TrentonMakes Posted September 8, 2014 Share #1 Posted September 8, 2014 On my ride yesterday I made another trip to the bridge in my avatar. It's an unassuming green steel truss bridge, built in 1928 - though the first bridge at this site was built in 1806 and was the first bridge built across the Delaware River (which I had forgotten until I reread the Wiki this morning). It's also part of the Lincoln Highway, and used to carry US Route 1 until that was reassigned to a parallel expressway - I was standing in the shadow of that expressway bridge when I took this. Closeup of the letters, which were first installed in 1935. "The World Takes, Trenton Makes" was the winning slogan from a 1910 Chamber of Commerce contest. The neon-illuminated letters have been replaced a few times over the years, most recently in 2005 - my experience with them at that time was that at night, the letters often read something like " RENTO MA ES" and I was hoping they'd switch to LEDs but neon won again. This iteration seems to be more reliable but still faulty at times. Behind the scenes - couldn't safely get closer as there's no walkway on the other side. The Trenton Makes bridge is the southernmost free auto crossing of the Delaware River - the six bridges to the south all hit you for a one-way toll from $2 - $5. However, it was initially operated by a private company and was a toll bridge until 1918. Gratuiutous selfie The Trenton "skyline", marred by a couple ugly-as-hell government buildings. I probably don't need to say that Trenton is a shadow of its former glory - maybe it will be back. You can see the Route 29 expressway that restricts access to Trenton's primary resource, the Delaware - in discussion are plans to realign this road as a parkway to reopen the riverfront to more than just "driving fast". Hard to see them but there are several hundred seagulls hanging out on the rocks. The levee protecting the borough of Morrisville, PA is just visible at the left, and you can also see the next bridge to the north at Calhoun Street. The Delaware River is still influenced by tides as far north as Trenton. It was a simply magnificent day for a ride - this was on the road from Newtown to Washington Crossing, PA on my way back home. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsnip Totin Jack ★ Posted September 8, 2014 Share #2 Posted September 8, 2014 Nice pics, looks like a great ride. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrAzY Posted September 8, 2014 Share #3 Posted September 8, 2014 Very nice pictures! Thanks for making my rides look like crap.. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopped Liver Posted September 8, 2014 Share #4 Posted September 8, 2014 looks like a nice ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingtermite Posted September 8, 2014 Share #5 Posted September 8, 2014 Looks like it could be an interesting place to drop the kayak in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudge ★ Posted September 8, 2014 Share #6 Posted September 8, 2014 Nice pics. But DAYAM that's a tall bike!!!!!!!! sheesh! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randomguy Posted September 8, 2014 Share #7 Posted September 8, 2014 Nice pics. But DAYAM that's a tall bike!!!!!!!! sheesh! Those are tricycle wheels, don't let them fool you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted September 8, 2014 Share #8 Posted September 8, 2014 Your frame pump has all the appearance of a Topeak Road Morph. If so then you are a gentleman, a scholar, and a excellent judge of fine frame pumps. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr ★ Posted September 8, 2014 Share #9 Posted September 8, 2014 Your frame pump has all the appearance of a Topeak Road Morph. If so then you are a gentleman, a scholar, and a excellent judge of fine frame pumps. Actually that is a full sized floor pump strapped under there. It is just that the freakishly large frame makes it hard to judge scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentonMakes Posted September 8, 2014 Author Share #10 Posted September 8, 2014 Your frame pump has all the appearance of a Topeak Road Morph. If so then you are a gentleman, a scholar, and a excellent judge of fine frame pumps. I'm not often called a gentleman or a scholar, so it pains me to have to say it's a Blackburn pump. Those are 27-inch wheels. Given that, does the bike look bigger or smaller? Perhaps one of these days I'll post a photo of myself on the bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr ★ Posted September 8, 2014 Share #11 Posted September 8, 2014 I'm not often called a gentleman or a scholar, so it pains me to have to say it's a Blackburn pump. Those are 27-inch wheels. Given that, does the bike look bigger or smaller? Perhaps one of these days I'll post a photo of myself on the bike. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted September 8, 2014 Share #12 Posted September 8, 2014 Holy cow! You made Trenton look good! The Delaware looks a lot like the Susquehanna - rocky and blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted September 8, 2014 Share #13 Posted September 8, 2014 jsharr, that's a cute polka-dot skirt you have on in that picture! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudge ★ Posted September 9, 2014 Share #14 Posted September 9, 2014 Those are tricycle wheels, don't let them fool you. I was wondering about that. Thanks for clearing it up for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentonMakes Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share #15 Posted September 9, 2014 Holy cow! You made Trenton look good! I guess it's only fair to note that I was standing in Pennsylvania when I took each of those photos. Perhaps that's the explanation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted September 9, 2014 Share #16 Posted September 9, 2014 I guess it's only fair to note that I was standing in Pennsylvania when I took each of those photos. Perhaps that's the explanation. Everything looks better in Pennsylvania. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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