I've been biking for more than six years now. While I have expanded my route, there are parts I can travel blindfolded. The reason? The nose knows.
There is a section of my route where the stench from a landfill collects, especially on a hot and humid summer night. After passing through that part of town, the next aroma is from a sewage treatment plant.
There is one block in Scranton and another in Dickson City where people love to barbecue in the middle of the night.
I know exactly where I am when the smell of dryer fabric softener sheets hits me, and when I pick up the stale and smoky air coming from a corner bar.
A business that makes concrete and iron products is on my route. It's been closed for hours by the time I pedal by, but the smell of truck exhaust and diesel fuel hangs in the air.
This seems to have been a banner year for skunks. They are everywhere. I'm not complaining. That's part of the joy of living in northeastern Pennsylvania.
As I think of it, it's a great idea for a travel based map site. Instead of saying "turn left at the light" you can say "turn left when you smell burgers and dogs on the grill at 2 am."
