Bicycle Touring in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio : Sunday June 1

Average Speed: 10.3 mph

Max Speed: 35.9 mph

Total Riding Time: 3:35:32

Trip Mileage: 37:32

Total Mileage to Date: 503

Wake Up Time: 7:30am

Leave Time: 10:30am

 

Wrote 7:02pm...

I'm in East Liverpool, Ohio in a motel room that cost me $51.00. I just had dinner and dessert at an all-you-can-eat buffet for $8.00. Doing my laundry right now.

 

Left my motel room in Crafton, Pennsylvania this morning while the roads were still wet and took Route 60 north to Route 30 west. Soon enough I was in West Virginia. Passed the little "Welcome to West Virginia" sign and had to back up to take a picture. No sooner was I in West Virginia then i was rolling into Ohio. Took another picture at the Ohio state welcome sign to prove I was there!

 

East Liverpool is another ugly and what I consider dying town. Seems to be a trend in this area. The hearts of America are decaying. It seems as if many of these people are alcoholics and drug users. They are miserable, but I don't feel sorry for any of them. I could easily be in the same predicament, but I won't allow it. I will always do something to better myself. They could do the same. Here I am legally blind, sometimes not being able to fully see/read the roadmaps for this trip and I go on anyway. I would kill to have their perfect vision/health and here they are squandering it all away. This trip has taught me how lucky I am to have my mind, sanity, family, health, "balls" and determination.

 

At the same time I have met people who may not be the fanciest dressers..., but who are genuine people. Simple, honest and not pretending to be something they are not. When they tell me, "Have a safe trip" or "Have a great day" - they mean it. Not the bullshit one hears when we are in a store or dealing with a customer service rep who has a canned response to everything. The people I have met along this trip are a pleasure to meet and make me happy to be alive. They help to reinforce that there are real and kind people out there. As I've mentioned before, this trip has been truly amazing and mind expanding. It's worth everything I've gone through: money, aches & pains, crashing...