6/28-6/29 Jill's Bike log

6/28-Mon-Destination; Cortland, OH. (Biked 65 miles; total 758). Being from the Netherlands I think influenced Jan being a “utilitarian” biker, as he termed it. It sounds as though he more frequently uses his bike than car for transportation around the city. He routed us 8 miles through the city to get onto our designated highway. Thanks goodness Trevor memorized all of the right and left turns so we didn’t have to keep looking at the directions. It was satisfying to bike from start to end today without having to be sagged by the van. Our original plans had us going to a destination only 30 miles from Canton, but we increased it to 65 miles so we’d be in closer proximity to Allegheny College where Bryce will have a tour and interview on Tuesday. We took pictures of us and Eileen, Jan and their dog Mattie in front of their house before taking off at 9:00 am.

Mallory rode 35 miles today non-stop to our lunch stop. The weather was very temperate, probably in the 80s which really facilitated biking. There were gently rolling hills with farms. I don’t know if the hills had a lower percent grade or I’m gradually getting in better shape, because I noticed I didn’t have to gear down as much as in the past. Overall the highways today were okay for biking except for a few really busy stretches and a few parts that had a lot of pot holes. When planning the trip, we were worried there’d be a lot of congestion because of industrial cities in the region. We beat Karen to our lunch destination at a state park because she got really lost trying to locate a grocery store.


I arrived at Mosquito Lake State Park to a bagpipe serenade. A camper down the street from us was walking up and down the road playing his bagpipe. He was quite good. (Later we heard someone playing a flute in the distance). About half an hour after I arrived, we had a downpour. Everyone had pretty much set up camp by the time I arrived. All day we had threatening rain clouds. The night before in Canton, it had rained during the night. The storm only lasted about 20 minutes and then cleared off. We headed over to the beach area for a swim. The water was brown with a lot of algae, but never the less refreshing. This whole area seems to be swampy…excellent breeding grounds for mosquitoes. It was appropriately named Mosquitoes Lake State Park. Tonight was a Cutter’s bug repellent night.

After swimming, we went to take showers, which also had a pay washer and drier. An Amish mother with her 5 daughters ranging in age from about 5 to middle school age were there doing their wash. They were wearing blue dresses with white kerchiefs on their heads. About half of the girls also donned roller blades. The youngest was wearing enormous roller blades. It was a National Geographic moment, but we felt it was voyeurism to take a picture.

Karen bought makings for tacos, which we engulfed. Every night it looks like we have way too much food, but between Trevor and Bryce, it always is demolished. I even managed to scarf 5 small tacos.

After supper Mallory rented from the office a 3-wheel recumbent like bike which didn’t have handlebars to steer. You had to steer by shifting your weight. I attempted to ride, but found trying to steer it challenging. Of course T, B, and M found it hilarious that I wasn’t particularly adept in driving it. Around 8:30, Karen and I drove to a Paneras about 10 minutes away to check on our email. We were kicked out at 9:30. I wasn’t finished, but I was really tired so I don’t know how much more I would have accomplished anyway.

For wildlife today, I saw a beaver along side of the road sitting in a pool of water surrounded by almost fluorescent green algae. I figured if I turned around to get a picture, he’d have ducked under the water. Saw deer, possum, and a raccoon family road-kill. Apparently Bryce and Trevor had a crane fly across the road in front of them, leaving an amazingly long trail of bird poop. In the evening before heading to bed there was eerie screeching in the trees. Karen and I saw a two foot tall owl sitting on a post across from our campsite with a white face. I’m not an expert on owls, but looked to me like a barn owl. The boys then located two more in the trees using their flashlights. They seemed to be calling back forth to each other.

6/29 Tue-Destination, Jamestown, PA. (Rest Day). We planned on biking the 28 miles, but we already had a late start trying to dry out the camping gear, and just as we were getting on our bikes, Bryce noticed that he had a flat tire. By the time we fixed his flat, we decided it would make him late for his interview at Allegheny College. We switched gears and loaded up the bikes and got in the van. After almost a month, we’re getting down a system for packing and loading the bikes onto the bike rack, which is puzzle work weaving the handlebars and rear carriers to make them fit on the cramped rack without scratching them. Tying on rags is an essential element for scratch prevention.

Bryce and Trevor are a formidable biking team. Despite a 10 year difference between Trevor and Bryce, and Mallory is 6 years younger than Bryce; I’m sure all three have forged a life-long relationship.

I am amazed how well everyone has gotten along and has gone with the flow….all part of the journey. Speaking of journey, yesterday when we were leaving Canton, Jan and Eileen wished Trevor luck finishing his teaching degree and Bryce with his choice and acceptance for college. Bryce made a comment that he had to decide what he wanted to pursue in college, and Eileen and Jan both chimed in that they each had experienced three completely different careers before they retired. Facsimiles of a saying I’ve repeatedly heard over the years is: it’s not about the destination, but the journey there; and if you’re moving forward, you’re on the right path. It really has resonated with me on this trip.

We spent all day at Allegheny College…home to the “Alligators.” Pennsylvania and alligators; somewhat of an oxymoron. During the tour, we found out that their mascot was originally the “Hellbender Salamanders.” With the Methodist Church roots, they apparently felt it wasn’t an appropriate name, so changed it to alligator which looks somewhat like a salamander. As the day progressed, Bryce became more impressed with the college. Definite downside is that Meade isn’t much of a college town, but he did seem to like the program and the involvement of the faculty with the students. We ate dinner with Brie, who’ll be a senior this year at Allegheny who is a friend of Karen’s son. She seems to be happy with her choice to go to Allegheny.

We went back to Pymatuning State Park. Our campsite bordered the lake, but we decided to forego swimming because it was too cold. Bryce fixed his flat tire…success after the second try. Hung out at the campsite. Today is has been the first cool day on the trip. I wore pants all day and back at the campsite wore my sweatshirt and hood up to stay warm. First night we’ve used our sleeping bags.