Kulpsville PA to Lawrencevill NJ- The Big Finish

I write this from the comfort of my air-conditioned home in Somerville MA, with music playing, and Barbara reading the Times next to me. Walking outside this morning, it was quite hot already. Who would bike in such weather??

Hard to believe that the Anchor House ride is completed- it's over in a blur of moving spokes. The last day of the ride was sweet and as always bittersweet, with a more leisurely pace as we had to only cycle 65 miles instead of the usual 70-80. We left Kulpsville and cycled toward the Delaware River. Although it was near 90, it felt no where near as hot as the day before. It was less humid, and the air was moving. We enjoyed our last SAG stop of the ride, having our last taste of watermelon. and peanut butter and banana concoctions. My roommate Jack and I are seen in front of the SAG scene. The scenery was again beautiful, and as we neared the river, we began to recognize old familiar cycling roads. We stopped at the Carversville General Store and enjoyed our classic cycling breakfast staple- an egg sandwich. We descended through lovely Carversville and soon arrived at the pedestrian bridge over the Delaware River. Once we crossed into NJ, we were on roads we knew well, and flew through Hunterdon and northern Mercer counties, enjoying a fair amount of shade, and lots of comraderie. Five miles from our picnic spot in Pennington, I heard an odd noise and as I got off my bike to investigate, and found my back tire had blown out. Note the impressive rupture! My good friend Jerry soon arrived at the scene, with his traveling mechanics shop in his front bag. He pulled out a spare tire (most of us carry spare tubes but not spare tires), and with my other bud Henry (who circled back when he didn't see me) we quickly got me back on my bike. Jerry was the man this week, helping many cyclists in need. Thanks Jerry and Henry!

We soon arrived at the Dutco's house, a wonderful family that every year hosts a big picnic at their house for all the riders. We enjoyed their wonderful food and swimming in their pool, and poised for our group photos.

After the picnic, we began our slow ten mile processional to Q'Bridge Mall, replete with a police escort and people waving from the sidewalks and cars honking as they passed. We arrived at the Mall, where we one at a time, get the thrill of biking through the Mall past cheering crowds, with loud music blaring. We found out that we had raised over $400,000 this year, with more still coming. Thanks to everyone who supported us, and thanks to all of the Anchor House riders for making this such a great week. Same time next year, okay?

Lancaster to Kulpsville PA

Holy crap, was it hot today!! 97F was the air temp, and on the pavement, over 104F. Today was about survival, although survival while experiencing the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside. Most of us were on the road by 7AM- and many of us can never remember sweating so much before 8AM!! So what about the riding and that scenery you ask? We cycled through lovely Lancaster County, past many neatly organized Amish farms of corn, soy, and tobacco. Yes, tobacco- apparently a big cash crop for the Amish. We passed many horse and buggies- the sound of horse hooves on the pavement clopping behind as we passed by was a sweet sound. There were interesting conflicts between the multiple modes of transportation, with bikes behind buggies and cars looking to pass. Very interesting case study in transportation planning. The Amish and Mennonite cultures were interesting to observe- children waving from houses, buggies, men and women working around their farms. The rules are obtuse and not easily understood to an outsider- for instance kids apparently can use foot-powered scooters, but not bicycles. Everything though about the Amish farms and houses was so organized and orderly, down to the laundry flapping in the still breeze.

We rolled along, and the miles clicked by. And the sweat kept coming. We poured water over our heads, sought shade wherever it appeared, looked out for each other if we noticed that someone was getting a bit too fried. Lunch today at a highly air-conditioned pizzeria in Spring City was incredibly enjoyable. We rolled past the ominous and other-worldy Limerick nuclear power plant cooling towers, that appear out of place in this gorgeous countryside (sorry no pix- battery was too low). We rolled into Kulpsville, hot, sweaty, but feeling great. Sad that this was the last day on unfamiliar roads (to most of us). Tomorrow we make it back to NJ and cycle through our old favorite training routes.

Gettysburg to Lancaster PA

Today there were no clouds, no rain, mostly no wind- just sun, heat and hills. Did I mention sun? Temps were in the low 90's, and the hills kept coming. We rolled out of Gettysburg, again passing through yet another part of the battlefield- lush fields of crops with monuments cropping up over and over again. Gorgeous and peaceful- hard to believe there was so much carnage in these fields.

We cycled through rural countryside on perfect biking roads. The terrain was rolling with more than a few steep climbs. The climbs were getting hotter and hotter as the day wore on- the downhill descents were cooling and welcomed. We rolled through small towns, including Hanover PA, where we passed by the Utz factory, with the rich smell of potato chips in the air, and then stopped at the Utz Factory outlet (for all you potato chip connoisuers).

We made the key choice of stopping for lunch- subs and what else, potato chips, in the oddly named town of Dallastown. It's always a calculus on a hot day whether to blow off lunch to get yourself back to the hotel sooner before the temps get even hotter. We were sweating as of 8AM which is usually a sign of a killer hot day. I have found for me that a lunch stop is essential- I was bonking and dealing poorly with the heat right before lunch. Totally better afterwards.


The key was staying cool today, anyway you could- dumping cold water on your head, looking to bike through as much shade as possible (even if it meant biking on the left side of the road), drinking cool liquids as often as possible. At the last SAG (rest) stop, there was ice cream across the street, much to the delight of everyone, including our riding buddy Jerry, who very much enjoyed his chocolate malt shake.

Towards the later half of the day, we crossed the Susquehana River on a mile long bridge (sorry no pix- too busy a road!), and biked through gorgeous farmland and then through Lancaster to our hotel. A beer, or two (with twizzlers of course), a swim and jacuzzi, and air conditioning, and we're recovered and ready for the last 134 miles.

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!).

Winchester VA to Frederick MD

No rain, again, despite an ominous forecast. Someone is looking out for us as we had another near perfect summer day (70 to 80F with cloud cover most of the way, but again a fair bit of humidity) as we pedaled 70 miles from Winchester VA to Frederick MD. Leaving Winchester this morning at 7AM we did experience a not so fun intense fog for the first hour. A good time for blinky lights and bright shirts, but reflective vests would have been helpful. Once the fog lifted, we were treated to beautiful views of horses frolicking on picturesque farms.


Today was Ray Arcola day and everyone wore purple in his honor. Ray passed away this past winter. He was our most trusted and beloved "scout", going out ahead of the ride each day and making sure the roads were safe and the route correct. You can see the awesome women at the first SAG dressed in purple and cheering our spirits.

Funny story- I went into a simple country store in Summit Pointe VA looking for batteries for my camera. The woman behind the counter asked me what charity we were cycling for. I responded that we were supporting Anchor House that helped support runaway and abused children. A good 'ol boy who had come in right before me then said, "Support 'em, you should be capturing runaway children". Pretty funny good 'ol boy response- I am hoping his ancestors did not feel the same away about slaves.

We biked through West Virginia for about ten miles, and then crossed the Potomac near Sharpsburg MD. It was great cycling into Maryland- we lived there from '89 to '93 and it felt like coming home in a way. We cycled through the Antietam battlefield Park, which was an evocative and somber experience. It's too easy to envision the thousands of soldiers positioned and fighting over this field.

The cycling in Maryland was spectacular, and was capped off with a climb over the Cacoctin Mountains at Cramptons Gap, where we were serenaded by Anchor House videographer and full time musician, Tom Florek as we completed the climb up the Gap. We then cycled our way to Frederick where we are encamped for the night. Tomorrow it's on to Gettysburg. 230 miles down- this ride is going too fast!

Day 2- Culpepper to WInchester VA

Sitting in my hotel bed in Winchester, drinking a beer, eating twizzlers, listening to music and blogging. A great recovery from today's ride- and yes, beer and twizzlers are a common recovery combo on the Anchor House ride (you'd be surprised what we eat during the week that we would never dream of eating in our "normal" life).

Today was a perfect cycling day to put in 82 miles. It was in the mid-80's, with cloud cover all day, and we had a wind from the south at our backs. The only negative was the humidity, but overall a great day for Virginia in mid July (especially compared to last week 100 F temps). We started out early, at 6:45AM, and made it to Winchester by 3:30PM (with a great lunch stop at the Apple House in Front Royal).

The route was near perfect today. We proceeded north out of Culpepper, with beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to our West. At Front Royal , we crossed over the Blue Ridge (at near their lowest elevation), and then had the Appalachian Mountains on our east as we proceeded north. We crossed the Shenandoah River at Morgan's Ford and further down the road, enjoyed a fantastic series of"rollers"- quick steep downhills followed by short and steep uphills- on a lovely country road with large horse farms.

There is always plenty of fun at the SAG stops. My friends, Joan and Peter, are clearly wanted for raising money for Anchor House kids.

View of Ken and his room mate Jack, about 20 miles from ride's end. Tomorrow we ride into Maryland, as we ride through Antietam and finish up in Frederick for the night (20 miles from where my son Adam was born).

Charlottesville to Culpepper VA

Well, day 1 is in the books. 75 miles down, 425 to go. This road sign
says it all- Beautiful Run Road. It was a day of scenic roads through rural Virginia, views of the Blue Ridge mountains, and beautiful weather.The first 60 miles were on spectacular cycling roads. Temperatures were in the 70's when we started, and there was plenty of shade until the last 20 miles, where the temp was hovering around 90F. But the humidity was low all day thanks to yesterday's thunderstorms. We left at 7:15AM, and rolled in to our hotel at 2:15PM.

A few mechanical difficulties today, and Jerry had them all. Three flats (one a half-mile from the end), and a wheel that needed a lot of truing. Hopefully that will be it for mechanical woes for the week. We picked up our luggage, recovered with a few beers compliments of River Horse brewery, and lots of junk food (all's fair when you burn 3000 calories). Tomorrow we're off to Winchester VA- 81 miles and the low 90's.