ALL TRAILS LEAD TO ICE CREAM

There's a novelty to riding your bike in places far from home.  I've taken my bike with me on a trip  to the Jersey Shore, to St. Augustine, and on many trips to my home town of Bedford.  I'm still looking forward to the day that I take it on a trip to visit my brother in Mesa, Arizona.  Cycling is such a cool way to explore and experience other parts of the country. Driving south through Virginia, Robin and I took a short detour on the Blue Ridge Parkway .  We were treated to a beautiful sunset along the way. -- November 25, 2017 Each year, Robin and I spend the week after Thanksgiving in West Palm Beach, Florida.  I know that  flying would be easier...but I like the thousand mile drive!  I get to spend time with my wife, see the Country, and easily take my bicycle!  I really look forward to riding my bike along the Florida coast.  It's so amazingly different from riding in south-central Pennsylvania.   You can forge...

Late last week I got the news I'd been waiting (and hoping) for.  With the blessing of my surgeon and family doctor I was given permission to get back on my bicycle!  I'll admit that I've been just as nervous as I've been excited.  I was told that I could "ease back into it" by my surgeon, Dr. Salotto.  My wife, who is pretty convinced that I'm incapable of easing into anything, held her breath as I clipped in for the first time in six months. A little pre-ride celebration!  My first ride since October...and I wouldn't have done it with anyone else!  Thanks for coming with me, Sweetheart! -- April 9, 2017 I think she was surprised when I suggested a short 3 mile ride home from the middle school where I teach after we dropped my truck off for my son.  As far as I'm concerned...that's "easing into it."  What a feeling it was getting back on my bike.  I really missed this...the sense of freedom...the wind in my face...the simpl...

On those days that I ride my bike to school my students often notice that it doesn't have a kickstand.  That kind of boggles their mind.  Then they ask..."How come you just lean it against the wall?"  My corny response is that "my bike is tired....actually, it's two tired."  Before you roll your eyes, please understand that I work with 140 8th graders each day (and this is my 22nd year !)  Please cut me some slack...those corny jokes get me some street cred. It's October and I'm no longer KEEPING AN EYE ON THE CORN .  The scenery; however, is just as amazing! -- October 28, 2016 The reality is...as anyone who rides a bicycle can tell you...when I'm on my bike it becomes a living part of me.  No matter how tired I am after a day of teaching my butt off, once I get on my bike I feel like a new person.  It literally energizes me.  So, on a Friday afternoon, as I walked up the driveway and into my garage after a long week of teaching...

My emotions, yesterday afternoon, ran the gamut...ranging from anger, depression, and fear. When I got on my bike after school, for what I knew would be a very quick ride , I conscientiously began to try to keep track of how long it would take for those emotions and feelings to dissipate and fade into the background.  I wanted to see how long it took for the negative thoughts I was having to be replaced by something so much better.  Clipped in, and with Springsteen in my right ear, I began down the road. A guy and his bike.  Just what I need after a rough day. I never regret a ride ...even when I feel horrible...and I was feeling pretty horrible.  So, as I watched the gray road pass beneath my front tires the white lines blur in my peripheral vision...I waited for the voices in my head to change.  My mind drifted to The Price You Pay ....one of my favorite Springsteen songs...and then, silence.  I assumed that it was the pharmacy calling me to ...

I've been pushing my luck on my road rides the past week.  After a string of flat tires I found myself completely out of spare tubes.  I figured that, until I could get to the bike shop, I would just ride and, if I  got a flat, I would either walk home or call my wife or son to come pick me up (which is kind of unfair to them).  So today, after school, my bike ride took me down the Susquehanna Trail to Gung Ho Bikes .  I figured that if I was going to ride...I'd ride there to get what I needed.   Gung Ho Bikes in York, PA.  I took this pick the day I purchased my 2016 Specialized Stumpjumper. -- March 2016 I've first walked into Gung Ho in 1995 and I've never considered going to another bike shop.  Since then, I've bought 10 mountain bikes, 3 road bikes, a bike for my wife, and a BMX bike for my son. (After writing that last sentence I'm kind of amazed.  That's a lot of bikes!) The owner, Jay, is my longest continuous friend since ...

We're in the middle of a dry spell here in central Pennsylvania.  I haven't cut my grass in over three weeks (to be more honest...my son hasn't cut the grass in more than three weeks)...the local farm fields are turning brown...and the Susquehanna River is pretty darn low.  I've been in a dry spell too.  It's been over two weeks since I've been out on the trails on my mountain bike and, yesterday, I finally managed to break a ten day hiatus from my road bike.   This has been my luck recently...road closures and flat tires.  No worries...every bike ride is a great ride! -- September 14, 2016 It's not that I like to leave my bikes hanging in the garage as wall decoration...and it's not that I don't want to ride...but it's been nearly impossible for me to get out and ride the past few weeks.  After school appointments, quality family time, and the fact that I've been just plain tired have played a role.  Other things, like the Springs...

In final days of June 1863, four Confederate brigades...under the command of General Jubal Early ...occupied the city of York, Pennsylvania demanding $100,000, shirts, hats, meat, & more.  Leaders in the city were able to come up with all of General Early's requests except for the money.  Approximately $28,000 was eventually handed over.  Far short of what the confederate general wanted...but enough to satisfy him and prevent the city from be torched.  The fact that York, Pennsylvania is the northernmost city in the United States to surrender to the Confederate army is overshadowed by the events of the next few days...the largest battle to happen in the history of the Western Hemisphere...the Battle of Gettysburg .   But...it's a cool story...and one I like telling to the students in my history classes . This WELCOME TO YORK monument, located on George Street south of the city, greets visitors as they come off of Interstate 83.  It's a safe bet tha...