It poured last night with lightning and winds with gusts up to 80 mph. A few times the lightning rattled the ground so hard that I felt it in my second floor room. This morning it is peaceful with no trace of the night before except for the tattered flag hanging limp against its pole.
I go next door to the Coffee Company and order a coffee and breakfast sandwich. I have a great conversation with the barista about life and its connection to Quantum Physics. The morning is starting off nicely. I return to my room with my breakfast.
My bike is now down stairs with my panniers mounted and ready to begin the day. It will be a twenty-eight day ride to Rockwood and I am curious to see the damage on the trail from last night’s storm.
The trail fared better than it might have, mostly some mud but a large tree was blown down across the trail. I rode close and realized that I would need to remove my rear panniers to lift the bike up and over to the other side.
I meet a nice woman riding alone so we talk for a short while. She likes to ride trails and has ridden from Pittsburgh to D.C. in sections and many of the trails round the country. She is a seventy-six year old who continues to live life to the fullest.
On the way into Rockwood the trail is alive with Spring growth. I was here a week ago and so much has happened since.
