Frederick MA to Gettysburg PA

We are back above the Mason Dixon line (see photo at the appropriately named Mason-Dixon Rd), in very southern PA. 69 miles today- the weather was variable, depending on what time riders left Frederick. We left at 7AM, and biked with our friend Val, her son Andrew, and a few other young riders. One of the young riders, Russ Jr, had two flats within a few miles (we didn't catch the offending piece of glass the first time). The two flats were a godsend as it turned out as the time spent kept us from being significantly rained on (riders 30 minutes ahead of us had real rain, we just got spritzed). The temperature was a very comfortable in the 70-80's, with again welcomed cloud cover. The difficult element today was a near constant headwind, making it the hardest cycling day of the week (I for one was happy to get to the hotel). The scenery in northern Maryland was beautiful. We all enjoyed the town of Detour, including the almost confusing Detour Road- should we take it? where will it lead?? Some of us detoured in Detour for an early lunch, and Jack, my roomie, got really detoured in Detour by taking a wrong turn (apparently easy to do in this town) and saw the sign "Entering Detour" from both directions (I've seen Detour from both sides now, from up and down, and still somehow...").

After crossing into PA, we soon entered Gettysburg and proceeded to tour the Gettysburg battlefield- breathtaking in its scope and explanation of the series of battles there. We were unfortunately really hungry by the time we hit Gettysburg, and spent just 15 minutes on Little Round Top (with its amazing vantage point of the battlefield). We then biked through the rest of the park before ending up in the town of Gettysburg for some much deserved lunch.

3oo miles down, 200 to go, and the week is flying by way too fast. Tomorrow we're heading to Lancaster. Somebody warn the Amish- they are about to have to share their beautiful roads with 180 cyclists (at least we're non-motorized!).