Day 63: More hills and headwinds enroute to Binghamton, NY

I didn’t leave my WS house until 09:00 because it was COLD this morning! When I woke up and checked the weather, it was 41 F. It was sunny though and by the time I left it had warmed up to 47 F. I had a beautiful ride south to Elmira and then the the road turned to the east and the hills and headwind started.. It was a pretty road and I was enjoying the ride- I had decided to take frequent breaks, like yesterday, to keep my caloric intake, attitude and hydration in check. At about 20 miles I stopped in front of a very big hill for a Cliff Bar. After eating the Cliff Bar I looked at the hill and the trees blowing in the wind and decided these conditions called for more extreme measures. So, I pulled out a two pack of frosted strawberry Pop Tarts! 410 calories, with 304 calories coming from carbs! If this was a sanctioned cycling event, I’m sure Pop Tarts would be banned with other PED’s. I rode through the beautiful countryside for another 15 or 20 miles and stopped for lunch at an Italian deli in a small town. I had a really exceptional Italian grinder, lemonade and apple cobbler. The helpings were huge and boy was it tasty! I had a road detour in one small town that took me a bit off route and I had to follow an escort vehicle that kept to my pace! Nice NY DOT worker.  The roads were great until I got close to Binghamton and then it was riding in a city with no shoulders. I had two close calls- one very close call with a construction truck pulling a trailer and was very relieved ro reach the McDonalds where I will be meeting Janet’s college roommate (Joanne) and her husband (Jack)  They will take me to their house about 30 miles south in Factoryville, PA to spend the night and then bring me back to Binghamton in the morning- very nice! Daily mileage: 68, trip miles: 3,524.

My WS hostess and I from last night enjoying some great ice cream:

I love how all the little towns have flags flying along their main street:

 

Pretty roads with great shoulders again today. Kudos to NY DOT:

 

I do not like detours!

Some pretty scdnery along the way:

And some pretty old homes in various small towns along the way: