Day 4: Eastern Continental Divide

Mother Nature answered my prayers for cooler and more cloudy weather after back to back 90 degree days baking in the sun earlier this week. Unfortunately, her answer included a full 50 degree drop to near freezing levels. When I stepped outside this morning in State College, the temperature was 42 degrees with a stiff 25 mph wind out of the northwest that pushed the wind chill below freezing.

For anyone who enjoys road cycling, it's easy to describe great outdoor riding weather. Partly cloudy skies, a quiet road with smooth pavement, a moderate tailwind pushing you along, and temperature in the 60s pretty much sums it up. In a cross-country journey with limited gear, you quickly realize how often you have to tolerate non-ideal riding conditions and how narrow the range is for ideal conditions.

While conditions may have been less than perfect today, a shorter ride meant less time outside. Nevertheless, the 5 mile climb over the continental divide in the last part of the ride was challenging in the face of a stiff headwind and with somewhat heavy legs after the previous days' hilly rides. The continental divide that you are probably familiar with is in the Rockies. However, another continental divide lies in the Appalachians, separating rivers that flow towards the Atlantic from waters that empty into the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to crossing the main continental divide in western Montana, my route takes me briefly across a third divide in Indiana/Illinois where waters flowing into the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.

One more day of climbing and elevation tomorrow as I make my way to Pittsburgh, PA where I will enjoy my first rest day.

STAGE SUMMARY:

Starting Point - State College, PA

Ending Point - Ebensburg, PA
Distance - 65.0 miles
Cumulative Distance - 350.7 miles
Vertical Elevation - 5026 feet

Counties - Centre, Huntingdon, Blair, Cambria, PA

Wind - strong cross/headwind