Well, I made it to Washington on my steady old bike, got there just in time for the meeting, had dinner, slept like a log, and rode back the next morning. Got back early this afternoon. The ride back was a bit slow because it rained the whole way, until I crossed into Ohio. Then it stopped. I am a bit surprised at how well it all went considering not only the weather, but the fact that I came down with a miserable cold the day before I was to leave. But, I had no choice, had to ride. And to my surprise, the cold didn’t get any worse; in fact, the more I rode, the better I felt (even in the constant rain). This just proves that my mother is wrong about colds (have soup and go to bed, she instructs). Next time I get a cold I am going to find a wet spot and ride (although I admit, it was a bit difficult using a handkerchief at 70-plus miles an hour!). By the way, I 68 between Hagerstown (MD) and Morgantown (WVA) is a great road; nice sweeping curves, great vistas, hardly any traffic (almost no big trucks!) and everyone is doing 80. I also found the only straight road in West Virginia! It is the 522 going South from Berkeley Springs; although hilly, it is straight for maybe ten miles. Amazing.