2020, Day 17: Beast Mode

In honor of his special day, I'm giving Dad back the spotlight.

From Dad:

It’s my birthday. I am 66 today. I had a thought as I started out this morning, wondering if I could ride my age today. The conditions would have to be just right.

Shortly after starting, we came upon another detour. This was only supposed to be a couple of blocks of construction, and we should be able to return to Highway 20. Unbeknownst to us, the highway took a right turn in the middle of the construction, and we ended up going around the back alleys of some homes and circling around to where we had started. I asked the flagger for directions. He sent me off a weird way down through a little valley and back up a steep hill, but it did come back out on 20. There was an easier way, but we would have missed such pretty scenery!

After 10 miles we crossed into Pennsylvania. Let me say here it was a long day of riding; I rode all the way across the State of Pennsylvania. Okay, all the way across the little peninsula that juts up to Lake Erie. At 51 miles, and about 5 miles short of the New York state line, we decided to go for the age number. I didn’t think I had 15 miles left in me, or even two 8’s, but I could do three 5’s. We were supposed to meet first at the New York sign. Only there wasn’t a sign. The first clue I had we were in New York was a political sign for a state senate candidate. So when we met up, there were fewer than 10 miles to go. A couple of short bursts and we finished in Westfield, NY. 67.5 miles in 5:40. Apparently, the conditions were just right. I took pictures of my Garmin odometer at 66.00 miles and 66.66 miles. Crossed two state lines in one day.

After getting our motel room, we went to Longhorn for a steak dinner, then went to Presque Isle in Erie for a late afternoon drive. What a pretty area!

Happy Birthday, Dad!