Day 49 (6/24/22): PA Bliss

Start:                  New Holland, PA

 End:                    Warwick, PA

Miles:                 20

 Elevation:           1,172 feet

Day 2 of Operation Pokey was another success.  There was a little more distance and climbing today, but I still managed to creep my way through 20 miles.  For the first time in over 3,100 miles, I decided it would be best if I walked the bike up a steep incline.  This was one of those, “I could have done it, but the damage to my lungs likely would have far outweighed the dent on my pride.”  Each one was less than 50 yards.  I’ll take the walk of shame tomorrow if I encounter some short, steep ones again.

The ride was wonderful.  I would have ripped through yesterday and today’s ride if I completed them last week as the terrain isn’t terribly challenging at this point.  The forced Covid slowdown allowed me to appreciate the Pennsylvania countryside even more however.  The farms are closer together here than other States and it just seems likes there’s more activity.  As I mentioned yesterday, there also seems to be a lot more pride in ownership.  Along the same lines, we’ve seen only one dilapidated/abandon building over the past 2 days.  It was just great to get back to the joy of pedaling through beautiful country with the roads pretty much all to myself.  In addition to “joy”, the other word that comes to mind is “pure”.

Current Plan

• Saturday:  Ride to Valley Forge, PA

• Sunday:  Backtrack from Bucks County to Valley Forge and ride back to Bucks County

• Next Week:  Split 70-mile Bucks County-Manasquan leg into 2-3 rides and figure out how to best complete in light of potential rain and 4th of July Shore traffic

What I’m Grateful for Today

• Big day tomorrow as we leave Lancaster—our Covid headquarters—after 6 unexpected days and head to my brother’s place in Bucks County, PA.

• I’m on the Adventure Cycling Association’s Atlantic Coast trail which is known as PA Trail S.  Trail S has, by far, the best signage of any of the routes in any of the States I’ve pedaled.  I do have GPS, but just knowing you can rely on your eyes makes riding so much less complicated and more stress free.

• Pennsylvania Dutch bakeries.  Just had perhaps the best apple turnover of my life.

• Improved health. (Yay Paxlovid!)