Been wanting to ride again in Amish country, without the Covered Bridge Classic constraints, so with the days getting shorter ... and cooler ... decided today was the right day. Started at Shady Maple because of the giant parking lot where nobody pays us any attention as well as the riding companion was having a hankering for the smorgasbord post-ride. Day was cloudy and cool with a persistent 10mph or so north wind (with higher gusts) as the remnants of that nor'easter moved away. There were a couple of northbound stretches toward Ephrata that were ... challenging ... but not overly difficult. Once across US 222 the road eventually dipped into a stream valley and the wind died. Then on the rail trail toward Lititz and after that, the wind was not really a factor. No need to ride the rail trail again -- curiosity satisfied, though the southbound stretch after Kissel Hill was quite fun, along with the eastern leg towards Farmersville. On retrospect, could have avoided the little northbound bend and all of Farmersville by using other roads, but it really wasn't a problem. Also in hindsight, the weird little loop at mile 20 was to avoid Rothsville Road (PA 772) but we could have ridden just a short distance along it to Cinder Hill Road, taken THAT to Owl Hill and avoided that extremely steep wall at 20.7. The part of PA 772 to avoid is stretch past Cinder Hill, when it narrows, has no shoulders and is cut into the side of a hill. Ridden it once or twice, didn't like it. Felt good the whole way. Body thought 40 was like 30, and in fact, there was no stop until 30 (mayyyyybe should have had one about 15 buuuuut there wasn't an obvious place or, worse, really, no thought given to rest stops, smh). w/Dan