Wissahickon Valley bike ride

There can't be many large American cities with rideable trails the likes of the Wissahickon Valley Gorge in Fairmount Park.  The rider is never far from residential neighborhoods and the trails pass under major roadways but for the most part the experience is quiet good ol' single-track riding.  Like many things around here, the Wissahickon name is derived from an original Lenape native name.  They called it wiessahitkonk, for "catfish creek" or "stream of yellowish color".

Anyway, I had a good ride with a couple of steep climbs and one hike-a-bike.

Most of the yellow trail looks like this.  Up off the valley floor the surface is relatively flowy, well drained and not really narrow

My backpack water bladder leaked (emptied completely) for reasons I can't figure out with the consequence that I dropped down to Forbidden Drive a couple of times looking for a water fountain.  The road is gravel but wide and on dry sunny days is packed with walkers, bikers, dogs and kids.  Valley Green is the busy center of activity where Philly folk will park, congregate and stop for lunch.  Today was neither or sunny.

After filling up with water I climbed back up to the yellow trail on the valley side.  This sumbitch ascent beat me and I had to push SaMuk up for about a third of the distance.

Finally, there is a section of meadow riding here and here's a picture of it