Yudichak starts 165-mile hike of D&L Trail

State Sen. John Yudichak made good on his Superbowl bet when he hit the D&L Trail on Tuesday, and while he still has well over 100 miles to go over the course of the summer, it’s a good start.

Sporting a Philadelphia Eagles jersey, Yudichak explained the divine inspiration for his 165-mile trek at the trail’s start in Bristol.

“You’ve got to understand, I’ve been a die-hard Eagles fan my whole life. I went to three NFC championship games; they lost each of those games. I went to the Superbowl in Jacksonville, they lost to the Patriots,” he said.

When it came to this year’s Superbowl against none other than the New England Patriots, Yudichak opted to forgo the live experience and enjoy the game from home.

“So I stayed in my basement, I didn’t go anywhere, but I couldn’t help myself, and I said, ‘By God, if they win this game, I’m going to hike 165 miles.’ And we’re keeping that word today,” he said.

The first leg of the trail encompassed a 6-mile walk on Tuesday, followed by a 16.5-mile bike ride from Morrisville to New Hope on Wednesday.

Yudichak was also enthused to announce Gov. Tom Wolf’s approval of $1.2 million in funding for the D&L Trail that was revealed on Tuesday.

The funds are a small part of 82 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside projects meant to “improve transportation alternatives and enhance mobility and public accessibility across the commonwealth.”

Carbon County will see $403,986 to connect the trail from the northern trailhead to the new bridge south of the Carbon County parking lot with a safe travel path along the Lehigh River. Lehigh County will receive $838,188 for construction of a trail to close a 1.45-mile trail gap along the D&L from the Lehigh and Northampton County line to Hanover Township’s Canal Park.

Not only will Yudichak’s hike provide an opportunity to meet new people and explore new sites along the trail, it will also allow the senator to take in some Pennsylvania history.

“This D&L Trail writes the history of the American Industrial Revolution, from the anthracite miners, to the mill workers, the foundry workers, to those that built the canals, the men and women who built the railroads. I’m going to be walking in the footsteps of history on this trail. I’m excited about this,” he said.

Those interested in following along with the senator can keep up on his progress through his website, www.senatoryudichak.com/takeahike.

As for how long it will take Yudichak to make it to the trail’s end at River Commons Park in Wilkes-Barre, he is confident that he will finish by the end of summer. Or, at the very least, in less time than it took the Eagles to get the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

“It took the Eagles 52 years to win a Superbowl. I’m going to beat that number,” he said.