Jon's Journal (jon@3blooms.net)
Friday, Aug 27, 2010: Lancaster, PA to Harrisburg, PA (52.0 mi)
Another gorgeous, cool day. I woke early and walked down the road to Denny's for a Western omelette breakfast. I was back in the room by 7 AM and on the road by 8.
Looking north along the Susquehanna River from the middle of the bridge between Columbia and Wrightsville.
The first part of the ride was basically flat as route S took me to the Susquehanna River at Columbia, then across the river via bridge to Wrightsville. These first few hours of the day provide some of the best riding, with cooler temperatures and little traffic, and you're riding them when you're at your freshest.
Traffic got busier as I neared the city of York. Route S branched off onto a somewhat less busy road for a bit, then came back to the main road (PA 462). Once in the city, the route was along a one-way street, which is somewhat less chaotic than a busy two-way street. I followed the route until it intersected Bicycle Route J, which I followed north.
Route J eventually took me out of the city and into the countryside. It began to get hillier, but at least traffic was light. After passing through the towns of Manchester and Mount Wolf, the route headed toward the river on a delightful back road that featured several one-lane bridges and underpasses. As I came out of the wooded part of this road, I encountered the Brunner Island power plant looming in front of me. The road continued past the plant into the town of York Haven.
Here the route became even hillier as it crossed over some large hills (or small mountains!) At the top of the highest of these, I was treated to a spectacular view of the river and of the infamous Threemile Island nuclear power plant. I coasted down the steep slope from this point into the town of Goldsboro, where I stopped for a snack in a small store.
Leaving Goldsboro, I climbed over several more ridges. Finally, I descended a long, steep hill that brought me to a road running along the edge of the New Cumberland Army Depot. A few miles along this road I came to a place near the intersection of I-83 and the PA Turnpike where there are a number of hotels. I had gone more than 45 miles, and while I wanted to stay in the city of Harrisburg, I also wanted to be sure I could find a room before committing to that. I called ahead to a motel on South Front Street in Harrisburg to make a reservation and to ensure I could bring my bike into the room. I could, so I kept on going through New Cumberland and Lemoyne, crossing the river via the Market Street Bridge and then heading down Front Street to the motel.
After showerinng, I washed my dirty clothes in the motel's guest laundry room. Once finished, I walked back to Market St. via the path in Riverview Park, then headed a block east to 2nd Street, where I knew there were a number of restaurants. I chose Molly Brannigan's, an Irish pub, where I had a Smithwick's and Corned Beef Boxty (corned beef and cabbage in a potato pancake with a mustard sauce -- I thought the chef was a little heavy-handed with the sauce, but I enjoyed it nonetheless).
After dinner, I walked part way across the Market Street bridge to City Island where, among other things, can be found Metro Bank Park, the home of the Harrisburg Senators, the AA affiliate of the Washington Nationals. I bought a ticket for a seat three rows from the field and just past third base