May, 1970
After dropping out of school and working as a photo lab tech for six months, I decided to go back to school. Two weeks before the start of summer quarter called for a new adventure: a bike trip.
First I needed a bike. With $50 of savings, I selected a five speed model from a small shop on Lancaster Avenue. They mounted a carrier rack behind the saddle for an extra $5. It never crossed my mind to purchase a pump. In 1970, all bikes had Schrader valves and all gas stations had free air.
That afternoon, I discovered loading the bike with camping gear to be a surprising challenge. Using an assortment of bungee cords and nylon line, it required several attempts to strap onto the carrier rack an army surplus pup tent, sleeping bag, army surplus canteen, cook pot, matches, and assorted clothing. Next day I departed on a 400 mile adventure to visit my cousins in Williamsport, a small town in north central Pennsylvania.
The journey to Williamsport entailed four days. The first day involved navigating the city streets of North Philadelphia, followed by a maze of sprawling suburbs. About fifty miles from the start, I camped somewhere in a field north of Norristown, just as dusk was falling. Supper was canned Spam, cooked over an open fire, and hot chocolate. Breakfast was instant oatmeal and coffee.
The next day found me on quiet country roads winding through beautiful farmland. Just as dusk was falling, the overloaded carrier rack broke, all the gear collapsed onto my rear wheel, rendering the bike useless. I knocked on the door of a randomly selected house to find the owner happened to be a bike mechanic with a shop in his garage. The repair took about a half hour, no charge. That night, I camped in a thicket of trees near Hazelton. My tent leaked when it started raining.
Rain continued throughout the third day, leaving me drenched and cold entering Mahanoy City. Not wanting to spend another night in a leaky tent, I inquired at police station if I could sleep in jail that night. The officer said OK, and allowed me to select one of the four empty cells. He cautioned they would be required to lock my cell if they had to bring in a real prisoner.
Sun returned the next morning, and I recall being exhausted, hot and thirsty all day. I stopped every 10 miles or so at a gas station to buy a Pepsi for ten cents, resting in the shade while I guzzled it. I had to walk my bike up nearly every one of the endless rolling hills in northern Pennsylvania. On descents, the bike was unstable because of the weight of the gear on the rear rack. I arrived in Williamsport in the evening of the fourth day. After visiting, resting and recovering for several days, I retuned to Philadelphia by way of Harrisburg in two days, riding my first century.
