Charlie's Monongahela National Forest tour looks awesome, I was very tempted, even if it did mean pushing my bike up all the hills but I only have Friday off, and I ended up deciding to wimp out in favor of a FAR tamer outing for my first bike-camping mini-tour . . .

I'm going to drive to the southern end of the NCR Trail in Ashland, ride the NCR and HRT trails to York, sightseeing along the way (or on the way back, I guess, depending on when stuff is open) then jump onto the road to Gifford Pinchot State Park in PA, and camp there Friday and Saturday nights. It should be about a 56-mile ride, one-way. I have a campsite (# 114) right on the lake. (I didn't get to beach-bum in OC because of the weather, so I'm gonna lake-laze instead. I like lakes better, anyway. )

The park Web site says no more than 5 people per site, but doesn't say anything about how many tents. I called and asked, and the park lady said, "Well, as many as will fit on the site." The site will accommodate a 30-foot trailer/motor home (it's in a "no-electric" area, though, so no worries about the neighbors ), and my 3-person backpacking tent doesn't take up much room, so if anyone would like to join me, just let me know.

No alcohol in PA state parks, though. Maybe I could smuggle in a beer disguised as apple juice or something.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/statepar...rdpinchot.aspx