Easton, Pennsylvania

Easton, PA is the home of the Crayola Company and we got to see the largest crayon in the world. It sits on the Delaware River which is the dividing line between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

It has been verified: There are no flat spots in the entire state of Pennsylvania. I know because I have bicycled from the western border with Ohio to the eastern border with New Jersey. In fact, today, I was humbled by the Poconos. It matters less how tall a mountain is and more how steep it is. I did enjoy the beauty of the country, however. The good news: I will eventually reach an altitude of zero on the New Jersey shore.

Wini continues to make beautiful things, even in our hotel room.

God is good!

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Today we exited Highway 6 and dropped down into Scranton. It was an interesting ride that included banners honoring vets in Towanda, PA; a view of the Susquehanna River; a beautiful valley that was the site of a proposed home for Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution (she didn't make it to America, as we know, and she lost her head as a consequence). Wini also took a picture of a design on the side of a barn that marked the place for Quilted Corners of Wyalusing, a small town we traveled through.

Lots of thigh busting long uphills followed by fun downhills. Well, they are called the Allegheny Mountains for a reason, though we in the West would consider them hills.

God was good to us today.

Mansfield, Pennsylvania

I finally found out why I had so much trouble finding a motel vacancy at the rather obscure village of Mansfield, PA. The NRA is sponsoring the annual Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC), a sharp shooter competition this weekend. Wini and I met the national champion high school sharp shooter at the local McDonalds this afternoon. His grandmother proudly pointed him out. About 400 young hunters along with their families are participating in this national event.

One of the greatest challenges of a long distance biker is finding a good spot to pee. I learned today that it is best to avoid a honey bee farm, especially when it is posted "no trespassing". I made a hasty exit with no harm done.

We are in some very beautiful country. In fact, Pennsylvania has its own "Grand Canyon" nearby. We are also fairly close to Williamsport, PA, the former home of my oldest sister.

Three more days and we should be on the Atlantic.

Coudersport, PA

We have passed through many small towns in the heart of America and most of them have a memorial honoring our military. Remembering those who were willing to give their lives so that we can enjoy the benefits of living in this country captures the essence of the greatness of our beautiful land. I hope we never forget.

The memorial in Coudersport listed their war dead starting back in the Civil War up to the present conflicts.

Today saw more quilt shops and more rolling hills. Pennsylvania seems to be becoming more beautiful as we continue east.

Warren, Pennsylvania

I don't know who the guy is, but Wini claims he is a famous quilter named Dustin Farrell. He (allegedly) has been highlighted in "Quiltmaker Magazine" (September 2010 edition). He has a shop in Cambridge Springs, PA, population 2,300.

We are spending the evening in the quiet town of Warren which is nestled in the western Pennsylvania hills. The Allegheny River runs through the center of town.

I've decided that I don't want to bicycle into Philadelphia so I am developing a new route to the coast of New Jersey. NJ is about the same distance and is probably a little safer and more scenic. We should be at the end of our journey, at least the biking part, on August 1.

Meadville, Pennsylvania

We crossed the border into Pennsylvania this morning! It was great to leave some of the traffic

noise of the big city behind and enter the green rolling hills of western Pennsylvania. We will continue following U.S. Highway 6 through the state, a famous highway known as the road of the "Grand Army of the Republic."

Wini is happily back in her quilt shopping, fabric store mode. The state highway department used old road signs and markers to create some fabulous art work. The picture with the flowers is just a small sample.

God continues to watch over us and we have seen this happen many times on our trip. His mercies endure forever.

Cleveland, Ohio

I think we may have been on the road too long. This morning, I put on my bike helmet and gloves, kissed Wini goodbye and headed out the door, forgetting to take my bike with me!

Today, we charged across the biggest barrier so far on our trip: Cleveland. Wini took the freeway with her GPS tenderly guiding her along and I took Highway 6 which took me through the heart of the city. Very entertaining day. After checking into our motel east of the city, we drove downtown for a photo of the Cleveland Browns Stadium. Wini was dwarfed by this huge monstrosity.

I found a flower pot that may give Trena some ideas for Jacob's electric car when he outgrows it.

Each day brings a new adventure and new stories. We plan to enter Pennsylvania tomorrow.

Amherst, Ohio

One of the great things about visiting new parts of the world and country is the opportunity to have preconceived opinions changed. We are on the outskirts of Cleveland, Ohio and there is a beautiful beach on Lake Erie filled with people enjoying the sun. As beautiful as any beach in Hawaii.

Wini continues to make new quilting friends across the U.S. The picture is of Cindy, a quilt shop proprietor in Wayne, Ohio about 15 miles southeast of Bowling Green. A total of two quilt shops visited today, the second one near our lodging in Amherst.

I've become a weather expert the past 26 days. This morning the Internet doppler showed a huge storm covering a large area from Minnesota to Indiana and it appeared to be racing for the Ohio border. I got an early start hoping to miss the brunt of the rain. It never caught me and I ended up dry at destination. The bulk of the storm apparently went north of us. God's mercies endure forever.

Bowling Green, Ohio

Today was an entertaining day. Sixty-seven miles of adverse winds followed by 25 miles of glorious tail winds when I made a left turn (east) in Ohio. I saw the best roads and the worst roads so far. We arrived in Bowling Green to 98 degree temps and high humidity. All-in-all, a very good day.

The sun shines through the air vents in my bike helmet and I have a striped forehead tan. When I take my helmet off it looks like I am still wearing it. I do get a few funny looks.

Tomorrow we take off on U.S. Highway 6. Wini hasn't found a quilt shop in three days but tomorrow looks promising.

Chelsea, Michigan

Today is our last day in Michigan. Tomorrow we enter Ohio and continue east. It appears that the entire state of Michigan is under construction, thanks to the "stimulus" dollars. So far, I've managed to find my way around road closures. All a part of the adventure.

I stumbled across an old D&M (Detroit & Mackinac Railroad) station yesterday that is now a museum. One of the many railroads that have disappeared over the years.

I have hotel reservations all the way to Scranton, PA. Tomorrow we will intersect the historical highway U.S. 6 at Bowling Green, OH and generally follow this route to Scranton. I plan to ratchet down my mileage pace a bit so we can enjoy some really beautiful country in Pennsylvania. Through today my daily average has been 100 miles.

God has blessed us both with safety and good health.

Saginaw, Michigan

Michigan south of Mackinaw City looked a lot flatter on the map. Our stay last night at Mio was nearly 1,000 feet above Seattle. At least I got to lose some altitude down to Saginaw. We are seeing more people, traffic and large cities. It was fun to walk in a real shopping mall again. Wini got a little practice driving in the city in preparation for Cleveland coming up on Sunday. She had no trouble finding her 26th quilt shop in Saginaw.

No Internet at the Mio Hotel in Mio last night, thus no blog.

Mackinaw City, Michigan

We crossed the Mackinac Bridge today, which separates the the "yoopers" from the "trolls". It also separates Lake Huron from Lake Michigan and is the dividing line between Upper Michigan and Lower Michigan. Incidentally, "yoopers" are residents of the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan and "trolls" are those below (or south) of the bridge. In Mackinaw City this evening we had a fine meal of "pasties", a hearty dish comprised of ground beef and potatoes wrapped in dough topped with heavy gravy. This should easily get me past the first 50 miles tomorrow.

The route today from Manistique to Mackinaw City skirted the northern rim of Lake Michigan and was very beautiful. We saw many families enjoying the beaches along the lake. The sun also dried out my biking shoes that got soaked the previous day.

We have decided to avoid the Canadian short cut through Ontario and will continue south to Ohio and take a left turn onto Highway 6 toward Pennsylvania. This may take a little longer but should be quite scenic.

Manistique, Michigan

I've lived in the Great Northwest for 40 years and have never been as wet on a bicycle as I was today. 105 miles in a driving rain. 80% of the vehicles on the road were vacationers who packed up early to get back home, with their campers, 4-wheelers, bicycles, boats, RV's. All a part of the experience. The rain has now stopped and tomorrow promises to be a better day.

We are on the shores of Lake Michigan in a small town called Manistique. Tomorrow marks the last day we will spend on Highway 2.

Three week recap of our trip : (a) seven states (b) 2,110 miles (c) average miles per day on the bike, 100 (d) three time zones.

Iron Mountain, Michigan

Each morning I leave the motel before Wini and when she catches me (usually at about 70 miles), she stops to give me cold water to fill my canteens. Today she stopped and as I was getting on my bike to continue I hit a soft sandy spot beside the highway and went head over heels off my bike right in front of Wini. Pretty girls do tend to make me feel awkward. Must have been amusing to passersby to see an old geezer lying in the gravel with his bike! Well, no harm, just a couple of minor flesh wounds.

It seems that every city and landmark has the word "iron" in its name. Ironwood, Iron Mountain, Iron River, Iron County. The locals seem to be pretty proud of their ore. It is lovely country, green with rolling hills. Iron Mountain, MI, where we are tonight, is pretty bland, however. Had trouble finding a good picture with our kids.

Ironwood, Michigan

Wini's love-hate relationship with her GPS continues. She loves it because it does eventually get her to her motel or quilt shop, but scolds her ("recalculating!") when she misses a turn.

We have entered the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at the town of Ironwood. This region had many iron mines years ago. The one day bike ride across Wisconsin (about 100 miles) was green rolling hills, great views of Lake Superior and lots of green. As I tootled along I remembered why I enjoy this activity so much. Incidentally, I learned today that Lake Superior is the largest fresh water body in the world.

Wini and I arrived at our motel today at about the same time so I was able to help her unload the car. She is taking her covered wagon duties very seriously and I think she may be increasing her upper body strength carrying all those heavy suitcases and coolers (!). She is a real trooper.

Duluth, Minnesota

Wini discovered a little quilt shop in Floodwood, MN, which (if you believe the sign downtown) is also the catfish capital of the world. The only shopping I did today was at Twin Ports Cyclery in Duluth where I had to replace my chain and freewheel. Normal maintenance - no breakdown.

Duluth, MN / Superior, WI is bordered by Lake Superior. Duluth is world famous as the birthplace of Bob Dylan. Wini and I had a lovely walk on Canal Street in Duluth this afternoon. It is a developed small-shop area downtown and is very popular with tourists. Our journey is over half completed.

Our niece and nephews Emma, Jackson and Caden continue their journey with us vicariously.

Grand Rapids, Minnesota

We delayed our departure from Bemidgi until late morning because there were tornado warnings for the region. Didn't want my bike to be swept up in a funnel cloud and dropped off in Kansas somewhere. That would have taken me way off course. By concidence, tonight we are staying at Grand Rapids, MN, the birth place of Judy Garland!

Strong storms all around today but not a drop of rain on my bald head. God is merciful.

I spotted a little muddy river between Bemidgi and Grand Rapids that claimed to be the Mississippi River (photo). I suppose it proves that even the mightest of rivers starts off as a small puddle. Must be a lesson there.

Bemidgi, Minnesota

Those favorable westerly winds have deserted me and today I peddled 117 miles fighting 14 mph headwinds - Grand Forks, ND to Bemidji, MN. But I enjoyed the sun, especially since rain was forecast. I'm a volunteer so you won't hear me complain.

We passed Itasca, MN, the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Tonight we are "up north" in Bemidgi, the first town on the Mississippi. When I worked for Potlatch, I visited Bemidgi a number of times since they operated an OSB mill and a stud mill near by. Bemidgi also has a large lake in the center of town that completely freezes over in winter and is a popular ice fishing site.

Wini and I have rarely seen trees since leaving the Rockies - until now. Lots of trees in this part of Minnesota (see photo).

God is good.

Grand Forks, North Dakota

I called Wini with detailed instructions to our rendezvous at McDonalds in Grand Forks, North Dakota. I knew she was in trouble when she passed under the sign "Welcome to Minnesota". Well, with a little help from her new GPS, we finally got together and have enjoyed the sunny afternoon shopping, eating, and strolling along the banks of the Red River. Grand Forks is the home of the University of North Dakota.

Forecast is for wet weather tomorrow so I'll plan on getting an early start before the wind picks up. Next stop: Bemidgi, Minnesota.