HuntValley
By
Sunday, August 28, 2005
August 28, 2005
Today started out raining. It was warm enough that I didn't need a jacket. I am still hoping for an easier day with less hills. It feels like I'm chasing the rabbit at the greyhound track, never quite getting there. Maybe in North or South Carolina? Today we had 5100 feet of climbing, but 4300 of that was in the first 44 miles. I had a flat in the first 2 miles and had to change it in the rain. Fortunately the lunch SAG came up behind me as I was fixing the flat and was able to pick up a new tire and extra tube. My puncture was several pieces of glass.
We followed part of the Susquehanna River, sixteenth largest river in America, is the largest river lying entirely in the United States that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Susquehanna and its hundreds of tributaries drain 27,500 square miles, an area nearly the size of South Carolina, spread over parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The river meanders 444 miles from its origin at Otsego Lake near Cooperstown, New York until it empties into the Chesapeake Bay at Havre de Grace, Maryland. The Susquehanna is the "mother" river to the Chesapeake, providing 50 percent of all the freshwater entering the great estuary. http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Fish_Boat/watertrails/susqmid/trailguide.htm
Since it was raining, I didn't take many pictures. Here are a few from the Susquehanna River. Our first SAG stop was here, around mile 28, just after a 3/4 mile downhill at 9%, just before travelling back up the other side.
The sky did clear up a bit and I was able to capture this photo of a Pennsylvania Farm.
Playing a bit with my camera, click on the button for a brief movie of the same... WARNING - This file is 3MB - don't try this unless you have a high speed internet connection. Even with a high speed connection it wil take several minutes to download.
I'm using a Canon SD400 for all my photos on this trip.
On the way today, I passed by several Amish buggys. It was interesting, as I passed on a steep downhill, the Amish people all stared, as if I was an oddity. I supposed that is how everyone looks at them too. I was too interested in keeping both hands on the brake hoods and eyes focused on the road to pay much attention at the time. Later I mentioned the event to some other cyclists and they had the identical experience.
I made it to yet another state - Maryland. Not to give preference to farms in PA, here is one in MD.
Tomorrow is jersey day - we will all wear our America By Bicycle cycling jerseys as we head into Washington DC.
Mike Munk gives instructions to the faster rides at the nightly route rap.
