Friday, May 13: Phoenixville, PA to the Atlantic Ocean (Ocean City, NJ) - 95 mi.

Friday the 13th. I thought about that a few times Thursday night - better be real careful.

Well, Steve Thum (12-year amateur bicycle racer and host for the last two days, husband of my niece, Debbie) took care of that. He safely led me from their home in Phoenixville to Ocean City, NJ.

By the way, Phoenixville is holding its second Relay For Life starting Friday night. Last year they were "Rookie of the Year" in Pennsylvania.

After a later start than usual - my saddle bags, a dog named Lance, and great nephews Matt and Michael had to first be packed into Debbie's van - we rode 25 miles on a Rails to Trails bike path into Philadelphia ending at the art museum. Very scenic - I guess I didn't have to go all the way to California after all. We briefly watched a collegiate rowing regatta along the Schuylkill River. My daughter participated in that event 6 or 7 years ago.

I talked with one bike rider who was wearing a "Ride the Rockies" shirt. I asked him if he rode in last year's event. He gave me a disgusted-sounding "yea." There are two major bicycle rides in Colorado each year - "Ride the Rockies" and the "BTC (Bicycle Tour of Colorado)." Last year they were on two consecutive weeks with Ride the Rockies being first. I got to the BTC a few days early and saw a TV news item about the absolutely terrible weather for Ride the Rockies - it poured rain every day. The weather for the next week for the BTC was fabulous. Actually, we always have great weather on our vacations. So if you want to guarantee great weather on your next vacation, take us with you.

The bicycle lanes in Philadephia were well marked. Over the Ben Franklin bridge we went and headed directly into the wind in NJ. We chugged along the generally well-shouldered roads for what seemed like forever. Eventually, we saw a few salt marshes and smelled the salt air. When we crossed the 30th st bridge into Ocean City, there was too much traffic to take a photo of the "Welcome to OC" sign.

When we got to Wendy's sister home around 5 pm, no one was home - they got as tired of waiting as we got of riding. We found them at the beach - even my wife Wendy was there.

For the last week, when people would ask me about my ride, I'd say I expected to be on OC on Friday and hope my wife would be there to bring me home to CT. There seemed to be some doubt because apparently when I'm not home, it's kind of a vacation for her.

Anyway, we made it! I'm glad it is over. I'm happy I did it. I wouldn't do it again.

And some people donated some money to the American Cancer Society in a very unusual way.

Thank you very much.

Note: It was a bit harder to get photos into the blog than I orginally anticipated. So now that I am home, I'll get a good selection pics in the photo blog in a few days.

Thursday, May 12: Tour of Valley Forge Park

Steve took me on a bicycle tour of Valley Forge Park, which is just down the road from Phoenixville. What a beautiful place to ride a bike - gentle hills and curves. Although Wendy and I visited people in the area many times, we have never been to the park. Like Gettysburg, it's a great place to visit on a bicycle.

Wed, May 11: Quarryville, Pa. to Phoenixville, Pa.: 55 mi, 4.3 hr

The hills east of Quarryville are much more gentle than those on the west side. Many Amish farms. As I passed a farmer plowing a very large field, he waved so I waved back and then stopped to take a picture. Since he initiated the greeting, I felt a picture was okay.

Shortly after that I observed a very powerful memorial at the end of a church driveway - two riderless children's bicycles standing side-by-side.

With directions from my niece, I found my way to her home in Phoenixville. After turning onto their road, it was easy spot their house because her husband, Steve, and her mother-in-law, and a photographer from the local newspaper were waiting in the driveway.

It was great to see all the nieces and nephews on my wife's side of the family at supper.

Tomorrow, Thursday, will be an off day. On Friday, Steve, a former bicycle racer, will ride to Ocean City. I'm looking forward to riding with no panniers on the front and rear of my bike.

Tues. May 10: Gettysburg to Quarryville, 84 mi, 7:35hr

What I thought would be relatively flat or gently rolling hills turned out to be more rolling with innumerable short but steep inclines. Also, the wind was from the east. Got a later start than usual and arrived at Quarryville around 6:30 with no definite place to sleep that night. I eventually found a farmhouse B&B 2.5 mi south of town and also uphill.

My hope was to make it to Ninepoints where I would stay with Relay for Life host Heather Schweitzer. But it was just a bit too far.

Another pinch flat on the front tire. But instead of the air slowly leaking out, it was out in an instant. Rim on rubber on road creates a very uncontrollable situation. Fortunately, I was going slowly and no cars or trucks were nearby.

As I was leaving a Wendy's after lunch, a woman , a bike rider, was questioning me about my ride. Eventually, she asked if I was having fun. I said there are moments but truthfully, it is a lot of work. I think she was a bit disappointed with my answer.

Monday May 9: First day off

Slept late. Got a haircut. Visited Barnes and Noble. Listened to Andre Schriff.

Sunday, May 8: Camp Hill, PA

Dick arrived in Gettysburg today. He is spending today and tomorrow with our friend Carlynn in Camp Hill, and will leave from Gettysburg on Tuesday for Nine Points, PA. He is planning to arrive in Phoenixville on Thursday and take off for the final leg of the trip on Friday, riding with nephew Steve.

Sat. May 7: Paw Paw, WV (across rv from MD) to Hagerstown, MD

Most of the way was along the C & O canal towpath which is a fine gravel. But there was a tweny mile section around Hancock, MD which is the asphalt. IT is part of the Western Maryland Rail to Trails.

Gotta run. People waiting to use computer.

Friday, May 6: Oakland, MD to Paw Paw, WV on the C&O canal & Potomac Rv

Oakland is a pretty neat town. I could live here too. The highways in MD are great for bicycle riders - wide shoulders and some told me they actually sweep them twice a year. One major climb. Continued to see big double jointed trucks hauling logs. One long, steep (9% grade) down hill coast along the spine of a mountain. At the top there was a warning to truckers - "If brakes fail, ditch immediately." I'm not sure exactly what that meant so I rode slowly down the left side of the road.

At the bottom of the mountain was a Mead-Westreco paper mill - where all the logs were being taken.

80 miles, 7:20 hours.