I haven't ridden a bicycle in over 30-years .... Well, let's just say it's been a LONG time! But that wasn't going to stop me!
It was a HOT day, but I was determined to ride this section of highway that's been 'lost to the woods' for almost 40 years.
And, of course, the two abandoned tunnels were just calling to me.
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| Lots of CandlePower! and a Video Camera |
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| The 8 of Us About to... | ...Embark on Our Trek |
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| Access Road to the Old Sideling Hill Rest Area |
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| Looking Into the Eastern End of the Tunnel |
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| Making a Plan-Of-Attack... | ...for Conquering the Tunnel |
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| We're Going In ! | Taillights Are the ONLY Lights |
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| We FINALLY See the Light at the End of the.... | .... Well, You Know ! |
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| Emerging from Sideling Hill | Photo Opportunity! |
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| Western End of the Tunnel | ME ! |
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| ME ! Again! | Utility Room at the Western End of Sideling Hill |
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| Preparing for the Next 5-Mile Leg of the Journey |
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| They're Getting Away From Me ! | They're Way Off in the Distance |
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| I'm Getting Closer !.... | ....But Only Because They Stopped For Me to Catch Up |
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| Rest Stop ! | EastBound Lanes Are Crumbling WestBound Lanes Have Been Re-Paved |
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| It Was 97 Degrees And Only the Crumbling Lanes Got Shade ! |
Rte. 30 Crossing Ray's Hill in the Distance The Present Turnpike Out of Sight Just Below It |
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| Approaching the Eastern End .... | .... of Ray's Hill Tunnel |
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| Arriving at Ray's Hill Tunnel |
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| Utility Room at the Eastern End |
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| Another Photo Op | The Stephens Family |
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| Can Just See the Other End | CloseUps of the Old Lights |
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| Uh Oh ! We're In Trouble ! | Follow the Taillights |
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| The Light at the End .... Oh ! Nevermind ! | Emerging From the Western End |
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| Almost Didn't Notice the .... | .... Overgrown Light Standard |
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| MailBox on the Turnpike ? | "Bike Pike" Information Box |
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| My "Trusty Steed" | Notice the FUNKY Horn |
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| A Straggler Behind ME? | Actually, He's Just Trying to Make Me Feel Like I'm Not the Slowest One |
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| Rte. 30 Crossing Underneath .... | .... Just East of Breezewood |
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| Cooling Off .... | .... In the Shade .... |
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| .... And Recounting .... | .... Our Trek |
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| The "Lead Steed" | 9.17 Miles ! |
Epilogue -
It was the 'hottest day of the year'. My legs hurt so much I thought they'd fall off. I was so out of breath, I could use oxygen. And my ____ hurt so much, I couldn't sit down.
.... But, I'd do it again in an instant.
One (of the many) anecdotes about our ride -
We weren't more than 2 miles into our ride, and I was already feeling the fatigue. Not riding in 30 years was really showing. My legs were sore, I was out of breath and sweat was pouring from me. I was already behind everyone else. I felt like I'd never make it to the end.
Then one of the young children came up beside me and (as only a child could do) made the COMPLETELY INNOCENT observation "You don't ride very well, do you?", THEN rode off into the distance, showing her youthful stride. I felt like I'd just been "left in her dust"! I couldn't help but LAUGH! Of course, she was right!
Thinking about that helped to brighten my day and actually helped me through the harder parts of the trek.
For more on our trek, see the Stephens' website.