Mile 9138

This morning we brace ourselves for the last stint back home for which heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecasted.  We don't care, put our rain gear on and hit the road, i.e. Interstate I-80.  We leave Lock Heaven, PA and drive along the Bald Eagle State Forest and the Pennsylvania State Game Lands No. 13 & 58, and the Little Mountain, and have an incredible spectacle this morning.  The rain over night and in the early morning hours creates a steaming forest with clouds rising from the woods, and the sun poking through the dark rain clouds and mist, illuminating the whole scenery in a picture fit to be the background of any Tolkin story.  But as nice as it is, it reminds us that per forecast we will get drenched today, at about Scranton, PA it shall hit us.  So we enjoy every mile we can ride in the dry, and push to get as many of those as we can under our tires.  We pass Scranton, PA and join I-84 to bring us home.  Not the best, not to say in miserable condition, highway, but thus far we haven't had any rain.  A quick stop for gas, a coffee to waken the senses, and on we go again.  Useless to say the highway got worse entering New York state, and going through Danbury, CT and Waterbury, CT are also definitely not my highlights of this trip.  But it hasn't rained on us yet, and it shall stay that way all the way home (can't trust those weathermen neither anymore).  Nevertheless, we are drenched from inside our rain suits (no water in, no water out), but who cares we are home, and after the bike is parked a long shower is awaiting us.  So the trip comes to an end, time to unpack, take care of gear and bike, and then over some inspirational drinks reflect on this cross country trip.  But this is for another entry.

"Because in the end, you won't remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn.  Climb that goddamn mountain."  - Jack Kerouac, American Novelist and Poet of French-Canadian descent