Day Two - another 570 mile ride

September 2, 2007
This morning started out perfect .. blue skies, a gentle breeze and the temperaure just right for riding .. as long as you were wearing a jacket. We left Florence at 8:30, thinking we’d get to Washington DC. The ride was mesmerizing, even more so when the sun sparkled on the millions of reflective bits imbedded in the recently paved highway. It’s at times like this when all is calm in the world, even though we’re surrounded by danger of all sorts and sizes.
Amazing how everything changed when we about 100 miles south of Washington DC. At that point, most every driver on the highway enters into some deranged stupor. The highway reminded me of being 10 years old and playing my electric football game. All the plastic players were strategically placed on the field of play, and then the electricity was turned on. The board would vibrate and the players, on felt/plastic tips, would move about, based on how much current was applied. I95 was just like that game, if were wired to 220 volts and turned on at the highest level. This frenzy lasted until we got off the highway 100 miles north of DC.
We ended up in Aberdeen, MD, stopping at a gas station, trying to find our way to Lancaster County (we gave up on DC when driving on 395 though the city and seeing the lines of cars going nowhere).
Based on the guidance of a very heavy patrol officer, we drove 5 miles back to route 136 and then headed north. The sights were nothing short of astonishing for the country side was absolutely beautiful. We stopped several times to take pictures, which don’t seem to do the place justice (you judge for yourself). I couldn’t believe the difference between the insanity of I95 versus the scenery from 136 to route 1 to 222 through Quarryville, back through Strasburg (very pretty), finally ending up on route 30 in Ronks, PA. Tomorrow .. the covered bridges.