Miles Today: 68
Miles to Date: 1,121
May 24, 2015 – Sunny, 70 degrees
Today was a perfect cycling day over three rigorous, densely forested mountains, separated by broad, fertile valleys. Flags flew everywhere. Rhododendrons were in full bloom. Moss thrived in the watery cracks of the limestone crevices. Cows and horses watched me pass. Mammoth stone barns stood sentry along the side of the road. The valley roads were long, straight, and hot. The farm spreads, most with German names on the mailboxes and many with Mennonite carriages, were immense. But when I climbed up the mountainsides, the trees shaded me and cool breezes wafted off the brooks. I learned that when the road rose above the creek, there was usually another mile or so of hard vertical rise before the descent.
I stopped at the charming general store in Rebersburg, where everyone was friendly, and then pedaled the final twenty miles to Boalsburg, home to the Pennsylvania Military Museum and birthplace of Memorial Day, where a big fair was going on.
It was only a few more miles to State College, where I had a delicious dinner, outside with candlelight, with my warmshowers hosts and some of their friends. We got so involved discussing how will we live tomorrow; we didn’t turn in until after midnight.
The Awkward Pose 