Wednesday continued

October 6th afternoon.

We keep riding. We see a city park. "Well, it looks like Newark is getting less ugly," I say cheerfully. Then a sign: Welcome to Elizabeth, New Jersey.

It's funny. It shouldn't be, but we laugh. Elizabeth is also a shame, because Elizabeth is a pretty name, but city is somewhat run down and only slightly less littered than Newark. We still haven't escaped the omnipresent smell of diesel exhaust. That's New Jersey for you: New York's left armpit.

We ride past the Academy where Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton where educated. I'm impressed with the history and stop my bike. I tell Nicole that we should take a photo. She is unimpressed with the value of taking a photo of the academy because her biggest priority is finding a bathroom. There are signs that say the town library is straight ahead so we keep riding.

We go about a block and downtown just ends. Our route has us going westbound through what is clearly a residential neighborhood. There is a courthouse on the corner. I tell Nicole that the courthouse may be her best bet for bladder relief. She agrees and walks in where she is greeted by metal detectors. The security guard looks at her in surprise.

"I don't know if I went to the right place," says Nicole. "I just have to use a public restroom."

"Yeah, that's fine. Do you have any metal on you?"

Nicole lets him know that she's got metal cleats on her shoes and puts them on the belt. On the scanner, she could see the vague outline of her shoe with the cleats prominantly displayed. That was interesting.

We ride onward, but it's getting dark. We stop at a Motel 6 Piscataway.

Another day, another 40 or so miles traveled. Tomorow's goal: Pennsylvania.