Hey PA!

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J

Greetings from Pennsylvania!

Joelle getting the afternoon selfie by the lake. Once we got to Erie, PA we had to decide to push on and risk getting caught in a thunderstorm or stay there for the night. Erie, PA

Joelle getting the afternoon selfie by the lake. Once we got to Erie, PA we had to decide to push on and risk getting caught in a thunderstorm or stay there for the night. Erie, PA

Let me tell you friends, we are so not in the Midwest anymore, and my quads and calves can attest to it: we are starting to hit larger hills! Today we spent much more time biking through vineyards than cornfields. We cut our mileage short today as we had to outrun some thunderstorms. Due to a lack of campgrounds, we will be sleeping in a little motel.

Guys, can you believe we actually biked from Illinois to Pennsylvania?? And tomorrow we’re going to be in New York! That’s crazy! The days might go slow, but the miles go by fast.

Now I’m sitting in a Laundromat, praying the thunderstorm doesn’t come until after we’re done! Micah’s doing his thing with the maps, trying to figure out places to sleep for the next couple of nights. This has by far been our greatest challenge and it consumes most of our non-biking/eating hours. The difference between one town and the next can go from under-mileage to over. While ten miles between towns doesn’t seem like much in a car, on a bike in the heat of the afternoon, you start really wishing those ten miles are all downhill. Reality check: they’re never all downhill.

We were racing storms today, or so we thought. In reality, it didn't rain at all and we made it 20 miles further than we had planned. Lake City, PA

We were racing storms today, or so we thought. In reality, it didn't rain at all and we made it 20 miles further than we had planned. Lake City, PA

Towns might not have lodging available, or they might only have expensive hotels! But we’re making it. He’s done a great job of making sure we have a place to sleep every night, which I am thankful for. I know some people don’t mind plopping their tent in the ditch, but I do appreciate knowing I have legal rights to my sleeping location.

Goodbye cornfields, hello wine country. North East, PA

Goodbye cornfields, hello wine country. North East, PA

Today’s Stats:

Left: Conneaut, OH, 8am
Sleeping in: a motel in North East PA, arrived at 2:30 pm
Total mileage: 48 miles.
High Speed: 33.9 mph
Avg. Speed: 11.2 mph
Overall weather conditions: hot
Elevation Gain: 747 ft
Total Trip mileage: 633 mi.