As much as I wanted to savor the noon check-out time at the Country Inn, I knew 40 miles would be tough to finish before dark if I didn't get a somewhat early start. After breakfast and getting a map and small football from Amanda at the front desk, I headed east where I had a campground waiting for me.
After a few miles on bike trails, I met up with Pennsylvania Bike Route G which took me around Mt. Nittany into the town of Centre Hall where I stopped for lunch at a pizza place. After this, it was just before 2 pm and I had about 27 miles to go. I continued east for a few miles before rejoining Route V, which I had left to visit State College.
For the next several miles, I was yet again in the heart of Amish country. Whereas in Indiana the alternative to horse and buggy was bike riding, here in Penn Valley the scooter was the method of transportation of choice. I got to see several Amish harvesting their corn. The horse drawn combines were a far cry from the massive machines I saw further west.
After 35 miles, I just wanted to be done for the day. The sun was starting to set and my legs were given quite the shock after a day off. The only thing keeping me from pitching a tent in the state forest land earlier than expected was that the campground had hot showers. I wearily arrived with just a smidgen of daylight left, set up camp, and took a shower in the handicapped stall. I ended up needing the bench in that stall as standing was a tough task after 40 miles. It was completely dark after leaving the showers and, not having the energy to cook, I enjoyed a dinner of dry ramen, a couple handfuls of almonds, and a can of pineapple. I fell asleep a little after 8 pm while reading under my headlamp.
After a few miles on bike trails, I met up with Pennsylvania Bike Route G which took me around Mt. Nittany into the town of Centre Hall where I stopped for lunch at a pizza place. After this, it was just before 2 pm and I had about 27 miles to go. I continued east for a few miles before rejoining Route V, which I had left to visit State College.
For the next several miles, I was yet again in the heart of Amish country. Whereas in Indiana the alternative to horse and buggy was bike riding, here in Penn Valley the scooter was the method of transportation of choice. I got to see several Amish harvesting their corn. The horse drawn combines were a far cry from the massive machines I saw further west.
After 35 miles, I just wanted to be done for the day. The sun was starting to set and my legs were given quite the shock after a day off. The only thing keeping me from pitching a tent in the state forest land earlier than expected was that the campground had hot showers. I wearily arrived with just a smidgen of daylight left, set up camp, and took a shower in the handicapped stall. I ended up needing the bench in that stall as standing was a tough task after 40 miles. It was completely dark after leaving the showers and, not having the energy to cook, I enjoyed a dinner of dry ramen, a couple handfuls of almonds, and a can of pineapple. I fell asleep a little after 8 pm while reading under my headlamp.
Mt. Nittany
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