Lancaster
By
Saturday, August 27, 2005
August 27, 2005
I was hoping for an easy day today - only 58 miles. It turned out to be yet another hilly day but I did finish a couple of hours earlier than I have been finishing. That was good news as I need the rest. I wasn't as efficent getting ready this morning - but here I am after loading my baggage on the truck. I've been collecting photos of the various events that happen during the day - eventually I'll combine them together into a single web page so readers can get a feel of a day riding with America By Bicycle.
Gary pretending that this photo is a candid shot.
We rode past tehe Hopewell National Historic Site. Run by the National Park Service, it is the site of a former 1800s Iron making plantation.
http://www.nps.gov/hofu/index.htm I arrived about an hour before the site opened so wasn't able to visit as I wanted to finish a bit earlier if possible. The surrounding area is wooded.
Looking up and down the road.
I got wet twice today - once it rained for about 10 seconds, and then later it rained again for about 4 minutes. Others, the faster riders. had more rain. Part of the day was through an area of Amish farms an also Mennonite farms. At one point I thought my bicycle was starting to rattle and made odd noises, then I realized that it was the sound of a horse drawn carriage. I saw farms being plowed with teams of horses. The Mennonites use some modern conveniences. At one point I saw a Mennonite man mowing his lawn with a Shetland Pony pulled gasoline powered mower.
Despite the rain and mostly dark clouds, it did clear up to blue skys every now and again. I rode into a valley and took the following set of photos - while turning 360 degrees from the same spot. Click on the camera icon and then click on each photo to see it larger!: 
We had some steep hills - this one was rated at 15%. I decided to take pictures of some of the other riders coming up the hill. I only decided to do that after I wasn't able to ride up this hill and since I was already walking...
I came across this swan sitting in a pond.
No one should be surprised that this creek is called Muddy Creek.
I had seen tobbaco growing before when I did the .Old Kentucky Home Tour 2002
I was surprised to see it this far north.
Lancaster is supposedly the center of cycling in Pennsylvania. We came across this sign on the way back from dinner. Here I am with Mike, Dave, Brad, and Sara; Jerri is behind the camera on the still shot. I'm behind the camera in the video. 
