Day 6, 75 miles, Philadelphia to Aberdeen, MD
Day 5, 0 Workday
Let’s talk about the wind. I’m not a big fan, except when it’s at my back, keeping me cool on a hot day, helping generate energy, or wafting off the sea as I’m sipping a beachside cocktail.
Ok, so sometimes I’m a fan of wind. Today, Day 6 of my 70 day xUS bike tour, wasn’t one of those days. A stiff, gusty breeze blew in my face all day. It seemed to gust the most every time I climbed a hill, doing its best to slow me down and make me work harder.
I headed out of Philadelphia at 9 a.m., sun shining and cool temps. Perfect for a long day of riding, except for that wind. Caught a glimpse of Philly on the way out.
It was a welcome change to leave the city and head south on a rural highway through some small towns surrounded by refineries in every direction. And that wind. Always the wind.
When I was training for this trip people most frequently asked me, “Are you doing this alone?” My stock reply was, “Do you wanna come with me?” No takers. Like them, I wondered if I’d get lonely out here on the road. So far, the answer is not at all.
For one thing, the wind is always there, keeping me company whether I like it or not. It provides me with a foil to swear at, and screams back in my face when it’s pissed off. Sometimes we get along and I swell with appreciation for it’s cooling effect. Other times I just want it to leave me alone. In other words, like any relationship. And we’re stuck with each other. The wind is surely not going away, and I’m not planning to stop riding, so…here we are.
Oh, also I have this mysterious guy following me every morning, he keeps me company too.
Ok, but seriously, how could I be lonely when I have you, all my countless loyal readers (pause for laugh…crickets) keeping me company.
Following all those Pennsylvania refineries, today’s ride took me through downtown Wilmington, DE, a pleasant enough little city – AND Joe Biden’s hometown, that’s a plus.
I then took a series of short bike trails through some local parks, but they felt mostly perfunctory, like she (the navigation female voiceover; yes, I’m afraid I’m starting to think of her as a friend like Joaquin Phoenix in that Spike Jones movie Her) was just trying to make up for the major traffic highway she eventually dumped me on.
That would be Route 40 West, which zooms I-95 alternate traffic between Wilmington, DE, and Baltimore. Twenty-five miles up and down the never-ending hills, and across a massive bridge over the Susquehanna River into Maryland.
To Aberdeen, where I’m appreciating the company of the wind, my shadow, navigation voiceover lady, and all of you.
Tomorrow, Baltimore. Then Washington. The no more cities for a while, I hope.