Day 40 - Ruby Jean rested, I did chores..Tomorrow - NEW YORK !!

Day 40
Rest Day - Erie, PA

Today was a rest day for Ruby Jean. she rested against the window with a nice view of the harbor and had a bath and chain lube, I on the other hand had chores to do.

Todays "rest day" involved getting on the phone early and getting some projects completed and getting some problems fixed (Thanks Kelly). I also did a load of laundry, got a haircut, went to the post office and mailed home some extra gear and had a prescription filled.

A couple days ago I started to have a flare up of Iritis (arthritis of the eyeball) and I was trying to suppress it with steroid drops but it wasn't going away so my doctor phoned in a prescription of a oral steroid to knock to iritis back. So, if they drug test me after the ride will I be DQ'd for steroids? Iritis is very unpleasant and painful if you need to have your eyes open and doubly so if you are exposed to bright sunlight....not the thing you want on a bike ride. Later today it started feeling better so all looks good for riding tomorrow.

White Castle: Take a dinner roll, add a mini piece of meat with a dollop of mayonnaise and you have a White Castle Burger. I love these things and a 6 pack makes the perfect snack. Good thing they don't have these at home.

Tomorrow: Hamburg NEW YORK.

One week until I get to see Stephanie and only 8 more riding days.

I think that this next 8 days will be played a little different. Speed will not be important, safety and keeping the rubber side on the road will be the number goal. We will have some big climbing days the 4 days prior to the finish in Boston and the legs are in great condition for this final week.

This ride has been an adventure but it has not been a vacation. It has been a bicycle version of a cattle drive, truly a mental and physical grind but something that I'm very glad that I attempted but if I make it to the end, once will be enough.

Thanks for following along, I really appreciate all the support.

Dream BIG, Jeff 

Day 39 - Rode to Lake Erie and ready for my last rest day tomorrow

Day 39
Niles, OH to Erie, PA
90 Miles, 10th State Line crossing

The day started cool, around 54*, with climbing right from the start. unlike yesterday the climbing never got serious, just enough to keep us humble. The wind remained steady from the Northeast so we had headwinds and crossing headwinds all day again but they were mild and didn't torture us.

We had back roads again almost the entire day with just a couple very small towns along the way.

A ride like today couldn't be complete without a covered bridge, Steph and Mike will be happy to see that I stopped and took this picture.

Just before the Pennsylvania border we all stopped at The White Turkey Root Beer Stand. Everything is open air and they are only open in the summer months. The place was doing a booming business and the root beer milk shake was great.

Another 15 miles down the road we came across a fruit stand and Dave treated everyone to strawberries. they were fresh picked from the adjoining field, they were good but they weren't Gresham quality.

We are staying in the marina on Lake Erie, Presque Isle is in the background.

This is the view from my desk .

I walked about a mile into downtown Erie and found that they had a nice ball park and that the home town Erie Sea Wolves were playing the Portland (Maine) Sea Dogs. Five bucks got me these seats behind home plate and is was Buck Night....Beers, Sodas, Hot Dogs, Pretzels, your choice $1.

The Ball Park holds 5,500 people and has everything that big league parks have except high prices.

I asked an usher if these were AA teams and he confirmed that they were. The Sea Wolves are Detroit Tigers AA team and the Sea Dogs are The Boston Red Sox AA Team. "Usher Bob", as he introduced himself as, gave me a quick history on the ballpark and some of the players that have come through. Usher Bob came and found me and since I was a first time visitor he brought me a Erie Sea Wolves cap and a Sea Wolves Pennant. For $9 I had a great seat, 2 beers, 2 dogs and the hospitality of Usher Bob.
Baseball is a great connector in America. You can go to any minor league ballpark and have a great time without breaking the bank. The mound is still 60' 6" and it is still 90' between the bases. I love seeing young family's, college kids out for a cheap night and retired folks that know all the players names and keep the box scores. Whenever I go to a minor league ball game I want to go again very soon.

Tomorrow will be a day of sleeping and doing some office work and it will also be my last rest day of this journey.

Dream BIG, Jeff