Cycling enthusiasts will get a chance to enjoy this year’s only harvest moon on Sept. 17 during the annual Full Moon Ride at the Lawrence Hopewell Trail.
Adults and youngsters aged 12 and up are invited to the third annual LHT Full Moon Bike Ride, which is sponsored by the Lawrence Hopewell Trail and the Mercer County Park Commission.
“This year’s Full Moon Ride should be particularly special,” LHT board member and curator of the event Jay Watson said in a press release. “As the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox, it’s what’s known as a Harvest Moon, and we’re expecting an abundance of bright moonlight early in the evening.”
The ride, postponed from August because of thunderstorms, will start at 8:30 p.m. at Rosedale Park, but riders should give themselves time to sign in for the event. In case of inclement weather, a rain date is scheduled for September 18.
The ride will begin at Rosedale Park parking lot off Federal City Road will take cyclists through Maidenhead Trail, on to the Twin Pines Trail and then back to Rosedale Park. The ride is expected to take about 45 minutes to complete.
Riders are encouraged to decorate their bikes to add to the fun. There will be limited number of glow sticks available to participants to light up their bikes and bicycle headlights are recommended for additional safety. Helmets are required. Ice cream vendors will be on hand selling their frozen concoctions.
Mr. Watson said the six-mile ride would be “breathtaking” as the trail takes riders through the meadows and woods of the park.
The Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) is a 22-mile bicycle and pedestrian recreational trail and transportation corridor through public and private lands in Lawrence and Hopewell Townships. The idea for the LHT grew out of a commitment to improving the quality of life for all that live or work in the region.
The LHT is a key member of the Circuit Coalition, a 750-mile network of bicycle and pedestrian trails connecting people to jobs, communities, and parks in the Greater Philadelphia Region.
Pre-registration for the ride can be found at the LHT website, www.lhtrail.org.
Those who previously registered for the ride will be automatically registered for the September 17 ride. Those who can’t attend and who have already paid the registration fee of $10 per person, $20 per family, can be reimbursed by requesting reimbursement at [email protected].
Registrants who cannot attend may also choose to donate fees already paid to the LHT, which is a nonprofit community group supported by generous donations from individuals and groups. Funds collected from the registration will go directly toward offsetting the cost of the event, continued construction of the LHT as well as ongoing trail maintenance.
Any questions regarding the event can be sent to [email protected].
