Capitol bike touring!

We have packed up our bikes to bring home on the plane tomorrow so we are cruising around DC on with the Capitol bike share system. 

We have arrived!

More to come!

U of D to Baltimore

We decided to start our day early because the heat index was supposed to be high. We headed out just before sunrise at 6:30. The sky was misty. We got out of Newark (pronounced "new-ark" not new-wurk like it is said in New Jersey) and onto some beautiful long country roads taking us up and down long rolling hills through horse country. We passed through acres and acres of meticulously maintained pastures. Soon we crossed into Maryland.We traveled along a scenic byway for several miles before turning into more densely wooded areas. The area was filled with horse farms, bean farms and tracks. While the sun was rising, we watched a galloping horse and his rider gallop around the track and then disappear in the fog. So beautiful.   We determined many of the farm fields we passed were lima beans. We continued to pass the occasional apple and peach orchards as well. 

We worked our way close to the Susquehanna river crossing. We were glad to ride these roads- it was shady!! We got to the crossing which is a massive  one mile dam. Oh boy, no shoulder and cars going fast in both directions. We looked at each other and said, "Ok,  stay as far over as you can." But before we clipped in to our pedals, we asked a guy at the stop sign if he was going across. He said no but he would block the cars for us! Awesome! We were so grateful! We  cranked across the bridge, leading the way for his car and several cars behind us. We got a thumbs up and "Yahhhh!!!" from a rider passing us from the other direction. We were all enjoying this scary but enthralling moment. Our blocker gave us a wave and smile and off we went to our next turn. 
Our second directional challenge was when we hit a turn toward a horse farm road that had a small sign posted "private road".  After some discussion and a look to the next road on the iPhone map we decided to head down it. It was  a nice downhill dividing some pristine countryside. I saw some farmers ahead throwing hay, as Amy passed one of the farmers starts yelling at her and throwing up his arms. He didn't see me coming but I stopped and Amy did as well. He told us this was a private road and we were not allowed down it. He said,"Cyclist come speeding down this road  with no regard." He said he had  just had to go to court because recently he got in a fist fight with a cyclist  who came barreling down the road and spooked one of the two horses he was leading. One of the horses broke free and broke his leg.  The horse's injuries cost him $2500. I asked him if we go back up to the main road can we connect with Green Spring Rd. He said we could, but then he softened a little and said we could continue on the private road and find Green Spring Rd. He said you people have to respect the horse properties around here. I totally get it!  I felt bad that that situation had happened to him and that a cyclist caused his horse to go down.  I am not sure if that road was really a private road because there were other homes on it. I just wished, as I do many times when cyclist, driver and horse folks cross paths, that we could all have a little more respect for each other.  If this horseman put a sign at the beginning of the road that said,"Cyclist, speed limit 5 MPH--HORSE PROPERTY" that might be a good solution to this reoccurring situation for him or redirect cyclist with another option. 

As we rode on we grumbled about our leg pain and fatigue. Our leg pains were minimal to the heat we would have to endure as the day progressed. Already at nine in the morning the humidity was rising and sweat was beginning to trickle down our faces. It was time to break out our compact sweat rags. These are great rags that come in a little circular  package about the size of a stack of four half dollar coins.  Adding  a little water allows the material to expand. Amy takes one out, adds some water and tears half off for me. An hour later we are out of water. 

There are no stores to be found, but we find a recreation center. We pull into it and stock up on water, buy a couple of cokes and snacks from the vending machine and enjoy the air conditioned building for a few minutes. I can't believe in these 5 days we have had few crisp fall days and a few hot humid mid-summer like days! As we head out we notice the American flag  at half mast, it's 9/11, the first of many flags at half mast we will see today. 

It's hot!  Within an hour we have to stop again. We stop at a 7-11 in White Marsh, Maryland where we learn they have cancelled school due to the heat. It's ninety-plus degrees. We get more food and snacks and then I said to Amy I am going to get a bag of ice. I sit on the ice for a bit while I drink my second coke of the day then I proceed to fill up my water bottles with mostly ice. I take the rest of the ice in the bag and tie up the top then I place it in my shorts on my lower back.  Amy does the same and we head out. 

We are off the beautiful back country roads now and headed onto 4 lane congested roads with retail and industrial buildings on either side of us. It's very stressful riding. We see the city sign for Baltimore, but sill have quite a ways to go to get to the hotel. We came to a road closed dilemma on our route into the city, but followed the detour signs without a hitch. Every city seems to be the same as we approach it. First, the countryside is left behind then there is generally some sort of industry or retail businesses, as well as suburbia and then as we approach the cities we enter the projects or the ghetto and not until after that, the heart of the city. It's like this with every city on our trip. I don't like these layers. Riding through these layers made me think about why and how this happens. Is it the way it should be?  Is it the only way it works? I try to compare it to other countries I have been to. Are they the same? I don't think so, but I am not sure. 

As Amy and I ate our delicious Maryland crab dinner tonight she asked me what the best part of my day was today. I said to her riding through Maryland; the pastureland, the Susquehanna river area and the pigs who looked at us like we were nutty for traveling in such heat, but as I  write this tonight I realize it was something else entirely. My favorite moment of the day was when we passed through the ghetto where a man opened his door just as Amy and I passed his eyes followed her then he looked at me. It was obvious women cycling through his neighborhood  was not a normal occurrence. He and I made eye contact, he smiled a great big smile...I smiled back and waved.  That was my favorite moment of the day and may be my most favorite moment of our trip. 

We meet some friends along the way today

Maryland has beautiful cycling roads!  Here are a couple of friends we met along the way. They were as curious about us and why the heck we were out in this heat as the Maryland folk were. When we made a stop in White Marsh at a 7-11 we learned that  school had been cancelled because of the heat!

Over!

Over the Susquehanna!

Maryland horse farms! Fair hill stables.