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JULY 18 ERIE ON THE LAKE
We completed our marathon --400 miles in 4 days-- with a 98 mile jaunt from Austintown, OH to "beautiful downtown Erie, PA." Actually, I'm not even sure Erieites would claim the "beautiful" part, but we have a day off here and the cycling gang will have a chance "to check it out." We are only a few blocks from the waterfront on Lake Erie, staying at a former Hilton 5 star hotel. Well, to be truthful, it has over time lost the Hilton name (and the majority of it's former stars). The (former) swimming pool sits empty--but not the bar! We often have a little "celebration" on a night before a day off. Steve (CO), actually celebrating his 51st birthday, suggested tequila shots to the group. You'll have to guess if anyone took him up on it. Tim, also had a birthday (50th) yesterday...so we had 2 cakes to devour after dinner.
Dale left for Tucson yesterday, and Cliff goes back to Annapolis today; both great guys who left with the best wishes from all of us. Last night at dinner Dr. Cliff, who has now been on 4 Cross Country Challenge trips --as he is doing it in segments-- had some kind words for our group. He said that of all the groups, we were "the friendliest, most welcoming, most mutually supportive and fun" cycling group he had met. A STRONG ENDORSEMENT! The ride to Erie was diverse: when you cover 96 miles you get to see a LOT. We were on backroads often, but highways as well. We passed farmland, small towns like Wayne Center and Lake City, some industries, and rode through just plain American neighborhoods. I sometimes think about our French bikers as we pass through these areas, they have to be IMPRESSED with America. I am everyday!! We had a great lunch in Conneaut, PA at a root beer stand with a picnic area out back. The Sunday crowd was there. We again seemed to be viewed as aliens. But folks are always interested in what we are doing and AMAZED when we tell them. Our best stop of the day took place shortly thereafter; it was at a roadside fruit and vegetable stand. We were having some raspberries and cherries when we noticed Joe (TX) with a big WATERMELON he was carving up for all of us. We ate the whole thing...what a treat.
We had more rolling hills and valleys today. We even passed some vineyards in Pennsylvania...in this case I was hoping that our French friends didn't stop to sample the wine. We were again in Amish country. We followed the familiar black Amish horse and buggy on one back country road for a while. From behind we could see only the the lower half of the horse's legs as it clip-clopped along. It was actually funny watching that, as the legs and hooves seemed to be DANCING on the road. We entered Erie in a welcoming rain. We yelled approval at a Jr. High School sign that said: GO Lance...Go For Six!! We saw many of the decorated frog statues that Erie has placed around town, and affluent neighborhoods--and some less so. All in all a pretty good day on the bike.
- Bill
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Contact Bill now at bill@bikingwithbill.org |
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