The GAP & C&O Trail Day 2

Our morning offered clouds and threats of rain but the cycling gods smiled on us and after our 12 mile break at Round Bottom Slush Run we were seeing blue in the skies.  There were lots of colorful comments about the name of our rest stop for sure.  

Sometime in the past day we moved off of paralleling the Monongahela River to one of its tributaries called the Youghiogheny River.  Even though we’re usually within 50 to 100’ of its bank it’s almost impossible to see because of the thick forest.  We stopped for a photo on this abandoned bridge to no where for our first good look at the “Yough”.  It was beautiful and would only become more so.  

Close to Noon we dipped down the valley into Connelsville where we were tipped by a local we could find a nice place for lunch. 

We had a great lunch at the Kick Stand Cafe less than 50’ off the trail in Connelsville. It was also right next to a bike shop.  This town really knows how to cater to cyclist it seems. 

As we approach OhioPyle about about 40 miles into our day (I really need to research that name!) we had more great views of the wild Yough from an old train trestle. 

Sue and I finally had a chance to get to the waters edge of the Yough near the end of our day because someone had put some stairs down the steep embankment to the river.   It was very peaceful but we couldn’t enjoy it for long because time was running out to have dinner in Confluence at the only place to eat in town!  BTW Youghiogheny ( pronounced yoka-geini is Lenape for “stream flowing in a contrary direction”.  The Yough (pronounced yok) runs south to north from Maryland to Pennsylvania.  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youghiogheny_River

In the process of trying to find a bike mechanic for Donnas’s rear tire (more later) when we arrived in Confluence around 4, this gentlemanly man about town, Larry, offered us help. Not only did he tell us the bike store was closed for the season because the guy was on vacation, he went so far as to lead us through town (hazard lights a flashing) the safest way to our B&B, helped take us back to town before the restaurant closed and filled us in on tons of history of the town and its people in a very entertaining way. Truly a treasure of a man. 

We got to Mitch’s in time for a nice meal of salads, soups, grilled cheese, strombolis, pizza and Yuengling beer (we had to buy at the bar down the street). Larry told us that Mitch’s isn’t named for the owner as you might expect but rather for a local man who was driving his wife to a medical appointment when a tree fell on their car, killing Mitch and putting his wife in the hospital.  Definitely a well connected small town of 776 people, also according to Mr. Larry!

So, Donna’s rear tire had an incident with a small branch on the trail.  The branch was easily cleared but now her wheel is making a “squishing” sound with every rotation, but only when it’s loaded with a rider. After checking all of the more obvious potential issues without success she checked with her son Michael who works in the bike industry and is all things bike.  He hypothesized a couple of the spokes might be rubbing and suggested we put some plastic between the squeaky spokes.  Not knowing which spokes we’re squeaking we put a little electrical tape between them all-sadly without success. The mystery continues to tomorrow!


After dinner we all chatted in the great room of the 175 year old Hanna House and got to know one another a little better. Tomorrow we finish the GAP Trail in Cumberland, MD. The C&O to DC will be next.  

The GAP & C&O Trail Day 1

Our Day 1 was a 40 mile jaunt from Pittsburgh to Belle Vernon, PA.  We finally had a break from the cloudy weather and road into a cool and sunny morning. The sign that Donna is peering from gives a high level overview of our trip to Washington, DC. 

We meet lots of friendly folks along the trail.  Ray-Ray and Freddy gave us some tips on a places for lunch as we head southeast on the GAP. 

So much industrial history along the rivers in Coal and Steel country but my observations are just a tiny fraction is left from the heyday of big steel in the US.  Now we ride our bikes on the once great P&LE railway. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_and_Lake_Erie_Railroad

Mid-morning today we became the “Gang of Eight” when Annette and Terry met us not far from Pittsburgh.  Annette has the turquoise jacket and Terry is just to the right.  We’re pretty much a bicycle gang now and we’ll likely be intimidating trail people all the way to DC!  Watch out!!

In Boston, PA we all had lunch at Betsy’s Tea Room.  In spite of the name the food was great and we got a little rest before we finished our day. 

Did I mention the apple pie a la mode at Betsy’s?  Yummm!

Len learned something new today. 

In the afternoon we encounter Barry, on the far right, who is 11 miles from home. He’s also ripped and flatted his tire.  Barry told us he doesn’t believe in carrying tools or knowing how to repair a flat but he knew how to shout out to us when he was in trouble.  So we donated a tube to his cause and he added the dollar bill to boot up the small tear in the tire.  I modestly pumped up the tire and told him to take it easy on the way home. He tore off like a jack rabbit but at least we never saw him again so maybe he made it.    

We made it to our overnight in Belle Vernon by around 4.  Donna and Sue quickly researched our dinner at the nearby Cedarbrook Country Club where it just happens to be $5 Build Your Own Burger Night!! We ate till we were full and carefully sped back to our motel in the coming darkness of night without injury or scratch. 

The GAP & C&O Trail-The Gathering

Today was the gathering of 3/4’s of our group and the beginning of both a shake down ride around Pittsburgh before we leave for DC tomorrow and a chance for us to start forming as a group.  Sue, from Chesterfield, MO and I are checking out the Rec Paths on both sides of the Monongahela River that will take us into Pittsburgh proper. 

The day was cool and mostly gray but thankfully dry as we worked our way across busy bridges, roads and paths towards downtown. 

The official start of the GAP trail is Point Park where the Monongahela and the Allegheny River join to form the Ohio River. So of course we needed an obligatory starting picture by the fountain. 

Our morning 10 mile shakedown ride proved fun and fruitful with no issues presented.  We then drove about 60 miles for a tour of Frank Loyd Wrights famous Fallingwater house built in the 1930’s. The house and setting were stunning as was the history of the home.  

After a hard day of touring and site seeing we had a fun dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. Upfront I present the Brothers Szmurlo (Chester & Len) followed R to L are Angela, me, Sue and Donna.  Tomorrow we’ll be joined by Annette and Terry on the trail. 

We did an after dinner encore of our version of Free Bird to thousands of blazing lighters and cell phones in the crowd. Tomorrow the real performance will start.