfein
I'll write it up tonight, before Neil B publishes every single one of my photos for me.


I shall happily anticipate!

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Old 12-26-07, 06:47 PM
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Nice shots of downtown Bethlehem, Neil. I used to visit there during the holidays when my mother-in-law lived at the sister's house (that's the building behind the church, but on the north side of church st).
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Old 12-26-07, 09:34 PM
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Originally Posted by flip18436572
Nice pictures!!!

I am going to start working on taking pictures on some rides I take with the wife for enjoyment. Most of my bike rides are for health and I push myself pretty hard. Stopping to take pictures doesn't happen.

Do you carry much for equipment, or just a cheap digital??
I carry an inexpensive digital, an old Kodak EasyShare. I've been thinking about replacing it with something waterproof and/or sturdier, since it's getting pretty battered up from going on tour with me. I had to air dry it in a hotel room in Lawrenceville when it stopped working, but it's still going.

When to stop for pics is something that constantly battles with the desire to make time. Touring is about stopping to smell the roses, but I'd like to do a decent amount or riding in a day. (One could start a whole new thread on this, actually.)
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Old 12-28-07, 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by East Hill
Naturally, I had to look up the 'Putz' photo:

https://www.centralmoravianchurch.org/seasonal/putz.php

I'm still trying to figure out how your seasonal cyclist manages to see around the tree!

Are we going to get more of a write up?

Looks as if it was an excellent adventure.

East Hill
Both Neils have Crazy Guy on a Bike tour journals posted. Here's mine:

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?...c_id=3184&v=1B
 
Old 12-28-07, 01:05 PM
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Sounds as if that one day was a real bear! It's good to see that you both survived the journey .

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Old 12-28-07, 01:13 PM
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Excellent!

I love this stuff....I shall live vicariously through your tours! Congrats to both Neils!!

Hope to see you on the LCB Metric again in '08!
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Old 12-29-07, 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by East Hill
Sounds as if that one day was a real bear! It's good to see that you both survived the journey .

East Hill
Thanks. The Crazy Guy journal is considerably expanded now.

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/3184
 
Old 12-29-07, 08:23 AM
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Originally Posted by barndoor
Excellent!

I love this stuff....I shall live vicariously through your tours! Congrats to both Neils!!

Hope to see you on the LCB Metric again in '08!
Here's my journal again, considerably expanded and with more photos:

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/3184

And Neil Fein's account:

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/dectour2007
 
Old 12-29-07, 09:34 AM
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I am glad to see that photos of the big bell managed to get added!

I love the account of the stealth Jehovah's Witness...

East Hill
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Old 12-29-07, 10:42 AM
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To Neil F!

https://www.backpackerspantry.com/Aboutus.asp

Most of these products are supposed to be Kosher certified
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Old 12-31-07, 07:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Tom Stormcrowe
To Neil F!

https://www.backpackerspantry.com/Aboutus.asp

Most of these products are supposed to be Kosher certified
Or he could ask the place to specially prepare the food. Or have something other than 'breakfast' food at breakfast.
 
Old 12-31-07, 07:47 AM
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Originally Posted by East Hill
I am glad to see that photos of the big bell managed to get added!

I love the account of the stealth Jehovah's Witness...

East Hill
That was annoying. I finally meet someone interested in panniers and lighting systems, and it's a pose to give me a pamphlet.
 

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