We left Somerset on a beautiful sunny day. The temps were already the 70's by the time we left. We had about a 10 mile ride to Rockwood where we get on the Alleghany Passage trail. You can check out their website at http://www.atatrail.org/ We have ridden a section of the trail on another trip from Cumberland, MD to Washington DC. We were looking forward to getting out of the line of fire of the cars/trucks. We rode into Rockwood to the start of the trail and stopped at a bike shop. As we got off we noticed we had a flat tire. Hap fixed it and then noticed that the rear rack wasn't right. He discovered a broken bolt on the rack. He bought one from the bike shop and we were on our way. We stopped on the trail for a lunch of peanut butter and bananas. The trail is not paved but was packed down enough that it wasn't a problem at all on our tandem. It was alot smoother than the section that we had ridden from MD to Wash. DC. thank goodness. There are several little towns that you go through on this route. Lots of B&B's and places to eat. We stopped in Confluence to get something to eat. We ended up camping at the Outflow campground. Unfortunately the shower house wasn't open until next weekend so we didn't get that shower that I look forward to. Oh well! We set up camp and walked over to an ice cream stand. But then we both decided we were hungry and ate fish and chips. How could we be hungry when we just ate?? When we got in the tent we watched a movie that I had downloaded off the internet. That's the first time that I had done that and it worked pretty well. I think I'll try it again.
The next morning was another beautiful sunny morning. We fixed our oatmeal and bananas for breakfast and got back on the trail. One thing for sure we aren't blazing a lot of miles lately! But we sure are enjoying the trail. We are riding next to the Youghiogheny River. It is a big rafting, kayaking, fishing river. We saw lots of fisherman standin in the water. I can't figure it out. I always see them casting but I don't think I've ever seen one catchin'. We loved watching them fly fishing out west in MT, WA, ID. Same deal out there. Lots of castin goin on...... When we went through Ohiopyle we stopped for lunch and had a great Hummus sandwich. Or was it so good only because we were so hungry....again.... We stopped on one of the bridges and watched some kayakers for awhile. Then we saw an upside down kayak. Hey Hap? How long can that guy hold his breath?" Finally we realized or hoped that he wasn't in the boat. That can't be good. Eventually we saw him sitting on the rock way upstream. I guess it's not like snow skiing where we put brakes on our skis. While we were standing there another cyclist rode up and said that he had just seen a black bear run across the trail. Cool! But we didn't see him. He was probably so scared he is still running. We saw lots of cyclists, runners and walkers using the trail. People of all ages. Even people as old as Ol' Hap and me! I love to see people out and doing something. We rode into the town of Connelsville and stopped at the bike shop to ask about camping. A lady told us that there was a campground about 3 miles out of town. We started to head that way and then decided since it was going to rain to stay inside. And of course the motel was at the TOP of the hill (one of those bicycle laws!). We checked in and walked across the street to Walmart to buy some dinner groceries. Anyone seeing a theme here? At the motel there was a small group of cyclists that we started talking to. It turns out that Tom runs a company that leads bicycle tours on the C & O and the Great Alleghany Passage. You can check out his webite at http://www.getoutandgo.biz/ Oh, and we also discovered another flat tire on the rear. Wassup with all these flat tires?? When Hap checked the rear tire he noticed a pinch in the sidewall. And we were so hoping that we could get through without having to buy another tire.
This morning it was raining when we woke up but then cleared off and was another beautiful day. This would be our last day on the trail so we planned a short day to West Newton. We made reservations at a B & B. A little unusual for us but hey were just trying to be like all our friends! And we only have two more weeks before we have to live in the real world again. Our first stop was at the bike shop again to buy a new tire and another tube. Hopefully it will be the last! Tom had told us that the trail was alittle softer but it turned out to not be so bad. We just enjoyed the trail and the quiet before heading back to the road tomorrow. In West Newton we ate a sandwich at the Trailside Inn before going to the B & B. It was really a nice place. I especially liked the shower! We walked back to the laundromat and to the drugstore for another bottle of sunscreen. For dinner we got some spaghetti and salad to take back to the B & B. We only ate again to go with the wine that they had at the B & B. We spent most of the evening planning our last two weeks. I can't believe it is almost over. A year ago we were just getting ready to leave. It will be very strange to have a car to drive again. Mmmm....maybe I won't want to. We'll see! Later.
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