Memorial Day weekend of 2013 we checked out the D&L Trail going west from the area around Sand Island in Bethlehem. This is a relatively flat and level stretch with a packed earth/stone surface that might cause cyclists to lean toward having more rubber on the ground, although nothing as heavy duty as mountain bikes. In our first transit of this stretch, we were on foot, making photography easier, but covering less territory.

This segment is towpath trail, but there are plenty of rail reminders, as it parallels Central Railroad of New Jersey right of way which is currently an active Norfolk Southern line. About 2.5 miles west of Bethlehem, the railroad has a hump yard for splitting up trains and sorting the cars into new trains for different destinations. This can be quite fun to watch, but may be better viewed from a small road that offers a bird's eye view.

It is about 5.8 miles to get to Allentown where there is another trail head facility, but we were not up to hoofing an 11 or 12 mile round trip on this pass!