Riding Days 64 & 65 : Meyersdale PA to Cumberland MD; 32.5 miles and Cumberland to Old Town MD; 35 miles

- September 29, 2022

The end is near, 4 more riding days!. We had started the blog by numbering the days, then the number seemed to get lost in the flurry or towns, airbnbs, and trails. We resorted to dates, because those were easy to look up when we were lost! Yesterday I figured out the number of days that were actually spent riding.

Lisa and I headed out for the last stretch of the GAP trail on day 64. The rain had cleared leaving us a bright brisk morning with some clouds and puddles. We had one last incline before reaching the eastern continental divide where we took some great photos and met up with our fellow bikers from San Diego.

From the top, we were greeted with a beautiful view over Pennsylvania and Mt. Savage. Then we cruised downhill at about 19 mph. We were able to fly down the trail with little bike traffic. While cruising through one of the trail heads, a retired teacher and her former student wanted to know all about our travels. She was inspired to try out her own bike again.

Lisa racing the train around the bend...

We met up with Pete in Cumberland for a great lunch at the Culinary Corner, a restaurant staffed by the students of the local community college. The food was delicious, but the waitstaff needed a bit more guidance!

View of Cumberland from the start of the C&O

Our lodging for the night was at an old mansion in Cumberland. Good friends and former rider Stephanie and her husband Lance joined us for our last four days. We enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by Pete, Lisa and me. It's great to have new faces in the group and a new addition to our riding team! Pete was thrilled to see Lance, as he has not had any male companionship since riding with Mark in Colorado!

We woke to some cold temperatures and clear skies which quickly clouded over but brought no rain. Everyone layered up on clothing. Day 65 we started the Chesapeake and Ohio towpath trail (C&O). This trail is gravel, muddy, and root-crossed. It is also very lovely, peaceful, and travels along the Potomac. 100+ year old locks and lock houses dot the trail and add a lovely historic view as we approached each one.

Pete and Lance on the C&O

Stephanie waiting patiently for the slowpokes

We were all looking forward to seeing the Paw Paw tunnel which has the canal passing through and a narrow towpath for bikes along side of it. We had heard that a rock slide was blocking the trail on the other side of the tunnel, but that a detour had been routed around. Sadly, we met a fellow cyclist halfway through who let us know that the other end of the tunnel was blocked. Gilbert, who was working at the construction project informed us that the shuttle was "broken". The shuttle had been taking riders around the trail on a detour. Gilbert volunteered to take our picture on top of the tunnel. But poor Mitch, the cyclist had no way to get to his destination on the other side. He was making a self-contained journey from Pittsburgh to D.C. Stephanie whispered "do you think we could be trail angels?" Of course! Lance and Lisa helped Mitch load his gear onto the car and drove him an hour down the road. We are once again happy we brought the car!

Gilbert standing in the mud taking our picture!

On top of the Paw Paw tunnel

Today on the bumpy trail, my arms, shoulders, and neck began to ache from the constant rattling. It was beginning to affect my level of enjoyment of the ride and afternoon. The bumps were jarring and could often not be seen before I could make an adjustment to avoid them. I soon realized that I was gripping the handle bars with great force in an effort to stay on the trail. When I loosened my grip, the tension was lessened. Instead of fighting the bumps, I allowed them to come. I was able to enjoy the surroundings and the rest of the ride.

Perhaps there is a life lesson in there somewhere?

Late afternoon light on the trail

Our lodging for the evening was at the Lock 70 Schoolhouse Inn. An old brick schoolhouse has been taken over by an airbnb company and a restaurant. The restaurant serves meals from 7 AM to 5:30 PM. Our room was large and roomy, complete with little desks, a bike rack, and white board. We had use of the school gym. Another fun lodging experience.