Difficulty Rating:
4 out of 5
Notice to those who intend to follow this route: We Ride Librarians do not know anyone who has actually followed this route. We have plotted it out on RWGPS, but have had no feedback from the field. It was submitted by its author years ago and deemed sufficiently unique to be available to our members and the riding public in general. Therefore, do your homework prior to the ride. Pore over maps and understand as much nuance as possible to mitigate any confusion en route. Should you accomplish this ride, please send us corrections and insight. HS 3/9/2021
Note: this is a one way route; you must return either by ferry, or back track to get the the NJ Transit train at Aberdeen. The train will add 15 miles back from Atlantic Highlands.
This route can be started either at the GWB or at Newark Penn Station. Distance from GWB to Newark is 22 miles; from Newark to Sandy Hook is 65 miles; and from Sandy Hook to Long Branch is 13 miles. The route can be shortened by 6.5 miles, at the expense of some car-free natural beauty, by skipping Cheesequake St. Park. There's hardly any climbing past the Bergen County rollers in the first 12 miles The food stop with the best sit-down options is in South Amboy, 25 miles past Newark. Bailouts available via NJ Transit in Linden, Perth Amboy, South Amboy, and Aberdeen-Matawan. Return from Sandy Hook via Seastreak ferry (35-40 minutes to Manhattan). On summer weekends, ferries leave Sandy Hook at 3:15 and 5:15 PM. Check: http://www.seastreak.com for schedules and fares. Or, return from Long Branch via NJ Transit (less expensive; approximately 70 minutes to Newark and 90 minutes to Manhattan).
The RWGPS route and cue sheet go from the NJ Side of the GW Bridge to the Sea Streak terminal at Altlantic Highlands.
See the author's cue sheet for the Newark start, the Cheesquake State Park Loop, and the Sandy Hook Ferry terminal.
This is a most ambitious day of navigating on a bike as natural and man made barriers abound. Ride difficulty reflects this.
HS 4/1/15
