I started the day at 10am, leaving Viragas before a small trip past Weidner universities campus and joining the Pulaski highway (US 40) which would take me all the way to Baltimore. Today would also run across 3 states; Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.
After about 30 miles I pulled into a Walmart to find some lunch, only to discover everything food-wise they sold was frozen or needed cooking at least. Packet of crisps and a gatorade it was then! Snacking on my incredibly healthy lunch outside, a middle aged woman came over to ask if I was a 'carrier'. It took a moment to work out she meant delivery guy, and wasn't asking if I had some kind of disease! "They dress like you", she said, commenting on my entirely lycra costume. I explained I'd come from New York, where I was going to and how I was raising money for Macmillan which she was all very impressed by.
Further along the US 40, I reached the infamous Thomas J Hatem bridge over the Susquehanna river. All the way up to, and all the way the other side on the US 40 is bikeable, with bike lanes in certain sections. On the bridge however, bikes are prohibited and there are no walkways to cross on either. The nearest bikable bridge is 30 miles to the North! I'd read some other peoples blogs who had varying experiences of trying to sneak across, some managing it and one gut who was forced to turn around and cycle into oncoming traffic once the police caught him. Apparently the only way across with a bike is to call a cab! Anyway, I thought I'd gamble and blitz the bridge as quickly as possible. I made it all the way to the other side (just metres from where the bike lane stated again) before a 'woop woop' came from behind me and I had to pull over.
The copper took my ID, checked I had no warrants against my name and told me to watch out for signs on big bridges prohibiting bikes, asking "you're not from around these parts, are you?" somewhere in the spiel. He then have me a bottle of water and warned me not to hang around in the local area too long, before letting me on my way. I fought the law and .... won a bottle of water!
I reached Baltimore and my next warmshowers host Danielle shortly before 6pm. Danielle is a professional opera singer and the apartment is filled with instruments and sheet music, a real delight! I headed into town in search of a pasta based dinner, but the place I found was quite fancy looking and my shorts and flip flops probably wouldn't cut the mustard! In the end I went for a pizza bar called Home Slyce. I had a houmous and bread starter, followed by a chicken, pesto and olive 'Slyce' (a kind of cross between a pizza and calzone thats folded into a boat shape and cut into 3).
Once back at the apartment I chatted with Danielle and her boyfriend about travels around the world, music and various cultures around the world. She is very well travelled and even knew of St Albans when I mentioned where I was from!
Tomorrow and the day after I venture up into a couple of smaller towns on my way over to Pittsburgh, so I'll be finding motels for the nights, I'll miss having the company of such friendly hosts for a few days!
Miles today: 85.7
Total miles so far: 195.7
No comments:
Post a Comment