The Allure of Nature and History

Miles – 55.0, Avg. speed – 13.6 mph

Left 07:15,  Arrived 2:00 pm at Lackawanna State Park in Dalton, PA.

Today we crossed from NY state into PA.  We noticed an immediate difference in road quality–from a biker’s perspective, anyway.  The shoulders were not as wide nor as well maintained nor as clear of debris.  I say taxes are good if they result in good roads and good shoulders!

This was our first cloudy day, and it was cool too.  Actually, the lack of sunlight was just fine.  I’ve had some sunburn to contend with.  The ride was a pleasure today, relatively quick and short, allowing for stops and conversation along the way.  I rode with Phil and Jan Quist and Claire Elgersma again, and we stopped twice, once for pie and coffee, and once for lunch.  At the end, though, there was a monster of a hill (16 degree incline, I was told) that really tested our mettle.  The rolling lakes and forests of this part of PA are very pretty.  But there’s history too in these old towns–some look a little dilapidated because many jobs in this area have been shipped overseas: a reminder that poverty in our own countries is very real too.  The railway bridge of the Erie and Lackawanna Railroad was massive and glorious, as impressive as the huge Roman aquaducts of southeastern France.

The State Park we stayed in was beautiful and our campsite secluded and quiet.  We had a closing communion service that was memorable.

Interestingly, there’s talk in the camp about doing a tour like this again–although there are different ideas, of course, on route and length, how long we should wait before doing it again, etc.  An evaluation of the tour was distributed and opportunity given on it for riders and staff to write any ideas or suggestions.  These will be collected at the end of the tour, providing good material for our Steering Committee to consider at our final meeting in Grand Rapids next Friday, September 5.

That’s it for today!

Me entering PA. Can you read the sign?

Erie & Lackawanna Bridge (they call it “the viaduct”)

View of gear truck & gear & Lackawanna State Park.

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