Day 57 - Sunbury to Kutztown - C2C - from Westport, Washington to Sandy Hook, New Jersey

July 29, 2016

Day 57 - Sunbury to Kutztown

Well, there really wasn’t all that much rain last night. But, at least, I helped the downtown Sunbury economy.

Bright, Sunny Morning View of the Edison Hotel and Downtown

I decided that I would hotfoot it through the mountains. Heavy storms were predicted and I wanted to make time. I took Old Reading Road for starters - just delightful and empty. Then I got on Hwy 61- which cut through a major gap. It was only for a few miles and had great shoulders.

Ah, Soft, Quiet Riding in a Turkish Steam Bath

Shamokin was an eye-opener - former coal mining town. Very, very rough and hard-hit. There is no economy left. Just up the road is Centralia - abandoned. A mine fire underground has made it uninhabitable.

There Are a Few Small Operators Mining Coal, Still
(How They Can Compete with Corporate Energy Giants Is Beyond Me)

Abandoned, Roofless Buildings in Shamokin
(It May Say "Pennsylvania" But It Looks Like West Virginia.)

More quick miles on Hwy 901 - with a nice shoulder. Plus, if you are heading east through forests - You get shade on the south side of the road. One big climb up to the divide - then whoosh!

Nice back road out of Schuylkyl Haven - Then had to get back on a busy Hwy 61 to get to Hamburg.

Ah, Hamburg - Called a nearby campground and headed out over the hills. I thought it was going to be pretty easy. The sky was almost entirely clear except for one cloud to the east. I thought I was out of the mountains.

Riding Through the Dreibelbis Covered Bridge

Well, at least I got in a great covered bridge - - (Maybe I should have stayed in the bridge?) But the backroads were straight up and down. And the cloud to the east was moving the wrong way. Well, I might get a little shower, then, right?

Wrong. The sky completely opened up and it poured for an hour. I called the campground to cancel and headed for Kutztown. Turns out they don’t answer phones at Kutztown motels.

When I finally got into town - drenched - I asked a policeman where I might stay. He said I should just go by the motel and buzz. The owner of a local B&B was full, but offered to make arrangements for me if there was nothing else. The motel manager had just gotten back in. I paid my money and settled into a dingy, damp room.

Today's ride: 78 miles (126 km)
Total: 3,230 miles (5,198 km)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	2
Comment on this entry	Comment	0