More on Day 5

After a stormy night under the pavilion of Zion’s town park we headed out into the early morning cold determined to find a place for the next day with internet. Everywhere we went, we heard rumors that Pennsylvania was going to flatten out “over the next hill.” You would think that the name Happy Valley would be a clue as to the validity of said rumors, but it’s amazing how deluded optimism can make you. The epic climb up Snow Shoe mountain had no fewer than three signs each five miles apart promising the top was 11 miles away.
But reach the top we did, and in my efforts to try all the local cuisine, I ate scrapple at the local diner once we did. Never again.
During the aforementioned breakfast the following conversation took place:
Us: So, that was the last mountain, right?
Waitress: Which way you going?
(Flurry of activity as we search for the maps)
Us: This way.
Waitress: Ha ha. Well, first you have to go over my mountain. It’s steep. I don’t even come to work in the winter because I’d slide all over.
Us: And then we’re done?
Waitress: No. Then you have to hit the highest point east of the Mississippi on 80.
Freda: I quit.
Yes, friends, we had two more mountains to climb that day. Two more long, painful ascents during which we moved so slowly that we began to envy a certain Greek rock roller.
At the base of mountain number three, we met Mr. Rowles of the Rowles Furniture Store who offered up some warnings about the terrain ahead.
Side note: Mr. Rowles, you’re right. That was no joke.
When we finally reached Clearfield, PA, famous for, well, being hard to get to on a bicycle, it was just a short jaunt to Rockton where Lisa and I witnessed a man falling off his motorcycle. We immediately leapt into EMT and Athletic Trainer mode and basically kept him alive until the ENTIRE fire department of Rockton, PA arrived to begin first response. Ok, really he was probably fine, but about thirty volunteer fire fighters responded to the 9-1-1 call which led to a loud siren summoning the troops from all around the mountain. Sorry there are no pictures; Lisa didn’t think it was appropriate.
We continued onward and UPWARDS to DuBois, PA where Lee at the YMCA gave us the nicest gift we’ve received yet, passes to the hot tub and showers. The latter was especially nice for Melissa because she only has one shirt. Yeah, it smells.
Now, I am sure we will meet some nice people in our travels. We already have. It is going to be hard for a town as whole to beat DuBois, though. We came in during Community Days, a huge festival celebrating the founding of the Volunteer Fire Department. After downing about two thousand calories of fried food, we found Officer Randy Young and asked if we could pitch our tents somewhere in town for the night. He called the mayor and from there, things just took off. Mayor John "Herm" Suplizio might just be one of America’s best mayors (especially if you happen to be on a cross-country bike trip). He introduced us to the men of the fire department, gave us awesome t-shirts, fed us, entertained us and welcomed us to his city.