My brother Jeff informed me last night of a potential shortcut/adventure I could have today. The Pennsylvania Turnpike has an abandoned stretch that includes two tunnels underneath Appalachian ridge lines. This morning after crossing one ridge early, when the air was cool, the sun was only just up, and the traffic was light I proceeded on the adjusted path to the abandoned stretch of highway.
I made my way through a lot of rolling hills on backroads till I came to this.
It was great. No cars to worry about, no impediments and two cool tunnels to go through. It was like post apocalyptic America. All I had to worry about was the zombies in the woods.
The first tunnel was the longer of the two.
It was very dark, but I have my led headlamp (thanks for that Caitlin <3 ) and my led flashlights.
There were weird pipe clanging sounds from who knows where behind me as I went through and a couple kids at the other end made spooky noises, but they were gone by the time I got there. Luckily I didn’t encounter any orcs or balrogs.
It was incredibly moist. 
Looking back after I have come through you can see the moisture hanging in the air. Water was dripping everywhere and at this entrance there were two large constant downpours of water from the ceiling.
A long stretch of empty highway led me to the next tunnel. It was rather uneventful though I kept wondering what had left large piles of dung along the highway. It looked very very old and dry and I decided not to worry to much and just hurry out of there. Thunder on the horizon hurried me into the next tunnel for safety and I decided to set my own mood this time with the great Steve Winwood.
That cured any sense of spookiness.
After that I was almost done. Made it to Breezewood, PA today.
6 Comments
How your Granny would have loved your wonderful writing! She was a stickler, and you have definitely risen to the occasion. Which is pretty amazing considering your rigorous quest. Well planned and well executed.
And the photos…what can I say?
I am really enjoying following your progress.
Safe travels, my friend.
I might have had to detour around the detour, but that isn’t easy with a big cart. Glad traffic wasn’t an issue today!
This is my favorite post so far! I love the journey from beginning to end of the tunnel set to Higher Love.That was a great idea to scare away that spooky feeling.
As my Machu Picchu hiking guide would say, “One foot in front of the other. Un poquito mas.”
Some days I really have fall back on that mantra, or become motivated by spite, curse at hills and give them the finger.
That was a long tunnel!