Nashville Bound
May 25th- I've been weighing the bike down to practice cycling with more weight. My legs are getting noticeably stronger. Not sure what the cure is for a sore bum but we will do our best to persevere. Getting ready for a show on the 22nd of June at Café Voltaire. I'll do a few bike tunes as well as some fiddle songs from the south and that have a connection to civil war stuff. I've booked tickets for the pets. Now, just need to get a crate for them and the other 25 things the airlines make me take!
June 11th- Realizing I've got a tonne of stuff to do. Put out a shout to the civil war sites on Facebook to see if I could get help in starting a order of march to see the sites. The two sides used different names for the battlefields which makes things confusing.
Day 1 Up to WaterlooFinally on the road! An old army buddy (I love saying that, makes me feel like I fought in WW2) Joe Schembri, picked me and my bike up from the airport. It’s hot! We hang out with his lovely wife, Fiona, and his three kids, Roman, Lucas, and what’s his face...Mateo, whose name I can never seem to pronounce properly. Despite their harsh anti-pop/anti-freezie beliefs, we had fun. Lucas was kind enough to help me build my bike-big step for me.
On Canada Day, we hung out at Joe’s friends, Alex and Theresa. We spent the afternoon in the sun and sat down to a lovely dinner. Evening was spent watching Grace 2, a Tragically Hip cover band. The lead singer changed a few words in “Blow at High Dough” which led me to query, “Is it still a cover band if you add new words?” The bassist’s wife did not seem to appreciate this question. July 2, I drove from Oakville to Uxbridge to see my mom. She’s looking spry at 80. We started off the morning by getting a Kawartha Dairy ice cream cone at 10:30 a.m. I was pleased to see there was a steady stream of people going in. We drove around Uxbridge in the air conditioned car and caught up. There was some confusion surrounding my airport pickup and heated emotions. I’m sorry for the confusion and hope things can be smoothed over. My mom and I have started referring to my travelling companion as the “damned bike”. It’s hard to have firm plans when biking, there’s just too many things that can go astray. Mom and I walked along Port Perry’s waterfront in the evening cool with Willey her dog. She has such a strong grip that she crushed her cone and was eating it in a cupped hand as it melted in the heat. Very funny! Mom went to bed early so I met Jonathon Kenny for a drink at Boston Pizza. I haven’t seen him in years and it was good to catch up. We talked about lost loves and future plans. The time passed easily despite the distraction of the television screens. I appreciate John’s humour. Next morning had me running the gauntlet of traffic from Uxbridge to Oakville. Crazy 401! I made it back to Oakville and packed quickly. What took the longest was reassembling the banjo. Roman and Mateo were great help. I’m questioning the sense of bringing the banjo. It adds to the packing. We finally got it assembled and I was off. 30 metres down the street, a pit bull broke loose from his owner and checked me out. No bites for me that day. I rode along #5 and found the farm houses boarded up prepared to have the properties developed. There is a real sprawl here. I found some shoes in a Payless and stuck my sandals in the panniers. I also got my head shaved. Nice and cool now. I’d forgotten how sire the bum gets when cycling. And, the sun is hot and I am not drinking near enough water. Every stop now has water breaks. Not a chance wasted. The quiet farm roads were pleasant. I made it into Waterloo after an abortive attempt to ride on the highway. I met Aunt Dot and Uncle Ken and AFTER showering, hugged them. They look good and were happy to see me. We caught up over a Wendy’s dinner. Their treat. Thank you! There was also a brief tour of the city. So many universities and students! We came back and Aunt Dot attempted to get the DVD player working to show me her concert. It was an exhaustive effort but unsuccessful. Aunt dot played her arrangement of “I love you truly” and it was beautiful. She says she’s lost some skills overtime but I was blown away. She also played “His Eye is on the Sparrow” which was a tune played at my Dad’s and my Aunt Ruth’s funerals. She also did “Love Lifted Me” and “Amazing Grace”. I really enjoyed the music, she’s got a real gift. Uncle Ken found the remote and we watched the DVD after all! She was great there too. I thanked them and we said good night and I went to bed. I don’t see them often but it was great to see them if only for a short time. I had a great sleep and I had a small breakfast and was out the door to peddle into the morning cool. Not sure about typing on my phone. Got to be a better way. Niagara Falls seems overly optimistic today. This heat is taking it out of me. Brantford seems more likely. |
Corin Raymond Cooks Me Dinner! July 4th Sometimes the wrong turn turns out to be the right turn. I followed Uncle Ken's directions and made into the pretty city of Cambridge. I fueled up on a pound cake and chocolate milk and headed out into the morning sun. As I was travelling down #8, I saw two cyclists appear and disappear out of the woods. I went to check it out and there was a bike trail that parrelled the highway. The trails are actually old train lines and they are shaded and quite pretty. I made it into Paris and checked out the local tourist office for info. It was starting to get hot so I parked at a Tim's to recharge phones. I meant to take #2 but by the time I saw Ancaster, I knew I had made a mistake. I pulled into a pottery/general store and chatted with Emma Stone, the proprieter. We were discussing ways to go when she suggested the bike trails. I definitely needed some shade so I took that one. I met a guy with a back pack on. Just before I pulled up, he turned to look at a combine. I stopped and said, "Hi. It looks like we're both on long trips" He nodded slightly but just continued looking at the combine. I waited another 10 seconds before I decided to leave. Odd not to talk when you meet a fellow traveller. So, I was going to get to Dundas and then rest but found I had over shot and reached Hamilton. Again, I found a Tim's and searched my memory bank for a contact when I remembered Corin Raymond lived there. Corin Raymond is a singer-songwriter who I've grown to appreciate. I sent him a message on a whim and relaxed in a park. I waited an hour and started out through the streets. Hamilton has a tonne of dedicated bike lanes. I was just a the St. Joeseph's Hospital when I got a call from Corin. He was having a friend over, David Gilles, his former producer. I didn't want to jam up the evening but Corin insisted I come over. I pulled up to his brick 3 storey and soon had a seat and a cold beer in my hand. David is also an active musician and is going down to Nashville to record with some connected people. Corin prepared a lovely meal of grilled chicken, potatoes, and aspargus. Before the main meal, David spoke of the buttertarts from the 13th Street Bakery in St. Catherines. I told them I was a bit of a conneseur and was slightly skeptical of David's proclamation that "He's never tasted a better one". Since it was before dinner, we decided to try one but divide it up in 3rds. I have to admit, the sugary-carmelly taste and texture was outstanding. Easily, one of the best tarts I;ve tasted. There was talk of songwriting and it turned dark when discussing how to be ruthless about a song. David said that a good song is vague. I should take that into account when writing my own songs. After dinner, Corin played his mastered demo tracks off his new album and David provided his critique. There are some great songs that Corin has written but he is nervous about how to edit. Can't wait for it. I had a good sleep and headed out just as Corin came down to say goodbye. One of the highlights of the trip by far and I didn't even mean to do it. I have pledged to put Corin in the Hall of Heros for service that goes above and beyond! No pictures either. Too busy enjoying the moment.
July 5th
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July 6-7 Hills and Valleys
I've broken into the States! My border crossing was uneventful as I was shuttled across and not asked a single question. I was a little tense traversing Buffalo due to the poverty, chaos, and blaring Latino music. I really did feel like I was in Mexico for a bit. One guy leaned out if his car and told me my tire was flat. I drove a bit further to check but there was nothing wrong with it. His idea of a joke I guess. I was delighted to find a bluegrass band playing a noon hour concert. That was awesome. They also finished with “This Land is your Land”. A song I play with my students! I found the road out of Buffalo and was soon on a secondary road. There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of grocery stores along these routes. I made it to East Aurora and fixed my lunch. I watched a presentation of Alice Wonderland and was surprised at the quality of the production as well as the audience attendance. Slept in the tent under a covered picnic table area and was stunned that I was actually cold in the night. The previous night, I was sweating like I was in a tropical country! I could actually see my breath in the morning!
The route was fairly easy to follow and ride. I did a pit stop in a town called “Rushford”. I hadn't yet lost anything that day, so the Road Gods demanded tribute in the form of hills! I followed the google maps and was taken down gravel roads. They weren’t terrible but they’re tougher to ride plus I didn’t replenish my water. Need to always be full. Thankfully, the uphill was finished with downhill. I passed through Cuba but no one was speaking Spanish or driving old cars! It’s a nice little town. I saw that there was a singer songwriter festival the next day so I used that as an excuse to rest. My knees are a little tender I’m finding.This was my first 100 km day. I found my hosts for the night, Shawn and Peggy. They generously watered and fed me and let me use their shower. They loved bluegrass and Bruce Colburn. They don’t cycle themselves but I appreciate their generosity.
I biked with a light load into Cuba and wrote postcards until the show. They have some pretty good singers. I was most impressed with Beth Marone and her ukulele. “Me and my mom eating eggs” will be in my head tomorrow! One more night in Friendship with Shawn and Peggy and then I’m off to Wellsboro tomorrow. I need an early start to make the distance comfortably. Breaking into PA tomorrow!
The route was fairly easy to follow and ride. I did a pit stop in a town called “Rushford”. I hadn't yet lost anything that day, so the Road Gods demanded tribute in the form of hills! I followed the google maps and was taken down gravel roads. They weren’t terrible but they’re tougher to ride plus I didn’t replenish my water. Need to always be full. Thankfully, the uphill was finished with downhill. I passed through Cuba but no one was speaking Spanish or driving old cars! It’s a nice little town. I saw that there was a singer songwriter festival the next day so I used that as an excuse to rest. My knees are a little tender I’m finding.This was my first 100 km day. I found my hosts for the night, Shawn and Peggy. They generously watered and fed me and let me use their shower. They loved bluegrass and Bruce Colburn. They don’t cycle themselves but I appreciate their generosity.
I biked with a light load into Cuba and wrote postcards until the show. They have some pretty good singers. I was most impressed with Beth Marone and her ukulele. “Me and my mom eating eggs” will be in my head tomorrow! One more night in Friendship with Shawn and Peggy and then I’m off to Wellsboro tomorrow. I need an early start to make the distance comfortably. Breaking into PA tomorrow!
Busting into PA-Pennsylvania Here I Come! July 9th
Six ice cream bars seems excessive but this was the question I was considering as I pulled up for lunch in Westfield, PA. I had snuck out of the trailor generously provided by Shawn and Peggy and biked out into the morning. I hit a few hills on the outskirts of Friendship but a lot of it appeared to be downhill. I was making good time to get to Wellsboro where I had Jennifer waiting to host. It's rural area and I was happy to see the border crossing sign! At a traffic stop, I chatted with the sign lady for a bit about distances and town attractions. I didn't decide to go with the 6 ice cream bars but did stop in at the Hersey's ice cream store and treated myself to a double scoop of cookie dough goodness! It was excellent ice cream. Today was the first day I fought the computer and choose to go down the smooth, paved highways instead of the isolated, hilly roads. I took a detour to Gaines and because of the day, the road was well shaded. I contacted Jennifer and she was impressed at the distance I'd made. I had done most of my work before noon. It was heating up but things were going well until the last hour. There is a huge hill into Wellsboro and between me running out of water, the heat, and my own fatigue, it made for a slow, slow, 12 km ride.
To my delight, the uphill eventually stopped. I'm not ashamed to say that I pushed my bike at times. I had a great 10 minute cruise down to the city centre. Jennifer met me at her house. They have 1/2 houses here...meaning her address was 84 1/2. Quirky. She is a former teacher and new to hosting with couchsurfing but a veteran of another hosting program. She offered me water and we chatted about a wide variety of topics including my banjo and teaching as she is a retired teacher. She is a current uke student and appears to be into music as well. The shower was refreshing and we continued getting to know each other. She invited her friends John and Deb. John plays many instruments and also builds them. He checked out my banjo and did some clawhammer "Cripple Creek" which is one just about every banjo player knows! I played a couple of tunes before we had a delicious dinner of chicken tortilla casserole, fresh kale, and blueberry crumble. John also brought some homemade IPA. Delicious! Rumour has it that they are the three coolest people in town. We also lamented jam circles getting too big and then things that tick us off. This was my first plus 100 km day and I was tired something terrible fierce so we called it an early night. Jennifer is planning her own cross country trip by car. How exciting! We came out to grab my bike from the backyard and scared away a bear cub. Jennifer was thrilled, me less so. Glad I didn't camp out there that night! They trap them and move them away out here. I gathered my things and said goodnight. There was talk earlier about which route to take but the only thing I heard was long, long downhill.
My sleep was delightful and I was reluctant to leave the bed. I did get up, let Little Kitty in, and loaded up my bike. I had leftover blueberry crumble for breakfast and was off down #178. Jennifer had mentioned it was isolated and she was right. I had to dig into my emergency stash of granola bars to tide my hunger. There were long, long, upgrades which took lots of energy. However, there were also a few great downgrades as well. There was no place to fill up water and few houses. I powered through as fast as I could and finally found Salladasburg. I had a sticky bun and milk in the cafe and chatted with the waitress. Her accent was one of the most distinct I had heard yet. A thicker, sleepy, drawl with a touch of mollases with it. I filled up my water bottles and headed for the south again. I had to bike along the highway to get to Williamsport. It's a bigger town with amenities so that's nice. I still need to make 40 km in the 80 degree heat to make Lewisburg tonight. The computer wants to take me down the highway but I find its just not enjoyable. I will find a side route to make the trek. Beth C. awaits in Lewisburg!
To my delight, the uphill eventually stopped. I'm not ashamed to say that I pushed my bike at times. I had a great 10 minute cruise down to the city centre. Jennifer met me at her house. They have 1/2 houses here...meaning her address was 84 1/2. Quirky. She is a former teacher and new to hosting with couchsurfing but a veteran of another hosting program. She offered me water and we chatted about a wide variety of topics including my banjo and teaching as she is a retired teacher. She is a current uke student and appears to be into music as well. The shower was refreshing and we continued getting to know each other. She invited her friends John and Deb. John plays many instruments and also builds them. He checked out my banjo and did some clawhammer "Cripple Creek" which is one just about every banjo player knows! I played a couple of tunes before we had a delicious dinner of chicken tortilla casserole, fresh kale, and blueberry crumble. John also brought some homemade IPA. Delicious! Rumour has it that they are the three coolest people in town. We also lamented jam circles getting too big and then things that tick us off. This was my first plus 100 km day and I was tired something terrible fierce so we called it an early night. Jennifer is planning her own cross country trip by car. How exciting! We came out to grab my bike from the backyard and scared away a bear cub. Jennifer was thrilled, me less so. Glad I didn't camp out there that night! They trap them and move them away out here. I gathered my things and said goodnight. There was talk earlier about which route to take but the only thing I heard was long, long downhill.
My sleep was delightful and I was reluctant to leave the bed. I did get up, let Little Kitty in, and loaded up my bike. I had leftover blueberry crumble for breakfast and was off down #178. Jennifer had mentioned it was isolated and she was right. I had to dig into my emergency stash of granola bars to tide my hunger. There were long, long, upgrades which took lots of energy. However, there were also a few great downgrades as well. There was no place to fill up water and few houses. I powered through as fast as I could and finally found Salladasburg. I had a sticky bun and milk in the cafe and chatted with the waitress. Her accent was one of the most distinct I had heard yet. A thicker, sleepy, drawl with a touch of mollases with it. I filled up my water bottles and headed for the south again. I had to bike along the highway to get to Williamsport. It's a bigger town with amenities so that's nice. I still need to make 40 km in the 80 degree heat to make Lewisburg tonight. The computer wants to take me down the highway but I find its just not enjoyable. I will find a side route to make the trek. Beth C. awaits in Lewisburg!
One Less Thing and Porn Alley July 10/11
I have paid a large tribute to the road gods. The day started well and I made it to Williamsport where I took a rest from the 94 degree heat. I locked up my bike and remember this because I had a lock. I stopped at a gas station before pointing my bike in the direction of Lewisburg. I took lots of water breaks as I drove down the highway. It wasn't the best but I had a big shoulder and there were lots of downhill stretches. I took a slurpee break at the Sunoco and enjoyed the air conditioning immensely. I only had a little stretch to get to Lewisburg host Beth. I took a secondary road and pulled off to call my mom at a rest area located next to a huge river. It was an idealic spot. I filled mom in on my whereabouts and then proceeded to leave. It was then that I noticed my left panier was missing. I panicked for a minute before I started backtracking. There wasn't a tonne of really important stuff in it. I still wanted to find it but it wouldn't stop the trip. I went back to the Sunoco but could not find it. I met Beth after getting to her place in the early evening. She is a professor of Biology and she prepared a wonderful meal of Salmon and salad. We talked warm showers and her one bad experience with a gentlemen who proselytized add infinitum before deciding to stay somewhere else. We talked divorce/separation and the changes of life associated with it. She also talked about driving me back to find my backpack and contacting the police in the morning. She was meeting students to go see "Ant Man and The Wasp" at the theatre. I decided to join them and we picked up Greg who was the Ant guy. They talked shop and I was fascinated by their passion for insects and their jobs. Their undergrad students joined us and we enjoyed the movie. I liked it and it was fun watching the react to the inaccuracy of the insect portrayals. We went back to her house and I enjoyed a great sleep on a huge balcony room. Elwood the foster cat didn't care to join me. Beth said he was multidigited or polydactyl. Conversing with her added to my vocabulary. In the morning, we went back in her car to see if we could spot it but no luck! She swung around a few times and we checked out the police station just in case. There is information in the panier if someone finds it. I'm curious to see if it will make its way back to me. I was a little downheartened since most of my toiletries were in there as well as a really cool Ariel towel, my Nukko Lake Elementary hoodie, my banjo strap, and a spare set of biking shorts. Nothing that can't be replaced but a small hassle. I got changed and headed for Harrisburg but had a really hard time getting there. The high way is accessible sometimes but other times they make cyclists leave. There doesn't seem to be a direct route to Harrisburg. I found a country road that mirrored the river and stopped at a corner store. The lady clerk couldn't understand why I would bike and told me about her nightly groundhog hunting sessions with the whole family. She also advised me to stay out of Harrisburg after dark. She wasn't rascist but said there were definitely parts not to be after dark. I think the cities aren't very pleasant generally as they are hard to move around in. I am probably going to stay in Newport tonight as I am a little tired. I will pass through in the early morning and see if I can get out by noon. I'm coming up on Gettysburg soon.
Why Porn Alley in the title? Beth warned me about coming down #15 and seeing all these adult shops. I took side roads but still caught glimpses of them. They are strange, windowless buildings where all parking is in the back. They are usually isolated and in the middle of forest groves. Apparently, it is a big trucking route.
Why Porn Alley in the title? Beth warned me about coming down #15 and seeing all these adult shops. I took side roads but still caught glimpses of them. They are strange, windowless buildings where all parking is in the back. They are usually isolated and in the middle of forest groves. Apparently, it is a big trucking route.
Back in the Saddle Again-July 12th
Newport had a strange feel to it and I didn't really want to stay there in the park and I didn't really feel like biking any further after getting held up by the river. I talked to the Librarian and she pointed me to an old forest road. I loaded up on groceries and headed onto a gravelly road that eventually past a brewery. A man was spraying chemicals on his lawn. I asked him if I could camp behind his trailor and he told me that he'd prefer I didn't because he runs the brewery. I then asked him about all the POSTED signs I see for trespassing. I asked how serious they were and he said, "Oh they're serious all right. Folks around here are crazy!" I thanked him and kept cycling on. There was all farm land with the POSTED signs and little in the way of public land. I turned the corner and came upon a large church. I figured this could be my chance as there was a large amount of property including a picnic table with an awning. I waited around until the service was over and then went into to talk to the pastor but was given a "Hey Buddy" by a older gentleman in a lime green shirt. I asked if he was the pastor and he was. He asked me where I was from and I told him what I wanted. He told me that would be fine. I found out he was from Virginia and that he'd done some preaching up in Waterloo so I dropped Uncle Ken's name. He gave me the run down on the roads and told me there was a bruin who was pooping in his parking lot as well as a momma cinnamon bear with two cubs. I hid my food up in the rafters for safety. The wind was blowing hard into the late evening but then suddenly stopped. I could hear the distant trucks on the #322 but the trains coming through every couple of hours were considerably louder. The sun was shining brightly this morning when I woke up and I discovered a shower behind the church! Great excitement but the hot water sprung out the pipe midway and no water made it to the head. Pea poor. Still a pleasant morning on biking past dilapidated houses with cars/trucks parked in the yard. People who live here want to be isolated. The road down #34 was much nicer and I replenished a lock and cycling shorts at the store in town. I also invested in a seat cover which feels wonderful! I am seeing the first historical plaques talking about the furthest marks of confederate troops reaching a Blue Mountain pass. Onto Gettysburg this afternoon I think.
July 13-Gettysburg, PA
I've been fighting with my Iphone of late. It sent me on highways I had no business being on and was not cooperating in finding biking routes that I had in mind. As if to make up for this, I was provided with one of the nicest days of biking I've experiences while coming into Gettysburg. It took me down flat, shaded, quiet, 2 lane country roads bordered by small, Rockwell-like farms. It was so relaxing being on the old rail trails too. I can't go as fast but they are quiet and shaded. Did I mention shaded? I saw one farmhouse that had the windows of both floors hanging with stringed instruments. I stopped to say hello but no one answered the door.
I pressed onto York Springs and was craving cool liquids. I went the entire town with nothing resembling a store except the "Mexican Store". I doubled back when it was apparent nothing else was in the area. I walked in and it was Mexico. Everything came from Mexico and the radio was blaring a Mexican radio station. I choose some homemade Geloatos, pepsi in a glass bottle, and a powered sugar roll of some sort. I attempted small talk with the owner but I' m not sure he spoke English. I ate my purchase in the store and rode the last 25 km to Gettyburg. I was disappointed to find out that my messages to my host weren't getting through and she was not expecting me and couldn't host that night! I started sending out missives to couchsurfers in the area but didn't have any luck I came into Gettysburg and my eyes saw a sign in front of a winery bistro that said, "Bikers welcome. Open Mike tonight-free drink to performers". I made some inquiries, specifically if as a cyclist I was a "biker" and came back at 7. Apparently, there is a Harley Davidson convention in town this week and the streets are filled with noisy motorcycles. The purpose of the event seems to be to make noise with your chopper. No one here that I've talked to seems to like it.
I found a YWCA and met a delightful young lady at the front desk who was happy to sell me a shower for $3. She was filled with questions about my trip and was truly amazed that someone would do this. Quite the change from the lady a few days back who worked at the corner store outside Newport. I was also pleased to see there was a Bluegrass jam the following night at the Y. My plans were shaping up! The shower was heavenly and I felt like a human being again.
I came back to the Hauser Winery and had a Devil's Den rose. The host band was there with a guitar and a bass. I asked the guy if I could use his guitar to play but he was reluctant and suggested I talk to other performers. They did a few 60's covers and the bass player was adept and quite busy on his bass. There was no one in the place except me and the hostess so I figured I better get my songs out of the way. I used the banjo and it was so brutally badly tuned but I was able to do "Not Your Anything Anymore" and "Lazy John". They seemed to like it. Less successful was "Time with You" which I usually play way higher. I croaked out a low version of it. I met a couple called, "Russian Collusion". Natasha and Jason were kind and interested in my trip. They were getting ready for their first paid gig by doing open mikes. Their Stevie Nicks covers were great. Jason was kind enough to allow me to use his guitar and I did 2 John K.Samson tunes as well as my own "Bring it on Back". Doug Borden is famous throughout the lower PA now! https://soundcloud.com/datticus
When the bar closed out, I pushed my bike out into the darkness and found a little nook behind one of the buildings on the Lutheran Seminary. I'm sure they didn't mind. I'd like to murder each person on a Harley in this though. Perhaps that's too strong...maybe just wish them to be covered in red army ants. It's an infernal racket. I slept without incident and took a little mini-tour around Seminary ridge as so much action happened there on the first day of the 3 day battle.
I had a leisurely breakfast outside Kennie's groceries and got my bike looked after. I was having issues with the gear changes and wanted to replace my panier. No luck there and I am not able to wait 4 days for it to arrive on Tuesday. I borrowed a bike from them and explored the visitor centre. I had a good time looking at all the exhibits inside and took a pass on the outside tours, wanting to save it for tomorrow. Surprisingly, the Battlefield Park is not bike friendly. You can hike down a trail or take a horse but they don't want cyclists doing that. We have to use the road and compete with the cars. I'll save you the play by play but there are so many plaques around here to read that I am in heaven. I love reading and learning about it all! I came back to the Y and Allison (the friendly Y lady) was nice enough to hold onto my banjo for later). I went to meet Dafna, a pleasant road cyclist who has an immaculate house. I would do well to take a lesson from her. She provided me with a shower and several cool glasses of water. After the shower, we headed to the backyard and talked birds. There is a grey bird with a black tuft on its head called, "Cat bird". It sounds like a cat! She also identified another called a Mocking Jay. It wasn't too long before I headed back to the Y to play in the jam.
To say that I got a few stares as I came in would be an understatement! My banjo case consists of two white plastic bags held in place by bungee chords. I heard a few comments as I came in. I approached on the gentlemen who introduced me to Ed, the organizer of the jam. His wife Irene came over and introduced herself too. It was more a concert type set up than a true jam circle. My banjo is so bad that I could not tune it to G and so could not play. I choose a spot and listened before Ed graciously offered me his banjo. I played ":azy John" which is so confusing to people here too but they seemed to like it. I then did "The Rocket" which is a nice, easy one to play along to. The banjo was sweet. Someone shouted from the audience when I was done. "Someone's been holding out on us!'. I played a few more with the group in general before heading back home to Dafna. Ed told me his banjo was worth $30, 000. Very generous of him to let me play it. It sure was nice! The sleep that night was great! I got to enjoy the cool of the basement. A great day!
I pressed onto York Springs and was craving cool liquids. I went the entire town with nothing resembling a store except the "Mexican Store". I doubled back when it was apparent nothing else was in the area. I walked in and it was Mexico. Everything came from Mexico and the radio was blaring a Mexican radio station. I choose some homemade Geloatos, pepsi in a glass bottle, and a powered sugar roll of some sort. I attempted small talk with the owner but I' m not sure he spoke English. I ate my purchase in the store and rode the last 25 km to Gettyburg. I was disappointed to find out that my messages to my host weren't getting through and she was not expecting me and couldn't host that night! I started sending out missives to couchsurfers in the area but didn't have any luck I came into Gettysburg and my eyes saw a sign in front of a winery bistro that said, "Bikers welcome. Open Mike tonight-free drink to performers". I made some inquiries, specifically if as a cyclist I was a "biker" and came back at 7. Apparently, there is a Harley Davidson convention in town this week and the streets are filled with noisy motorcycles. The purpose of the event seems to be to make noise with your chopper. No one here that I've talked to seems to like it.
I found a YWCA and met a delightful young lady at the front desk who was happy to sell me a shower for $3. She was filled with questions about my trip and was truly amazed that someone would do this. Quite the change from the lady a few days back who worked at the corner store outside Newport. I was also pleased to see there was a Bluegrass jam the following night at the Y. My plans were shaping up! The shower was heavenly and I felt like a human being again.
I came back to the Hauser Winery and had a Devil's Den rose. The host band was there with a guitar and a bass. I asked the guy if I could use his guitar to play but he was reluctant and suggested I talk to other performers. They did a few 60's covers and the bass player was adept and quite busy on his bass. There was no one in the place except me and the hostess so I figured I better get my songs out of the way. I used the banjo and it was so brutally badly tuned but I was able to do "Not Your Anything Anymore" and "Lazy John". They seemed to like it. Less successful was "Time with You" which I usually play way higher. I croaked out a low version of it. I met a couple called, "Russian Collusion". Natasha and Jason were kind and interested in my trip. They were getting ready for their first paid gig by doing open mikes. Their Stevie Nicks covers were great. Jason was kind enough to allow me to use his guitar and I did 2 John K.Samson tunes as well as my own "Bring it on Back". Doug Borden is famous throughout the lower PA now! https://soundcloud.com/datticus
When the bar closed out, I pushed my bike out into the darkness and found a little nook behind one of the buildings on the Lutheran Seminary. I'm sure they didn't mind. I'd like to murder each person on a Harley in this though. Perhaps that's too strong...maybe just wish them to be covered in red army ants. It's an infernal racket. I slept without incident and took a little mini-tour around Seminary ridge as so much action happened there on the first day of the 3 day battle.
I had a leisurely breakfast outside Kennie's groceries and got my bike looked after. I was having issues with the gear changes and wanted to replace my panier. No luck there and I am not able to wait 4 days for it to arrive on Tuesday. I borrowed a bike from them and explored the visitor centre. I had a good time looking at all the exhibits inside and took a pass on the outside tours, wanting to save it for tomorrow. Surprisingly, the Battlefield Park is not bike friendly. You can hike down a trail or take a horse but they don't want cyclists doing that. We have to use the road and compete with the cars. I'll save you the play by play but there are so many plaques around here to read that I am in heaven. I love reading and learning about it all! I came back to the Y and Allison (the friendly Y lady) was nice enough to hold onto my banjo for later). I went to meet Dafna, a pleasant road cyclist who has an immaculate house. I would do well to take a lesson from her. She provided me with a shower and several cool glasses of water. After the shower, we headed to the backyard and talked birds. There is a grey bird with a black tuft on its head called, "Cat bird". It sounds like a cat! She also identified another called a Mocking Jay. It wasn't too long before I headed back to the Y to play in the jam.
To say that I got a few stares as I came in would be an understatement! My banjo case consists of two white plastic bags held in place by bungee chords. I heard a few comments as I came in. I approached on the gentlemen who introduced me to Ed, the organizer of the jam. His wife Irene came over and introduced herself too. It was more a concert type set up than a true jam circle. My banjo is so bad that I could not tune it to G and so could not play. I choose a spot and listened before Ed graciously offered me his banjo. I played ":azy John" which is so confusing to people here too but they seemed to like it. I then did "The Rocket" which is a nice, easy one to play along to. The banjo was sweet. Someone shouted from the audience when I was done. "Someone's been holding out on us!'. I played a few more with the group in general before heading back home to Dafna. Ed told me his banjo was worth $30, 000. Very generous of him to let me play it. It sure was nice! The sleep that night was great! I got to enjoy the cool of the basement. A great day!
July 14th- Nerding Out on the Civil War!
I woke up refreshed and did the self-guided tour around Gettysburg starting at 6:30. The air was cool and the sun was low in the sky. There was little traffic and I had a leisurely tour around the park. The park is filled with monuments, Park's plaques, and statues. To read them all is impossible and some of them are quite dry. Each unit has some sort of marker to designate where they were. I settled on the free standing signs with colour pictures and quick descriptions. Gettysburg is a place both beautiful and sad at the same time. Like any historical research, you can get numbed by the numbers but it really is good to imagine the sheer humanity and brutality that took place here over several days. By noon, I was getting a little tired from the riding and walking but was pleased to stumble over a re-enactment camp of the 10th Virginian Infantry. I talked with a newer guy for a few minutes before there was an official presentation. They marched out, talked about the unit and then fired their weapons. It was impressively loud. I wanted to talk to the commander about what he meant by his "agreeing philosophically" with the historical unit. Did he really mean that the Civil War was just? Did he really condem slavery? I'd like to think not. I decided not to ask him to get more specific. I was so tired that I decided to give the Picket's Charge Area a rest until tomorrow. Pickett's Charge was the infamous charge over a mile of flat ground in the hot sun while the Confederate Troops were being shelled and shot. Not surprisingly, the attack failed. I celebrated my tour of the site with a drink and a pint of Mint Ice Cream and ate them unashamedly at the front entrance to the store. I find I am unconcerned about how I look and act now. I must resemble a bit of a homeless person with my plastic bag wallet carrying case courtesy of a student named Hailey. The bikes continue to fly up and down the road and people say to me, "Bike Week huh?" as if it is similar to a locust invasion which cannot be helped. I retired to the coolness of the library where I updated this blog and stumped the library staff for the exact word to describe the picture boards which are the most accessible and interesting to read. They went at it for a good 5 minutes! No big plans for tonight except to hang out at Dafna's. She's preparing a dinner and I'm responsible for Sauerkraut! A tiring but enjoyable day so far. I'm grateful for the 2nd consecutive night in a bed. May attempt to head out for Sharpsburg tomorrow to check out the Battle of Antieham.
July 14/15-Three States in a Day and One Prison!
There is nothing like showering outdoors! I arrived at the lovely house of Scott and Jennifer in West Virginia and they weren't home but they had prepared their airstream for me and the outdoor shower was good to go. In the morning, I checked out the last few spots of Gettysburg before heading down #15 to Sharpsburg. I felt better than I did before but still not a 100%. I grabbed a quick breakfast at Kennie's Market. Miranda the cashier remembered me from the last two visits and wished me a good trip. It was muggy outside but a calm Sunday. The remenants of the bikers would pass me by every once in a while but it was a good ride. I hit Maryland which was fun and immediately thought of the movie, "Wedding Crashers" and the guy who says, "Crab cakes and football. That's what Maryland does best". I was sleeping in Sheperdstown but heading to Sharpsburg to check out the Antietam Battlefield. My google app has been kinder to me lately but it took me past this mammoth industrial complex that I quickly figured out was a prison. The app was taking me nearer and nearer it. I was almost riding along the fence when I saw it wanted me to enter a sports field that had a path. I decided I didn't feel like getting arrested so I went up to the guard tower and shouted up, "Hello?". No response. A gentlemen coming on shift approached me from the parking lot and soon helped me on my way. I made it to the Antietam visitor centre which was doubling as a cold storage locker. I swear I could see my breath in there. I watched the movie and checked out the museum and was going to do the bike tour part the next day. I was starting to feel ill. I've been careful not to overexert myself and drink lots of water but the yucky feeling I had the previous morning was returning. I only had 11 km to Sheperdstown but I was feeling worse and worse. At 2.8 km's out from Scott's, I took refuge in a Sheetz, a convenience store chain. I rested there a minute or two and then attempted to bike some more. Another kilometer in and I saw a McDonalds so I decided to stop there and just rest. The cold drink and the air conditioning seemed to do me good. I waited there an hour and did the last kilometer to Scotts. I found the place and had my shower but was definitely feeling worse. I lay down and rested as best I could. My legs were sore and I was feeling feverish. I talked briefly to Scott before going to bed. I tossed and turned in a feverish, achy sleep but did feel better in the morning. Scott and I talked about cycling, the sketchiness of some couchsurfing folks, and teaching. He and Jennifer, have a old weiner dog named Cricket. They've set up a I foot fence across the border of their garage to stop her from getting out. She's too fat to climb over it!
Scott was nice enough to dig up an old panier he had downstairs and it was small but it would do the trick. It will be nice to carry a few extra bonus items. Sheperdstown is a quaint university town with a good vibe. I went to the Lost Dog Café and tried to order a drink from the encyclopedic menu. To make matters worse, my server spoke in a whisper that was barely audible above the music and seemed to use minimum phrasing. I finally asked him to give me a cool drink that was representative of the area-A Vanilla Wet Dog it was. Two shots of expresso and a series of vanilla shots topped with an orange slice. Not my usual drink of choice but it was cool. The librarian at the Sheperdstown library was kind and helpful and let me go way past the 30 minute computer time limit. Another one of the ladies does Notary work as a volunteer service. It's a small but popular library. The librarian even gifted me a free postcard!! I'm just going to rest for today and then check out Antietam tomorrow. I busted my banjo string trying to tune at the jam so a music store would be a good find too.
I don't know if it was because I was hallucinating or what but I didn't actually see a "Welcome to West Virginia" sign when I came in yesterday. I was disappointed because I always like to stop and take a picture of them.
Scott was nice enough to dig up an old panier he had downstairs and it was small but it would do the trick. It will be nice to carry a few extra bonus items. Sheperdstown is a quaint university town with a good vibe. I went to the Lost Dog Café and tried to order a drink from the encyclopedic menu. To make matters worse, my server spoke in a whisper that was barely audible above the music and seemed to use minimum phrasing. I finally asked him to give me a cool drink that was representative of the area-A Vanilla Wet Dog it was. Two shots of expresso and a series of vanilla shots topped with an orange slice. Not my usual drink of choice but it was cool. The librarian at the Sheperdstown library was kind and helpful and let me go way past the 30 minute computer time limit. Another one of the ladies does Notary work as a volunteer service. It's a small but popular library. The librarian even gifted me a free postcard!! I'm just going to rest for today and then check out Antietam tomorrow. I busted my banjo string trying to tune at the jam so a music store would be a good find too.
I don't know if it was because I was hallucinating or what but I didn't actually see a "Welcome to West Virginia" sign when I came in yesterday. I was disappointed because I always like to stop and take a picture of them.
July 16-18 Old Man River
I've jumped back and forth between Maryland and West Virginia so much that I'm beginning to feel like I'm in General Lee's army! It was hard to say goodbye to Scott and the airstream trailer. There's something about your own space (however temporary), that you get attached to. Scott and I watched the news and I got a look at how President Trump performed in Helsinki. We cleansed our palette with a little bit of the tour de France. Scott and his wife went over to Europe and watched and cycled parts of the tour. I couldn't help but notice that none of the riders carried banjos on the back of their bikes. I liked the idea of a support team though. Maybe set up a misting area and an ice cream at 15 miles intervals? I said my goodbyes and thanked Scott graciously for the space and the gift of the pannier. It's small but just what I need.
I set out early for Antietam, stopping at a grocery store near the site. A few people came up, all with thick accents, and asked about my travels in a friendly way. People here are forward and friendly. I wonder how reserved I come across? I did the auto-tour backwards and saw some of the "famous" sites of the battlefield. The site is special because photographers got to come in and photograph the aftermath of the battle. It's strange to see this beautiful countryside in that dark time. I took in the ranger talk and won a set of civil war trading cards for being the farthest travelled person. It was an interesting talk.
When I came out, there had been a rainstorm and it was actually cool. I rode back to town and stopped at a café to recharge my phone. I find my phone is draining quickly which is tricky since I use it as a map. It was also an excuse to have a apricot-pecan twisty pastry. I've forgotten the name now. Around one, I decided it was time to move and headed off to Harper's Ferry.
What made the trip special here was that I got to take the old Chesapeake and Ohio Canal route along the Potomac. It is a gravel trail free of car traffic and delightful because all you do is point your bike and not worry about navigating! It's a nice casual pace under a shady canopy. In this case, the canopy kept some of the rain off me. I passed two fellow traveler cyclists going the opposite way. A mile later, I passed a clump in the road. I kept going for about a minute but then turned around because having lost my pannier, I'm reluctant to let anyone else's stuff just sit. To my delight, I found they were Australian snap pea crisps (English for chips) that had been kept together with clips. I ate them greedily. I was hungry and figured that anyone who cared for their crisps like that, can't be all that unclean. Besides, snap pea crisps! Not my proudest moment but they were good.
To my surprise, I made it to Harper's Ferry quickly. The most remarkable things are the bridges for rail traffic going into the town. No bridges for cars. I took a look up and discovered a pedestrian walkway but would have to life my bike up the stairs. Nice planning! They had made the stairs low as to facilitate lifting but it was still tricky. With a heavily loaded bike, it was an effort. Once on the bridge, you can see the linking of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. It reminds me of the Nechako and Fraser linking up. It's a national park and has many old buildings made into museums. John Brown tried to start a slave uprising here in 1859. It didn't go well for him. I suppose that he's viewed on the right side of history today but was considered a terrorist back then. I watched a video about the town and was sad to hear of a flood in 1889 that wiped the town out. Another five years later, they got hit again. This continued for about 25 minutes. How many floods do you need to have before you stop building by the river? Highlights of the day included by Hersey's ice cream cone and meeting Crystal of the Ladyshop. I bought some postcards from her but we had a good conversation about the area. Because of the lack of roads, I sort of feel trapped here. She talked about having to drive far to find entertainment. There's not so much around here. There are people walking the Appalachian Trail though. They're everywhere. They carry all their stuff so I respect that. At the Appalachian Trail Centre, I tried to ask about informal camping, meaning camping in parks and schools and other green arrears but she said firmly that because it was a historic area, there was no camping allowed. I sensed that I wasn't going to get far with this line so I quickly changed topics and asked her where I could bike since Harper's Ferry was the last official stop on my tour that I had planned. She got out a map of the canal bike trails and started to show me the nearest camping spot. I listened politely but had no intention of paying $35 for a patch of grass! There is free camping on the trials I'm told. That sounds promising! I scouted around for spots to sleep and the most promising place was the Episcolpe Church that had left out a cooler for trail hikers and welcomed all visitors. I toured the town street but there wasn't much in the way of stores other than the 7-11. I checked out the public library and the Middle School too but found them way too open for camping. As it darkened, I headed back to the church. The sounds of thunder started to be heard. I moved as quick as I could behind the church but as I started unpacking, the rain began to fall. I managed to get the tent up but I was in a full downpour. I saved my sleeping bag and cloths and kept them dry. The bottom of the tent was actually collecting water but I had a small, dry space available. The rain let up a bit and I read until I slept. It wasn't the best sleep but I was mostly dry and warm. The good thing about being down here is that you are never cold. The evening night was filled by loud chiccadas. In the mornings, it's a chorus of birds. many of them I don't recognize so it's novel. I packed up quickly even with everything being soaked and rode to the 7-11 to grab breakfast. Chocolate milk has been such a dear companion to me! I laid my wet stuff out in the library parking lot for it to dry and then slept on the bench nearby. The benches here are all curved inward so it creates a beautiful sleeping chamber. And this one was full length so it was easy to stretch out too! Quality benches here! The librarians treat me nicely enough but I wonder what they must think of me when I come in and ask to use their computers and restrooms! My next dilemma is to figure out where I'm going! The canal seems nice but I don't exactly want to head straight into DC. For now, canal travel seems easy. Camping, quiet, and calm.
I set out early for Antietam, stopping at a grocery store near the site. A few people came up, all with thick accents, and asked about my travels in a friendly way. People here are forward and friendly. I wonder how reserved I come across? I did the auto-tour backwards and saw some of the "famous" sites of the battlefield. The site is special because photographers got to come in and photograph the aftermath of the battle. It's strange to see this beautiful countryside in that dark time. I took in the ranger talk and won a set of civil war trading cards for being the farthest travelled person. It was an interesting talk.
When I came out, there had been a rainstorm and it was actually cool. I rode back to town and stopped at a café to recharge my phone. I find my phone is draining quickly which is tricky since I use it as a map. It was also an excuse to have a apricot-pecan twisty pastry. I've forgotten the name now. Around one, I decided it was time to move and headed off to Harper's Ferry.
What made the trip special here was that I got to take the old Chesapeake and Ohio Canal route along the Potomac. It is a gravel trail free of car traffic and delightful because all you do is point your bike and not worry about navigating! It's a nice casual pace under a shady canopy. In this case, the canopy kept some of the rain off me. I passed two fellow traveler cyclists going the opposite way. A mile later, I passed a clump in the road. I kept going for about a minute but then turned around because having lost my pannier, I'm reluctant to let anyone else's stuff just sit. To my delight, I found they were Australian snap pea crisps (English for chips) that had been kept together with clips. I ate them greedily. I was hungry and figured that anyone who cared for their crisps like that, can't be all that unclean. Besides, snap pea crisps! Not my proudest moment but they were good.
To my surprise, I made it to Harper's Ferry quickly. The most remarkable things are the bridges for rail traffic going into the town. No bridges for cars. I took a look up and discovered a pedestrian walkway but would have to life my bike up the stairs. Nice planning! They had made the stairs low as to facilitate lifting but it was still tricky. With a heavily loaded bike, it was an effort. Once on the bridge, you can see the linking of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. It reminds me of the Nechako and Fraser linking up. It's a national park and has many old buildings made into museums. John Brown tried to start a slave uprising here in 1859. It didn't go well for him. I suppose that he's viewed on the right side of history today but was considered a terrorist back then. I watched a video about the town and was sad to hear of a flood in 1889 that wiped the town out. Another five years later, they got hit again. This continued for about 25 minutes. How many floods do you need to have before you stop building by the river? Highlights of the day included by Hersey's ice cream cone and meeting Crystal of the Ladyshop. I bought some postcards from her but we had a good conversation about the area. Because of the lack of roads, I sort of feel trapped here. She talked about having to drive far to find entertainment. There's not so much around here. There are people walking the Appalachian Trail though. They're everywhere. They carry all their stuff so I respect that. At the Appalachian Trail Centre, I tried to ask about informal camping, meaning camping in parks and schools and other green arrears but she said firmly that because it was a historic area, there was no camping allowed. I sensed that I wasn't going to get far with this line so I quickly changed topics and asked her where I could bike since Harper's Ferry was the last official stop on my tour that I had planned. She got out a map of the canal bike trails and started to show me the nearest camping spot. I listened politely but had no intention of paying $35 for a patch of grass! There is free camping on the trials I'm told. That sounds promising! I scouted around for spots to sleep and the most promising place was the Episcolpe Church that had left out a cooler for trail hikers and welcomed all visitors. I toured the town street but there wasn't much in the way of stores other than the 7-11. I checked out the public library and the Middle School too but found them way too open for camping. As it darkened, I headed back to the church. The sounds of thunder started to be heard. I moved as quick as I could behind the church but as I started unpacking, the rain began to fall. I managed to get the tent up but I was in a full downpour. I saved my sleeping bag and cloths and kept them dry. The bottom of the tent was actually collecting water but I had a small, dry space available. The rain let up a bit and I read until I slept. It wasn't the best sleep but I was mostly dry and warm. The good thing about being down here is that you are never cold. The evening night was filled by loud chiccadas. In the mornings, it's a chorus of birds. many of them I don't recognize so it's novel. I packed up quickly even with everything being soaked and rode to the 7-11 to grab breakfast. Chocolate milk has been such a dear companion to me! I laid my wet stuff out in the library parking lot for it to dry and then slept on the bench nearby. The benches here are all curved inward so it creates a beautiful sleeping chamber. And this one was full length so it was easy to stretch out too! Quality benches here! The librarians treat me nicely enough but I wonder what they must think of me when I come in and ask to use their computers and restrooms! My next dilemma is to figure out where I'm going! The canal seems nice but I don't exactly want to head straight into DC. For now, canal travel seems easy. Camping, quiet, and calm.
July18/19- Cycling the Cheaspeake and Ohio Canal
By leaving Harper's Ferry, I had once again crossed into Maryland. I followed beautiful, shaded canal paths down to Brunswick and even found a horse on the trail. At Brunswick, I found some groceries and talked with my mom. Fed and rested, I set back out on the trail and came across a "Trail closed-Bridge Washed Out" sign. I typically ignore signs like these as it involves backtracking. I went on without problem until I saw that the bridge had indeed collapsed. To my right, I heard barking and saw a lady carrying her bike through the stream as well as two black labs and their owner standing on the bank. I followed the side trail down and found a collection of mud and rocks that looked like it could be passable. My feet sunk in the mud and water but I was able to bounce the bike along the rocks until I made it to the other side. It felt good!
I rolled on down the trail, passing the occasional cyclist until I came to the Calico Rocks Campsite, a piece of grass carved into the forest. It had well water and washrooms so I was happy. I set up near the picnic table and thought I was going to be on my own for the night until a camp group of trail walkers came along. I moved my bike and the leaders came over and introduced themselves and said they would be quite and respectful. It seemed like a good start. They cooked dinner and then had a little singing circle around their fire. I read and finished, "The Natural" but was disappointed because Roy Hobbs strikes out and finishes his baseball career. Different from the movie. The train horns were loud every now and then but the real noise was the ciccadas! I should learn to spell that word sometime. The late night gets filled with fireflies. They are all over the place. As dawn breaks, the birds start up again.
When the sun broke, I woke up and quickly gathered my stuff and was careful not to wake the other forms sleeping under lean-tos! How brave. I'd be scared of mosquitoes and ticks. Just as I was moving out, a morning train came by and blasted its horn. So much for being quiet. I rode along the trail and scared a tonne of deer and heron that were getting their breakfast going. I rode for about two hours before pulling off the trail at White's Ferry. I was checking for a way into Leesburg and was pleased to discover the only was across was by ferry. I caught the ferry for $2 and made my way into Leesburg. It was a nice town but very narrow lanes and I felt like I was holding up traffic. I found of all stores, a Safeway, something that is usually only in BC I thought. They didn't have 1 quart chocolate milk so I went with regular milk. How adult! I tried twice to find a music store but had no luck. I was going to give up but decided that it was close and I was just getting frustrated from the heat and traffic. I stopped in at the King's St. Coffee shop which appeared to be quite trendy. I got to talking with the lady at the counter and she helped me figure out the location of the music store. She gave me a safe route because there are so many highways around here that head out to the big shopping marts that seem separate from the residential part of towns. I don't like this layout to a city. I managed to find the music store and got their last set of banjo strings. They were even on clearance! I strummed some guitars but they were out of tune and the price tickets got in the way of the strings. I made it back to town and decided to head back to the Maryland side to work on the Canal trail. I tried to get a shower at the Pool but they would only let me purchase a pass for $7.50. A little rich for my blood right now. The library is really fancy too. When I went up to the counter, I said hi but the clerk didn't say hi back. I wonder if the plastic bag I'm carrying around puts people off. There is another camp site further down the canal but I don't know where. I'll figure something out I'm sure. Still not certain I want to go into DC proper or just swing over a bridge somewhere and get to Manassas.
I rolled on down the trail, passing the occasional cyclist until I came to the Calico Rocks Campsite, a piece of grass carved into the forest. It had well water and washrooms so I was happy. I set up near the picnic table and thought I was going to be on my own for the night until a camp group of trail walkers came along. I moved my bike and the leaders came over and introduced themselves and said they would be quite and respectful. It seemed like a good start. They cooked dinner and then had a little singing circle around their fire. I read and finished, "The Natural" but was disappointed because Roy Hobbs strikes out and finishes his baseball career. Different from the movie. The train horns were loud every now and then but the real noise was the ciccadas! I should learn to spell that word sometime. The late night gets filled with fireflies. They are all over the place. As dawn breaks, the birds start up again.
When the sun broke, I woke up and quickly gathered my stuff and was careful not to wake the other forms sleeping under lean-tos! How brave. I'd be scared of mosquitoes and ticks. Just as I was moving out, a morning train came by and blasted its horn. So much for being quiet. I rode along the trail and scared a tonne of deer and heron that were getting their breakfast going. I rode for about two hours before pulling off the trail at White's Ferry. I was checking for a way into Leesburg and was pleased to discover the only was across was by ferry. I caught the ferry for $2 and made my way into Leesburg. It was a nice town but very narrow lanes and I felt like I was holding up traffic. I found of all stores, a Safeway, something that is usually only in BC I thought. They didn't have 1 quart chocolate milk so I went with regular milk. How adult! I tried twice to find a music store but had no luck. I was going to give up but decided that it was close and I was just getting frustrated from the heat and traffic. I stopped in at the King's St. Coffee shop which appeared to be quite trendy. I got to talking with the lady at the counter and she helped me figure out the location of the music store. She gave me a safe route because there are so many highways around here that head out to the big shopping marts that seem separate from the residential part of towns. I don't like this layout to a city. I managed to find the music store and got their last set of banjo strings. They were even on clearance! I strummed some guitars but they were out of tune and the price tickets got in the way of the strings. I made it back to town and decided to head back to the Maryland side to work on the Canal trail. I tried to get a shower at the Pool but they would only let me purchase a pass for $7.50. A little rich for my blood right now. The library is really fancy too. When I went up to the counter, I said hi but the clerk didn't say hi back. I wonder if the plastic bag I'm carrying around puts people off. There is another camp site further down the canal but I don't know where. I'll figure something out I'm sure. Still not certain I want to go into DC proper or just swing over a bridge somewhere and get to Manassas.