Day 40: 10th State Line Crossing, Presque Isle on Lake Erie, White Turkey Root Beer Stand

Gil's cliff notes, pictures, and random comments from Jean added 7 pm Friday, 6/22]

The riders left Niles, OH and rode 89 miles to Erie, PA...... their 10th state line crossing. Tomorrow is the 5th REST DAY!! (Yippee!!) [Described to me as being "much needed." -Jean] Started out this morning in clear, crisp weather and it was nice and cool the entire day, due to the cold front that reached them last evening. Very low humidity and moderate crosswinds. They were riding primarily north and a bit east today, and arrived at the Avalon Hotel at 3 pm. This group has ridden 603 miles in the past week since their last rest day in Champaign, IL.....plus additional miles to "correct" mistakes in reading the cue sheets or forgetting to LOOK AT the cue sheets. [Men and directions... -Jean]

30 miles outside of Erie about 12 of the riders stopped at an old A&W Root Beer stand, now called the White Turkey Root Beer Stand. Gil got a cheeseburger and root beer.....forgetting that the place was known for it's turkey sandwiches. Good meal. Gil tries to eat a meal about 30 miles from their destination each day. Can sort of mentally say to himself..."only 30 more miles to go today". He made a stop at a farmers stand and again at the Pennsylvania state line (at about mile 63). Passed a vineyard and took some pictures there.

The Avalon Hotel is an old hotel in downtown Erie...very nice and convenient to everything. There may be a ferry going to Presque Isle on Lake Erie and he may take a ferry ride tomorrow. The first order of business this evening was to do his laundry. They had dinner at The Market Grill near the water, and then some of the riders went back to Richard and Gil's room to watch the latest portion of the video tape.

I asked Gil if the group of riders related well to each other, and he said everyone is serious about cycling and doing the best they can, and everyone gets along very well.

Gil hopes to have access to a computer tomorrow and will send his cliff notes and some pictures then.

Gil's Cliff Notes (written 6/21, on the rest day; posted 6/22)
Beautiful day. Crisp, cool, dry air. 89 miles. No problem. Fairly strong cross winds much of the day but we (Tony, Richard and I) did great. Stopped small restaurant at mile 38 and had a bite to eat. This was near Orwell, OH and on a road Ted [his brother-in-law] and I used to pick up antique hit miss engine [a gas engine] in Orwell last year. Also stopped a fantastic old A&W root beer stand that is now a White Turkey stand. Memories of childhood. Red stools, outdoor seating. Mugs of Root Beer. Just wonderful. Interviewed and taped this All American Girl behind the counter. What a good time. Saw some grape vinyards as approached Erie and took some pictures. Arrived at hotel, downtown Erie 3 pm. Looking forward to day off tomorrow.