Day 7 First Rest Day June 6, 2019

Henry's notes for today:

Day 7:  our first planned rest day. Slept in. Mary had a great breakfast to greet us. Bikes were cleaned, adjusted, and lubed.  A day to reset. we got to meet Mary's daughter Julie, son in law Bill, and grandsons Luke (7) and Tyler (3).  They live In the house right behind her.  Luke was headed off to a kids vs parents soccer game. Tyler seemingly could eat an endless amount of salmon, his favorite food. Tyler also dug up quite a number of garden worms, with Tim's assistance. I took 20 minutes out of the day to watch that guy finally lose on Jeopardy. Jeff is suspicious that he lost on purpose so he could just go home. 

With our host Mary

Day 6 June 5, 2019

Got lots of pictures today getting to Pittsburgh.
Henry's notes for today:

McKeesport, PA

day 6: first casualty of the trip, which fortunately turned out to be minor. Going down a busy hill with no shoulder into McKeesport, MD, my front wheel go caught in a big rut and i went down. I skidded a short distance, and got some road rash on a limited area of my right leg. My biking gloves and panniers provided significant protection, I think. Glad to not have any major injuries. My front wheel was bent beyond repair, but there was a bike shop 3 blocks away!!  So we had lunch while the wheel was replaced and the handlebar re-taped. My handlebar is slightly bent, but not badly enough to justify replacing. I count my blessings that it wasn't worse.

McKeesport, PA

We rode to Pittsburgh, went to the downtown 3 rivers area, and took the obligatory pix. Then out of Pittsburgh to a neighborhood 10 miles north at the highest (!!) point in Ross township to stay with Linda's brother's friend Mary.  I had to walk my bike up the last 100 yards, as it was too steep for me to ride. Mary had an incredible welcome and dinner set up for us.

West Newton, PA

West Newton, PA

In Boston for Lunch

Refueling after making it from Boston to Pittsburg in record time!

 
Henry and Tim refueling with PINTS of amazing ice cream!

Point State Park, PA

Versailles, PA

Versailles, PA

Map of today's ride:
https://www.relive.cc/view/u3587888839
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3719236050


Climb up to our hosts house.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3719519329

Day 5 June 4, 2019

Henry's notes for today:
day 5: rode to ohiopyle on the GAP, where we took a detour up a long steep uphill to see the frank lloyd wright-designed fallingwater home.  amazing architectural details, and true genius.  Well worth seeing. rode back down the hill to the GAP to arrive in connellsville.  plan to get to pittsburgh tomorrow.  Through all this, tim seems to have endless energy. Those of you who know him understand that he has 2 speeds, fast and faster.

Myersdale, PA

Myersdale, PA

Ohiopyle, PA

Ohiopyle, PA

Connellsville, PA

Maps of today's ride

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3716306494

https://www.relive.cc/view/u3585862375

Day 4 June 3, 2019

Henry's notes for today:
day 4: reached cumberland, MD, the terminus of the C&O barge mule trail.  Hosed off our mud-caked bikes at a bike shop here. beautiful town, and transitioned here to the great allegheny passage (GAP), which had a much better gravel surface for riding.  this is a coverted rails to trails, like the trail of the coeur d'alenes.  after leaving cumberland, we had a gradual 23 mile ascent to the eastern continental divide.  then we did a gradual descent to stay overnight in a delightful guesthouse in meyersdale.  our first hot shower of the trip, which felt magical.

Pictures!

Frostburg, MD

Frostburg, MD

Williamsport, MD

Myersdale, PA

Myersdale, PA

Myersdale, PA

Maps for today's ride:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3713010174

https://www.relive.cc/view/u3583803241?hl=en

Day 3 June 2, 2019

Sitting in Bill's Place (Little Orleans, West Virginia) waiting out cloudburst and not ordering the fried baloney sandwiches "to go" for dinner.

Henry's notes for today:
day 3:  another early start, riding from jordan juction to purslane run campground.  the campgrounds are all primitive, with only outhouses and a well pump.  able to jump into the Potomac during the ride today, which served as an inpromptu shower on a hot day.  While looking for a lunch spot, we rode over the potomac to paw paw, WV to set foot in our 3rd state.  the riding day was shortened by a couple torrential thundershowers, which totally soaked the C&O trail, rendering it incredibly muddy with endless puddles.  the mud really increased our rolling resistance.  i used to know a formula for that.

Oldtown

Map of today's ride
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3711911918

https://www.relive.cc/view/u3583807453?hl=en

Pictures from the first two days

At the airport ready to ride

Day 2 June 1, 2019

Henry's notes for today:
day 2 (6/1):  got up early, packed up camp, and rode from turtle run to jordan junction campground, near williamsport, MD.  A lot of time to think is natural during this kind of ride. For me, subversive thoughts crept in like"what did I sign up for?" and "can I really do this?".  Hot and sweaty at end of day, but no showers available. 

Maps of the first full day of riding.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3706310635

https://www.relive.cc/view/u3579375727