Day 39: Niles OH to Erie PA

The skies were overcast this morning, it was humid and warm, and we knew a storm was probable.  But at least it wasn't raining yet and we were looking forward to our rest day tomorrow in Erie. Besides, 89 miles seems like a break when the route is relatively flat and your last 3 days averaged 100 miles.

The rain moved in by Mile 5.
 Not that it mattered -- we were already soaked from sweat in our sauna suits (aka rain jackets)

Now when the days seem to run together, you take notice when the routine of wake-eat-ride-wash-eat-sleep is broken up by something new.  Today,   Michelle (Michael's wife and one of our original XC014 riders) was able to rejoin the group after 3-4 weeks of recovering from an ITB injury.  Also joining us briefly was their son Mike who rode his bike with us to the first SAG stop which, by the way, arrived sooner than planned.

By Mile 10, the skies were becoming darker, clouds were moving quicker, the temperature was dropping. There was no significant rain yet, but you could tell we were riding into a bit of trouble ahead.

The sky was darker than this photo implies, but the bright show from these flowering trees
really lit up the road for for a few hundred feet.

Around Mile 15, Rick (CrossRoads staff mechanic) drove up in a van and checked in on my intention to keep riding.  He said the serious storm center had passed us miles ahead, but there were still remnants heading our way.  I planned on continuing, but agreed to call in if I decided to seek shelter ahead.  The weather was changing quickly.  So quickly, that 5 miles later in the little village of Gustavos, we were all directed off the road to an open picnic shelter. Within seconds, it was pouring rain and getting cooler.  We would stay there for about an hour.

Our storm shelter stop became our SAG stop when staff brought out a nice selection of our usual road food
plus some of Carol's wonderful creations of chicken salad and fruit parfaits. 

Our view from the picnic shelter for the next hour. (2 photos)

Well, if you've been following this blog, you've probably noted my daily energy levels are not consistent. Today was no different.  I wasn't particularly strong this morning, but I wasn't weak either.  There are so many physical and mental variables that ultimately affect this balance, so I accept whatever energy seems to be available at the time and do with it what I will.  Sometimes I feel strong, but I just feel like taking in the sights, smells, and sounds, and ride conservatively.  Other times I feel weak, but push the pace to be at some place by some specific time.  But like I said, my inter- and intraday energy levels are variable...and after the rain delay I felt like riding.  I left the pavillion eager to get on the road.  Hands, butt, feet -- all the contact points my body makes with the bike -- felt good.  As the minutes ticked by, I grew stronger to the point where 19 mph was not enough.  I pushed ahead, loving every second of the exertion, and soon caught up with some of our usual lead riders.  I rode with them for the next 50 miles, and led their group for close to half that distance.  At one point I went "off the front" for 8 miles and averaged 23.4 mph during that stretch.  I was no longer restrained by Junior Kimbrough's "Done Got Old", nor was I reminded by Toby Keith that "I'm as good once as I ever was".  For those 8 miles, I rode like it was 2002.  The Herminator was unleashed, driven by AC/DC's "Thunderstruck", and rocketing up hills, slashing around curves, and accelerating on the straightaways.  The prisoners I didn't take are my witnesses.

But as all good things come to an end to sometimes be replaced by other good things, we came upon the White Turkey Drive-In, a misnomer for sure.  This place doesn't just beckon you in, it locks onto you with a tractor beam and extracts you from your surroundings. The White Turkey Drive-In is the first sight of the Emerald City after emerging from the Dark Forest.  Resistance was futile.

Open air walk-up "drive-in"......

....with huge root beer floats in frosted mugs!
(Thanks to Brick of XC2013 for the advanced notice!)

Happy, happy, happy at the White Turkey Drive-In in Conneaut, OH.
(L to R: Fast Barry, me, King Richard, and Powerful Pierre) 

 After we taught the hot dogs and root beer floats a lesson about the food chain and listened to Elvis's "Jail House Rock" and Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" on the counter top jukebox, we moved on.  Within a mile, we said goodbye to Ohio and hello to Pennsylvania.

10th state line (2 photos)

Still on nice roads with paved shoulders

Now that he has announced his retirement, King Richard is a pensioner
and considering potential new pathways in life.

We stay in 3-star hotels every night, but the Sheraton in Erie is a noted exception.

Just arriving at our hotel for the next two nights (includes rest day)

  

View from the wall of windows in my room on the 7th floor.
I retired to this room after a breakthrough, turn-back-the-clock day of riding.
I then walked out to the lakeside veranda in the mid-afternoon sun where I enjoyed
 a savory lake perch sandwich and washed it down with a pint of cold Blue Moon ale .
Sucks to be me.

CrossRoads Day 39 Google Earth image and Elevation Profile
Niles OH to Erie PA

Tomorrow (Jun 19) we stay in Erie for our final rest day.  

On Friday, Jun 20, we ride 79 miles to Hamburg. NY .