Crumble Bread

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We began today with a Tour de Shoppes in Butler. First we went to the Smokehouse to get breakfast. Then we went to a bicycle-coffee shop for a cup of tea. Then we stuck our heads into a cabinet shop because Mike likes cabinets. Well, he likes making cabinets anyway.

Our ride began with some all-too-familiar hills. After about 10 miles we turned onto the Northern Central Railway rail trail. This used to be a railway line but fell into disuse so they turned it into a bike trail. Do you know what's great about trains? They can't go up steep hills! So guess how many steep hills we encountered in 30 miles of riding on the rail trail... None! Not one! Incredible.

The Maryland half of the rail trail sloped gently upwards through the Gun Powder Falls state park. The scenery was beautiful. Rivers, small waterfalls, tall forest, all viewed from a gravel trail with no cars to worry about. We had lunch at the top of the hill in a town called New Freedom just over the state line in Pennsylvania. Can't get more American than that name. Pennsylvania makes 7 states, I think.

The final 10 or so miles took us back onto regular roads through York and onto Wrightsville where we're camping behind a bicycle shop. The mechanic, Jason, let us use his apartment next door to the shop to shower and clean up, which was an unexpected but much appreciated perk (we had no showers yesterday). We made a dinner of roasted red bell pepper and tomato soup, served with crumble bread. Crumble bread is bread that you bought 3 days ago and has now gone stale and crumbles into dust if you blink at it and you don't really want to eat it but you paid $3 for a small loaf and 40% of food is thrown out uneaten in the US so you feel like you have to stick it in your soup. Crumble bread is not a foodstuff, it's an obligation.

Now it's raining and we're hiding inside the tent. We think there's an extremely long train going past due to loud rumbling that's been going on for the past 20 minutes. I hope it's a train. Or anything else finite.

Tomorrow we continue trekking towards New York, New York.

Camp Butler

Stringtown Road, Maryland

Rail Trail

No place like gnome

Trail-side snack stand

Rail trail, now with rails

Subtle grades

Train picture for the nephews

Mike choosing a book

Comments

  1. CheriMay 31, 2018 at 7:44 PM

    So the question is: How did any food item last three days in light of the unassailable truth that Mike always hungry?

    Ride safely.

    Cheri

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mikeroddyJune 1, 2018 at 5:09 PM

      I am very fickle and like ever-changing snack options.

      Delete
  2. the Old GuyMay 31, 2018 at 8:07 PM

    Weather looks kind of gray, much as it is here, although we did have some sun this afternoon.

    Do they have any Mexican food anywhere out there in that uncivilized wilderness? Seems to me that bean and cheese burritos would do you both wonders. And some horchata, don't forget the horchata. And chips and salsa. My recommendation is that you get thee to a Mexican restaurant as soon as possible. That will cheer you up, remind you of home, supply you with boundless calories and provide endless entertainment in the tent afterwards....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mikeroddyJune 1, 2018 at 5:10 PM

      We have seen a few places but haven't tried any. I had an horchata in North Carolina on the Outer Banks. It was a little watery. There have been tons of Italian food places recently.

      Delete
  3. LauraJune 1, 2018 at 5:14 PM

    I really liked the sound of crumble bread until you explained it. I imagined something like crumble topping in a sandwich...
    I've really enjoyed binge reading all your blog posts the last couple of days - sounds like you're having a great time (mostly). Looking forward to reading more as your adventure continues! Xx

    ReplyDelete

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