“Ride #35: Lancaster to Lebanon and Back”

(This is being posted a few days late. Ride was July 10.)

Today's the last full day of our vacation, and Corinne had a one-day cat show in Lebanon. She left quite early, as one-day shows always start early so they can fit everything in (same number of rings as a standard, two-day show).

We had talked about me riding up to the show, but I had no idea how to get there and every time I mentioned it to somebody they groaned. "You don't want to do that on your bike," a couple of them told me.

Yeah, I did, actually.

It wasn't that far, about 26 miles, but it was very, very hilly. Lebanon is North of the PA Turnpike, and by the time you get up there you've started climbing foothills.

Took me quite a while to reach the show hall at the Lebanon Valley Community Center and Fair Grounds. The wind was blowing straight into my face the whole way, and I didn't know my way so I was riding extra cautiously. It was really hot, and my water bottles were empty by the time I arrived...

... and then I sat outside for 45 minutes. Corinne didn't know I was there, and I wasn't going in to that crowded room dressed in my sweaty bike pants and jersey. Eventually somebody found her for me. We chatted for awhile, she brought me a bunch of water and iced tea (I think I drank four) and I described my route home so that she could try to catch me. But... with the wind at my back, and Lancaster having a lower elevation than Lebanon, I managed to beat her to the hotel by about 15 minutes.

Stats: 50.0 miles (80.5 km) in 2h 54' 25" for an average speed of 17.20 mph (27.69 kph).