September 28

A 48-mile day. Crossed the Delaware for the third and final time. Sorry to leave it. I love that river. I'm in the Budget Inn in Norristown, PA, where it took me an hour and a half to find a grocery store and my evening beer. They are weird about beer in Pennsylvania. Won't sell less than a case of it in liquor stores. I finally had to buy a six-pack in a bar, for $10 dollars. Damn the eyes of any that tries to rob a poor man of his beer. The room cost $60, and was well worth it: there is a thunderstorm in progress. My foot still feels good, and I've got air in my tires. Erin won't let me quit without talking to her first.

I start tomorrow on what I think will be the most difficult section, if map reading can predict difficulty. I skirt around Philadelphia, ride through Washington, D. C., and on to Richmond. Campgrounds, and even towns with motels, are scarce on this portion of the route.