Traveling at Mach 0.012

Start – Frostburg
Destination – Perryopolis
Day total miles – 90
Journey total miles – 483

Starting the day, we decided to hit the Princess Restaurant for breakfast. Just as good as dinner. I think the cold and the hard day before led to a slow start. After breakfast, loaded up everything and finally headed out. About 10 miles up hill and then down hill (sort of) to Pittsburgh. Too bad the down hill is not as steep as the uphill. Passed from MD to PA, this makes 4 states (VA, MD, WV, and PA). About 930 AM we passed the continental divide. Oh the possibilities. Will the water flow to both watersheds? Met a group of 4 friends biking towards Cumberland. The day was slowly slipping away and we needed to make up some time. Onto the bikes and off to the next stop. The tunnels were fun and seemed brighter this time. Maybe it was optimism.

We wound around the countryside with the Casselman River led us to Meyersdale. This is the home to a railroad museum; friendly people and needed rest stop. Off again towards Rockwood and then to Confluence where the Youghiogeny River takes over. The trail is mostly fine gravel and sounds of crunch ring in my head. That and the fender rubbing the front wheel. I will fix this.

Along the way, had some little bits of rain and hail to taunt me. Had put away the parka long time ago, so do I wait or stop to put it on. Seems like every time I put it on, the sun came out and I was too hot again. Cold/hot…just not the picture perfect day.

The day wore on and we made it through to Confluence. I sure wish they would have fixed the Pinkerton Tunnel, more than a mile around for a mere 849 ft tunnel that is in disrepair. That extra distance just added to the day. I think we as a group were worn out from the previous few days on the canal tow path and now it was starting to show. I am doing the mental math in my head and hoping we would make it to Perryopolis before dark.

Lunch in Confluence gave us a break. Back on the bikes and down the path to Ohiopyle. More people as we got closer to the park. Moving on and then to a true downhill part of the day. Picking up speed as we descended down from Ohiopyle, the miles clicked off a little faster. Ugh, the tree across the trail was a nuisance. Duck under the leaves and then oh no, turn quick to miss the branches I did not see. And mud. Made it and kept on moving. Next stop Connelsville. Memories of the night there in the fall, the lean to shelters, the grocery store. No concert in the park this time, it was building the playground. The weekend builders looked tired and there appeared to be many more boards to install in the fence.

The last leg. On to the turnoff to Perryopolis. 8 or 9 miles down the path and we could head to the hotel for the night. Finally at the turnoff around mile 100 of the GAP trail. Looks ok so far. Then, there is the hill. Pulling out of the valley to get to the fabulous Perry-O Motel. One giant hill and then several rolling ones to a final downhill run and we were there. Ugh, no pictures too tired to think. Checking in. Now I have vague memories of the 70s and walking into the hotel office brought back some. The guy at the desk was definitely a throw-back and he was on a different timeline than the rest of the world. And we got real keys. My room was at the lower end of the OK scale. I did not see anything that I would not touch and the shower was warm to clean off the days grime.

Dinner plans are tough when you don’t have a car and are tired of riding all day. Next door was a pizza place; it would do. Trudging over, I fantasized of a cold beer, some food to feed the growl in my stomach and then back and to sleep. Fitting, they were not serving food, something about a gas leak. But they would sell us some beer. Hold the thought. Up the road a bit was a family restaurant, that would do. Across and up the highway. As we closed in on the front door, a woman emerged to tell us they closed at 7. It was 715 on a Saturday night and our next choice was a Dairy Queen or Subway? Consensus was beer and pizza delivery. Down to EK and Joe’s room for the feast??? Large pizza a few beers and a salad for me. Oh yeah, the beer from the closed kitchen place we started at. At least I did not have to drink Bud lIght.

Off to bed and then a 5 wake up to start a new day.