This ride ranks as one of my all-time favorite rides of this tour: the weather was picture-perfect, the roads were smooth, the hills were manageable, the countryside just beautiful.  And I can say all that despite a flat tire (the first since Miami, FL) in the first 7 miles.  Thanks to riding partner Susan R. who coached me patiently through the process, I was able to take off the rear wheel and change the tire, after discovering the errant piece of wood that had caused the flat.

In Wrightsville at mile 12, we crossed the Susquehanna River – no arch to this bridge as the many rocks below make the river not navigable in this area.

We stopped at a Turkey Hill gas station for a nature break and I couldn’t help but laugh at the implication that the local police were guarding the oversized cow.

While some of the cyclists stopped at a Subway for lunch in Manheim, Susan, Janet and I continued a bit further to Molly’s service station and enjoyed our PBJ sandwiches with chocolate milk.  Also loved this sign.

The photos of the farms don’t do justice to the expanse of greens we saw – lots of dairy farms as well, though most of the cows were in barns.

Outside Manheim, we passed evidence of an Amish church service.  I was discreet in my picture taking, so focus is not good, but it reminded me of the area around Shipshewana, Indiana.  My favorite 5 miles was along Brubaker Valley Road, with more gently rolling hills and a family cemetery with grave stones dating from 1750.

Mileage: 50.38, 2546 ft of ascent, maximum speed 40.25 mph!!