Another Day of Hills and Headwinds

Let me start with the positive.  The countryside was beautiful.  Lots of picturesque farms and little towns.  I rode through one town named Funktown.  I was generally on low traffic back roads.  I think it was today I saw a field of baby donkeys.  Or was that yesterday?

On the downside I had awful headwinds most of the day and climbed over 1800 feet.  I think these roads started as trails and buggy paths and they paved them over without changing the grade. My computer claimed one climb peaked at 19%. I had to go over something called Blue Ridge summit.  That went about 6 miles with the last mile where the grade was in the high teens.  I had to stop part way up and take a break.  The stretch was part of a scenic byway and it was certainly that.

Another thing about the winds is that I am wearing a daBrim.  It’s great for keeping the sun off but it is tough in the wind.  I am amazed and how well it stays on.

It topped out at a place called Blue Ride Summit.  That makes sense. I stopped there at a Sunoco for one of those not so great sandwiches and some other nourishment.  The bathroom  was out of toilet paper and paper towels.  I pointed it out to the attendant.  She said she knew it but they didn’t have any.  What the heck!  A business like that can’t get toilet paper?  I just about said “ for hell sakes woman you are next door to a Dollar General just walk over and get some”.

I tried to stop more today to get food and take a break.  I should do that more often.

I am now in Williamsport and will start the C&O path tomorrow morning.  That will be flat.  But, it is also supposed to rain for the next few days. 

I should meet more cyclists for a few days now. I haver already met a few here.  One is staying at the same B&B. I met another who is a young woman from Ireland also attempting coast to coast.  She is some of the same route as I am but also doing modifications.

I have yet to camp. Losing track of the days makes it hard when I try to book accommodations.  I need to be careful to not get the wrong day.

As I ride, I often have songs going around in my head.  Today I started with “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”.  :-). Whenever I have a tough long climb a Chicago song comes to mind, “It Better End Soon”.  I will probably replay that a lot before this is done.  I told myself today that I need to pay more attention to  beautifulsights around me and ignore my computer.  I just do what I can each day.