I’m happy to report that my assumption regarding Hwy 322 to Philadelphia would be a freeway was wrong. It was actually a two lane road almost the whole way, with the first half of the 90 miles just like pictures out of an Americana calendar, houses on Main Street and everything. As I got closer to Philadelphia things degraded to suburban sprawl then urban blight before picking back up to urban renewal at the city center. There was no rain on the ride but it looked threatening so I wore my rain gear for the first half of the distance and felt like I was in a sauna. Freedom (on a scooter) has its price, as they say.
I was in a bit of a daze as I unpacked the scooter. Marion was downtown sightseeing when I arrived at our AirBnB so I had a couple of hours to sit still, settle down and think. I made it across the country. OK, now what? I don’t know. May-be I’ll know tomorrow.
Marion, Leah and I had dinner downtown and walked around for a while. I decided the scooter was safe enough on the sidewalk for one night, and covered it there. I went to bed at 9:00, exhausted, and still in a daze.
Here are some pictures on the road from the first half of today’s ride. I didn’t take any pictures of the second half.
I’ve learned to see water towers as the first sign that I’m approaching town.
Happy you got where you were going and reunited with Marion & Leah. Cool pictures, you could have a second career as a photographer. 🙂
In answer to your question that you made it across the country – now what? Make it back home again! Glad you arrived safely. I’m going to start looking for water towers. I know that there is one on the way into Sacramento, so thus far my experience with your observation is spot on.
It is obvious that part of the country gets rain like we’ve never seen, by how lush and verdant the landscape is. Good that you are going to miss snow, it’s probably not far off in the future. Buildings and other things look more historical, i.e., older, yes, but with more reverence for their past than out west here. I imagine you’re planning to stay in Philly for a few days, that will have a lot of benefits at this point in your trip. Hope one of these days you can give us a closer side-view photo of the scooter to see clearly the states you’ve visited. Say hi to Marion and Leah for Kitty and me.
Congratulations on making it across the country. I had not planned my return after my first cross country. Probably was gong to ship until I woke up, the sun was out and I pointed Scoot east and headed out. No planning, just pointed it east. Looking from afar, I see the leaves changing. By the time you get home you are going to be cold!
Ride on.
It’s good that you can spend a lot of time riding in the rain. When El Niño hits the west coast this winter you’ll be all practiced up. And I disagree with Bob about avoiding the snow. You are into extreme sports, right? And that’s my view from my armchair.
Hi Mike,
You travelled past the halfway point. My calc’s show you about 52-53% through the total forecasted mileage on this journey. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Rest & enjoy visit with family. Be safe, wish you good weather, enjoy the travels. You’re the man!
Mike:
I have enjoyed reading your blog. You are doing what I hope to do next on my Vespa – a cross country trip. Next . . . head south & come down to Florida and visit with a bunch of other Vespa guys for some rides down here – Ken Wilson, Bill Leuthold & me. Safe travels – ADK Jim