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Philadelphia, Jersey Shore, NYC, finish line

The trip is over. I rode a total of 4,765 miles this summer in a great zig-zagging arc across the United States.

There's more to say about Philadelphia and arriving at the shore (both of which were inspiring moments), but I'll say it all later. I'm in New York for a couple of days and I've shipped the bicycle back to California already. From here I'm headed to Boston by bus for two nights, and then to Champaign, IL by plane and will be there for about a week. Friends, I'll be back in California the weekend of the 20th; let's celebrate.

WV, MD, PA

Well, I limped out of West Virginia with a cracked rear rim (screaming down foggy, rainy, steep descents), and got a new wheel in Cumberland, MD in the midst what was one of the most intense weeks of climbing I've had all summer. The mountains out west are taller, but the climbs are nowhere near as steep as they are throughout the Appalachians. The C&O Towpath was too muddy to use, so I took the Old National Pike one of the first grand east-west highways in the nation, which is now mostly empty because of the interstate highway system (paralleling I-68 and I-70 through western Maryland). More huge climbs. I'm not the first cross-country cyclist to think this, I'm sure, but I underestimated West Virginia and western Maryland. Pennsylvania I'm sure will have lots of ups and downs between here and Philadelphia.

I rode through Hagerstown and onto Frederick, MD and had a great visit with my cousin Eric and his wife Alex. Yesterday afternoon, I rode into Pennsylvania to catch up with an old friend. Today, on through York and toward Lancaster mostly using one of Pennsylvania's signed cross-state bike routes about which I've read mixed reviews (route information link - I'll be on route S across the southern tier of the state).

I'm fast approaching the end of this long trip. I'll stay in Philadelphia through the weekend and then plan on riding through the pine barrens of New Jersey, up the Jersey shore, and then taking the 35 minute ferry from Atlantic Highlands (at the very northeast tip of the Jersey shore) to Manhattan. I'll likely ship the bike home from somewhere close to the ferry terminal to simplify things in New York City. A couple of days there and then I'm homeward-bound, either on planes or trains--I haven't decided yet. So far, I've ridden somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,500 miles.

Crazy ride down the mountain

The road was wet, the fog was thick, the coal trucks were in a hurry,
and the grade was steep; but I survived and now I'm having lunch at
the Chat 'n Chew on the Maryland side of US 220.

I'm 20-some miles out from Cumberland and a bike shop which can help
me diagnose and/or doctor up this back rim of mine. I'm also hoping
for the best.

What's wrong with this picture?

Yes, that's me putting my finger through a giant hole in the sidewall
of my rear tire. And, yes, I'm in the creepiest motel room in all of
West Virginia. $24.58 after tax.

I rode through a 10 mile sliver of Maryland this afternoon and the
difference between the two states based on road conditions and first
impressions is serious. Tomorrow, I'm gladly headed for Maryland again.

I've mounted my spare tire, but this drama may not be
over. ...grumble, grumble...beat-up rim from that rough trailriding a
few days ago...the rim may be a little...cracked...let's all hope for
the best at least until I can get somewhere with a bike shop...in
Maryland.

Now that's a switchback

The traffic on US 50 died down significantly a few miles east of
Fellowsville (the sign for which had been vandalized to read
"Cranksville") and then the real climbing began. So far, I've had two
mountains to get over, each of which having 9% climbs for 3 miles up.
It's beautiful up here.

From here I'm aiming toward Frederick, MD to visit some family before
heading into PA and Philadelphia.