b'Just as we are ready to roll, little Timmy Garvey rides up on his tricycle. He has attached sand buckets to the rear of his trike, his own mini-panniers. It feels good to work out the cramps in our calves as we pump the pedals and head out of Ocean City. We climb several bridges and cross the Great Egg Harbor, leaving behind the legendary Jersey Shore. After several miles of marshland we ride a generally flat route for 40 miles, across vast stretches of scrawny evergreen trees, punctuated here and there with towns like Mays Landing and Hammonton. The forests through which we travel are part of the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, a preserved area of over a million acres20% of the landmass of the state running through the heart of New Jersey. The only diversions from our straight, flat route are the occasional sandy side paths, rural roads leading deep into forests or to forgotten towns. It is hotover 90 degreesbut we face very little headwind and have a very productive day of riding. As we reach the suburbs on the New Jersey side of Philadelphia, it is rush hour. But since we are heading into townagainst commuter trafficthe roads are free of congestion. Through the rundown neighborhoods of Camden we encounter very little traffic. As the blazing sun drops in the smoggy sky, we finally reach our goalthe Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Beyond itPhiladelphia. This suspension bridge is a jaw-dropping statement of architectural beauty with its bold curved lines of blue steel across the Delaware River, set against the backdrop of the City of Brotherly Love. Day 91 Emilie cannot help herself and has me ride up and back on the pedestrian walkway of the bridge several times, trying to get just the right picture. Im really hot and tired and AUGUST 26 hardly amused with our photo shoot. So I take the camera, cross the bridge, and wait I am more fit than at any other point in my life, but after running 5 miles in bike shoeson the Philly side, parking my bike on the metal grates near the end of the pedestrian two days earlier, my calves are cramping and I can barely move. We take an extra day towalkway, waiting to take pictures of Emilie coming down from the bridges peak. In the recover and let our legs heal, lying in the sun at the Ocean City beach. After three days90 seconds it takes for her to ride to mepsssss!my tire goes flat. It is so hot that the on the Jersey Shore, its time to move on.tube mustve expanded to the point of bursting. As we pack up our tent on the second floor deck of Jack Garveys mothers house, weI unload the gear and the panniers and dig deep into our supplies for a spare tube. And can feel the interest from neighbors who are having their morning coffee on their ownso, for the 26th time on our trip, I begin the long, grimy task of fixing a flat. The air is decks in the neighboring homes. We thank Mrs. Garvey for her hospitality and chat withstifling hot. Jack as we put our bikes back togetherfirst re-attaching the rear wheel rack, then theAfter about 20 minutes of work in this unbearable heat, I am finally pumping up the front pannier racks. After the frame is built out we hang the handlebar bag, then the fourtire. We are ready to go. I just need to adjust this last bungee cord, whenoverstuffed front and rear panniers, then strap on the tent, tarp, and fishing pole with POW!! bungee cords. We arrange the mirror and maps on the front handlebar and fill our fourEmilies tire has a blow out! There is a hole straight through the Kevlar tire and it water bottles from the garden hose. And finally, I fix the blue yarn hair on my belovedis beyond repair. So we look at a tourist map on a sign at the base of the suspension hood ornament, Betty.bridge and determine that our destinationthe apartment of Emilies friend Mary Ann Grabavoy, at 4th and Marketis close enough to walk. 74'