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DAY 8

Knee breakers but wonderful to the eyes!

ROUTE: Lancaster PA to Hunt Valley MD	DISTANCE: 72 Miles	WINDS: Light most of the day
WEATHER: Light rain at the beginning then sunny and warm in the late morning to finish	TERRAIN: A bit hilly if you ask most people...many were pretty steep too.	TOTAL CLIMBING: 5200 feet

DAY'S OVERVIEW: It appeared our luck with the weather ran out this morning as we woke to rainy skies. We loaded luggage and rode our bikes to the Old Country Buffet for a special breakfast just for us and it was over the top...so much food and so many choices it was just hard to walk away without trying just about everything. Plus sticky buns to die for. After a hearty meal, we set out in a light rain on what promised to be a strenuous day of climbing and a treacherous day of descending if the weather didn't change. I was riding today and left at the back end to make sure everyone got out of the buffet before they threw us out...we were off.

It didn't take long for things to start happening that got me off the bike an into the van. Got a call from the box who was up the road looking for the location for the first SAG, then got a call from a rider with a flat, then got a call about a confusing cue at about 18 miles...OK, off the bike and into the van I went to take care of the loose ends. It didn't take long to unravel everything and get things back to normal, but I had already gotten out of the mood to ride so I just stayed in the van the rest of the day...OK, I can take photos now. As luck would have it, just after I changed clothes which sealed the fact I'd not ride the rest of the day, the rain stopped and it turned out to be a nice day.

To say today was a bit hilly would be an extreme understatement. Today was probably our most strenuous day yet with lots of steep climbs to negotiate and one extremely steep descent that was made even more tenuous by the fact it was wet. I scrambled up to the top of that descent and warned the riders to take it easy as the average slope was 9%, but it had pitches in the turns that topped out in the neighborhood of 18%. Everyone got down safely but we had one wipeout when Boston Bob slid out in one of the corners and slid into the woods. Luckily, he laid his bike down and slid off the road on the soft leaves and branches...he barely got any road rash but he looked like the "Swamp Thing" or like someone poured mulch all over him...didn't see anything growing yet, but it wouldn't have taken long. When he arrived at the SAG he had to be cleaned off before he could partake in the SAG goodies.

Yes, today was really a tough climbing day but the vistas at the tops of the climbs were awesome. I was taking a few photos of one particular area when I saw a resident working in a nearby yard. I asked him how he could live out here around all this beautiful scenery. He said that was why he lived here...good answer I guess. One thing you really notice around here is the cleanliness of the roads...no trash anywhere along the roadway and the yards are neatly manicured with colorful flower arrangements everywhere. I could have sworn on many occasions that I was in Kentucky with the rail fences and horses grazing in the fields. Also, large rolling hills with corn and soybean fields that looked like quilt patterns on the landscape...it a month it will all be different when the harvest begins. I'll bet it's still quite a beautiful sight to see.

Because of the terrain, it was another long day with the last riders getting in around 5:00. I told everyone at rap that in a few days, they would be praying for a hill or two to take the pressure off the sit bones...they didn't buy it...at least for now. We'll see what they say when they won't see a hill for miles...or maybe never.

Tomorrow we meander into DC...the route is a pretty good one that uses back country most of the day until they get on the Rock Creek Trail that will take them about a mile from the motel. It won't be as easy for the vans but it will be nice to get a day off finally. I think everyone is about ready for a rest day...I just hope DC is ready for them. See you tomorrow.

HEARD ON THE ROAD: "This is work, but it's worth every pedal stroke."

DUH! OF THE DAY: I had just put down arrows indicating a right turn when Karen rolled up and rode over the painted arrow and asked me, "Straight here, right?" I'm glad I try to take the confusion out of the cue sheet otherwise chaos would reign supreme.

MISSED HER CALLING RECOGNITION: Today Rose decided to not ride and to go with the Box to set up the SAG. Wanting not to just stand around, she pretty much took over setting up the goodies to include slicing up the watermelon as deftly as a ninja carving with his samurai. You'd better watch out Rose, you might work yourself into a staff position before you are through.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY
Fred was awarded the "Purple Heart" today (Barbara thought it should be the Fickle Finger Of Fate Award) when he somehow sliced a big hunk of skin off his finger when he was changing his tire. I asked him how he was able to do such a thing, but he didn't know. It's hard to learn from our mistakes if we can't remember what they were.	Who said this was a tough day...Pat didn't even need to clip in.
We're constantly on to the riders about cleanliness before partaking of the SAG goodies and lunch. Dave has taken our guidance to heart by disinfecting his hands and even his tootsies before eating.	Another state, Maryland, bites the dust.
At the risk of losing my PG-13 rating on my site, Bob proudly displays his "badge of courage" after his skid into the bushes.	Dave and Dana made quick work of the hills after the SAG. Must be those chocolate chip cookies!

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