ALL TRAILS LEAD TO ICE CREAM

I'm probably the most focused when I'm on my bicycle.  Still, even when I'm turning the pedals, MY FASCINATION WITH SQUIRRELS often pulls my attention towards unexpected roadside attractions.  It's okay...I don't ride for KOMs (that's "King Of The Mountain" for those non-STRAVA people out there)...I ride because it's a passion and I want to have fun.  Pausing to investigate all the stuff which is often easily missed by those who fly past it the highway allows me the opportunity to get engage my inner-nerd, enhance my ride, feed my passion, and add to my enjoyment.  So, in no particular order, here are just a few of the super kool (and sometimes completely unexpected things) I've come across on my many bicycle breaks.  Enjoy! You'll find this grave of an unknown Confederate soldier along the Susquehanna River in York County, Pennsylvania just north or Wrightsville.  The solder would have been a member of Jubal Early 's divisio...

It's been exactly two months since I've been on either of my bicycles.  That's quite the cycling hiatus for me.  I'll always remember 2016 as the year of my two back surgeries...the first in March and the second in November . I am, however; pretty amazed at all I've been able to do and see and experience in 2016 considering the amount of time I've been relegated to my couch the last nine months.  In between two significant recovery periods I purchased a new mountain bike, made almost a dozen trips to Michaux State Forest, hiked (and biked) some pretty amazing stuff in Arizona, made a couple trips to Patapsco Valley State Park, returned to Rattling Creek for the first time in five years, toured the Gettysburg National Military Park, hiked in the mountains of North Carolina and western Maryland with my wife, made numerous trips to Rocky Ridge County Park, and played on the Allegrippis Trail System at Raystown Lake. One of my favorite pics of the past ...

Something incredible happened in Michaux State Forest during 2015 and 2016.  It wasn't the amazing new trails that we found and explored...and it wasn't the revisiting of trails that we haven't ridden for many years.  These two things alone would have made the last couple of years of mountain biking in Michaux some of the best.  However, 2015 & 2016 stand out because they saw the  return of so many friends (as well as one new friend) to our riding group...and we all know that mountain biking just isn't mountain biking without friends. Dave Raymond (and Tim Sindlinger) riding in Michaux State Forest -- May 30, 2015 Glenn, Mikey, Bill, and Kristian all returned over the past months ride with Mark, Tim, and I.  Matt Linnane began riding with us in 2015 after Tim and I made easy friends with him while crossing paths in Swatara State Park .  Together we laughed, talked, joked, and just rode.  It's greatest feeling in the world to have everyon...