Day 37

Bike Riding In Valley Forge

Jun 12, 2013, 4:05 PM

Yeah right, bike riding in freaking Valley Forge, what was I thinking!!! They have added hills I swear to God they have. It's crazy!!!!! 

We loaded bikes up, two on our car, three in Kim and Robert's truck, and we drove just a little way to Valley Forge. We parked and unloaded the bikes and we were in a bad spot, the beginning of the ride was all up hill, I was exhausted before I got on the bike, just looking at it was exhausting. We rode for a very little way and workers had the path closed because they had taken a tree down. It was a pretty large tree and they were all over the path with heavy equipment. Oh, thank you God, salvation. I thought for sure we were going to have to go back and take a different path, something. NO!!!!!!!!! Robert and Alex had ridden ahead and they guys told them we could pass in just a minute. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE GUYS? Anywhere else in the entire US of A, these guys could have milked this job into several days of work, but oh no, not these conscientious workers, where did we import them from. They even yell out to us bringing up the rear, to come on, they were clearing up the path. Oh no, I was stuck I had to go on. Well before long we had a downhill stretch, but of course that was followed by an even longer up hill climb. I think I saw mountain goats panting, the hill was so HUGE, and don't believe Alex when he tells you it wasn't. I'm older, I know!!

We made it as far as a parking lot with some rest rooms. At that point we bailed. There was no way I was going to be able to make it to the Visitor's Center and if by the grace of God Almighty above, I made it I would surely die on the way back. So after much debate and deliberation, I pointed my bike in the opposite direction and started heading back to the car. I'd sit happily on the curb if I had to but I wasn't riding any further. Robert and Alex went to fly a kite, Steve, Kim, and I went to Washington's Headquarters. Clayton you would have liked this, a train went by while we were at the train station at Washington's Headquarters. It was kind of cool. So we were walking around and we were pretty much over the whole tourist thing. We needed lunch. 

We stopped at a shopping center near by that had all sorts of eateries to choose from. Robert and Alex opted for burgers, the rest of us went for Chinese. Steve proceeded to get his done "hot, hot, hot". I think he seared his tonsils. He loves his Chinese food HOT. It was a nice little place. After lunch Kim needed to stop to pick up stuff for a pot luck with the 4-H tonight, and a super Wankers/Wegmans was on the way and I had wanted to see this place so we went on a sightseeing trip to the food store. 

I remember years ago, shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall a girlfriend at the time had a distant cousin from Poland come to visit. She was telling me he almost cried the first time went to a food store with her. He'd never seen so much food at any one place at any one time. That was how I felt today. This place was just a sight to behold. It has a cafe, a sitting area with a fireplace, it has prepared food, pizza, a bakery, produce, meats, cheeses, and we haven't even gotten to the store part yet. Oh I wanted to just live right there in the middle of it all. I so wish we had Wankers in Florida. 

Jun 12, 2013, 9:14 PM

This evening we had dinner with friends we used to ride motorcycles with. We met this couple years ago on a ride to Biketoberfest. Steve and I instantly fell in love with them, come to think of it Becca was with us too. They were in from the Philadelphia area and they hooked up with our group for the day. We rode with them lots of times over the years and they are a wonderful couple. We have stayed in touch even though Steve and I aren't riding anymore, although we haven't stayed in touch anywhere near enough. I adore Bill and Rosemary, they are the kind of people you just instantly fall in love with.

We are back home and having a quiet night. See you all tomorrow with some new adventure I'm sure. Good night!!