Whoa! I had to climb a hill today with a 20% grade. I didn’t make it. The picture above is from the top looking back. It’s hard to get the true perspective. About half way up, the grade went from 15%, which was pretty challenging, to 16, 17, and then 18%. I couldn’t see the top of the hill but I could see it was getting steeper. I had to stand on the pedals and when I did, my heart was racing. I had enough. I clicked out of the pedals and walked the last 200 yards or so. As I was walking, the grade got to 20%. That was the steepest climb I’ve ever attempted. Maybe with fresh legs and actually being able to see the top I could’ve pushed through.
This was a typical scene today. I was in the middle of nowhere most of the day. It is beautiful countryside but not much going on.
I passed through the town of Summerville. This little restaurant and bakery was right across the road from the bridge over the Redbank Creek. There were a lot of kayaks in the water and a lot more getting ready to be put in. I made a slight wrong turn because I missed the entrance to the RedBank Creek rail-trail. Once on it, I rode for about 2.5 miles on a really nice dirt trail as it followed the creek.
I don’t know the significance of this jumping fox, but he can be found about 1/2 mile down the rail-trail from Summerville. Next to it was a bench facing out into this field. A good place to just relax maybe but I had to keep moving.
This place is where we are staying for the night. Shannon checked us in, gave us a tour of the 3 story, 6 bedroom mansion, and left the whole place to us. This is directly across the street from the Barclay Square park. Phil the groundhog lives on one end of the park and Mike and I walked over for a visit.
You can see Phil on the bottom right of the semicircle glass enclosure. On the sign to the left is a map of the area. The upper middle is the center of town. On the lower right is where Gobbler’s Knob is located. It’s about 1.5 miles from town. Shannon gave us the skinny — no part of the 1993 movie Groundhog Day was filmed in Punxsutawney. Whaaaaat? Spoiler alert — it was filmed in Woodstock, Illinois. That’s just outside of Chicago and was more convenient for Harold Ramis since that’s where he was living.
The picture above is the real Gobbler’s Knob. There is a tree stump on the stage with a latched door. You can open it up and look and I was surprised that it wasn’t a very big space.
After our tour of town. Mike and I went back to the the Bed and Breakfast. They had a copy of Groundhog Day, so we watched that again. It’s one of my favorite movies and was still as good, even if Hollywood fooled us all. Punxsutawney started the festival in 1886 and is the oldest Groundhog Day celebration. It was definitely worth a visit.
As far as the riding today. It was nice to have a shorter distance to travel today — it was 37.91 miles. I was surprised that the total ascent was 2395. Maybe I’m getting used to riding these hills. I can do without the 20% inclines though. Yikes!
Very cool, D! I am a fan of Groundhog Day and reading your description of the real tradition versus Hollywood storytelling is intriguing. Phil looks like he’s living large…no mention of Mrs. Phil
We did not see Mrs. Phil. Not sure the story there.
Mrs. Phil probably left with Ned Ryerson!
Did you hear “I Got You Babe” when you woke up in the morning? 🙂 🙂 🙂
So cool to see Phil and all that Groundhog history. Don’t get stuck there! Can’t believe the hills you are navigating. 20%. Are you kidding me?! Tell Phil to give a guy a break! Or at least a beer. Keep pumping!
Hopefully that climb isn’t in your Ground Hog’s Day loop, like Bill Murray!
I love that movie too. Cool pics.