Bicycle Touring in Pennsylvania : Tuesday May 27

Average Speed: 0.00 mph

Max Speed: 0.0 mph

Total Riding Time: 0:00:00

Trip Mileage: 0.00

Total Mileage to Date: 319

Wake Up Time: 7:30am

Leave Time: ???

 

Wrote 12-2pm...

Found a bicycle shop here in Somerset, Pennsylvania called Mountain Sports. I called around 10am and was told to come over. It was just a 2 or 3 blocks from my motel room.

 

They gave me a front wheel from their Cannondale rental bike for $30.00 and I got to keep my original Shimano sealed hub. The guys were great and went out of their way to help me out. They installed the front wheel, trued the rear wheel and put paraffin wax on the chain that took a beating in all the rain. I gave the installer $10.00 and the other two $5.00 each on top of the cost of the wheel as my way of saying thank you as they refused to charge me for labor. I also bought a pair of cycling gloves even though I really didn't need them. They loved the idea of my taking a cross country bike trip and gave me a business card so I could send them a postcard. I most certainly will!

 

I'm still amazed at how things are working out. I have no regrets about taking this trip. It reinforces my faith in myself and in other people. I feel that even if I got robbed by someone, I have come into contact and dealt with some truly wonderful people who would overshadow any negative people. This is an experience of a lifetime that forces a shy person like me to interact with the world and it is great. Heck, interacting is a requirement or else you die. Plain and simple.

 

I saw a cool old diner (Summit Diner) with a neat working neon sign while leaving the bike shop. It's almost around the corner from the motel. Being that I will be here till tomorrow morning, I will go take pictures of it and go in for dinner.

 

Wrote 9:45pm...

Got my laundry together when I got back from the diner. Had a grilled chicken pasta salad, a Dr. Pepper and finally a slice of fresh peach pie. Yum! All this great food came out to a little over $7.00. I went outside and took some photos of the neon sign and building. I then took a walk further into town to look around. Took a photo of an old, but vacant J.J. Newberry store that looked just like an old Woolworth store. Went to a bank ATM and took out another $100.00

 

Found an antique store and bought some vintage postcards. Took a look at the Salvation Army store and then went to the laundromat behind the diner. As I was waiting two men were talking about traveling and routes... at a certain point I jumped in and we all talked. One of them was a truck driver and he gave me a good bicycle friendly route out of Somerset for tomorrow. It was great talking to them. It felt as if I had known them for a long time. Life seems to be so much simpler around here. It's a refreshing change of pace. 

 

Packing for tomorrow and will try to shoot for Frank Lloyd Wright's "Fallingwater." Before I forget, while the couple in the minivan drove me through Bedford, PA yesterday, I saw the most unbelievable "origina" Gulf gas station in my life. I wish I could have taken some pictures. The tiles were beige and appeared to have mosaics similar to the New York City subway stations. Simply unbelievable. Will go there by car one day in the future.