Great Allegheny Passage

Day 4 on the GAP – Meyersdale to Cumberland, MD

Friday September 9, 2023

We awoke this morning to the pleasant smell of bacon cooking. Debbie made us a wonderful breakfast of bacon, the most delicious eggs we’ve ever had and fresh fruit. We were well nurished for our final day on the trail.

It had rained early in the morning but had cleared by the time we started down the trail.

Pumpkin field with workers filling the wagon.

A short distance out of Meyersdale we were passing small farms. There was a sign that said “Fresh Donuts Today”. We may have been tempted but after our breakfast at Levi Deal Mansion we passed it up.

After a steady uphill pedal we reached the Eastern Continental Divide. It was about 8 miles out of Meyersdale and for the most part the end of our uphill journey.

At the Eastern Continental Divide and high point of the GAP – 2,392 feet.

We had started at an elevation of 712 feet in Pittsburgh and were now at 2,392 feet. Much of the time the elevation gain was seamless – at other times not so much.

Big Savage Tunnel was built by Western Maryland Railway and refurbished for bicyclists and hikers in 2003. The tunnel is closed during the winter months to protect it’s inner concrete liner from damage.

Mason Dixon line surveyed between 1763 – 1767 to resolve a dispute between Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Borden Tunnel near the state line. There were motion-control lights in the tunnel.

We made it over the Eastern Continental Divide, through the Big Savage Tunnel, across the Mason Dixon Line, through the Borden Tunnel and now only about 17 miles from Cumberland.

Following are some images from our pleasant downhill pedal into Cumberland.

We arrived in Cumberland with time to spare before our shuttle arrived to return us to Pittsburgh.

The zero mile marker was so sweet to see

The TuTu Girls caught up with us in Cumberland and they convinced Lenny to join their TuTu ranks.

Our friends were headed for a hotel for the night and a much deserved massage for each of them. They will continue on the C&O Canal Towpath to Washington DC 184 miles away.

We said our goodbyes and wished them safe travels. Hope our paths cross again one day.

Day 3 on the GAP – Ohiopyle to Meyersdale

Friday September 8, 2023

A storm came through last night and dropped a good amount of rain. This morning we were pleased to be greeted by sunshine and cooler temperatures.

Leaving Ohiopyle, we traveled through Ohiopyle State Forest along the Youghiogheny River. Leaving the forest we passed through the town of Confluence which occupies peninsulas among the Casselman and Youghiogheny Rivers and Laurel Hill Creek.

Today was our greatest elevation gain, Ohiopyle at 1,230′ to Meyersdale at 2,106′. We traveled through mostly dense forest and some rolling farmlands. It was a steady climb most of the day. The farms added some welcome variety after so much time in the forest.

Pickerton High Bridge 543′ long. Looking toward Pickerton Tunnel.

849′ long Pickerton Tunnel was the first of many tunnels we will be pedaling through.

Some parts of the trail were newly resurfaced. It was a reddish color, granulated and became more compacted with bike travel. The areas not compacted were power robbing. The edges were soft and crumbled under foot.

We caught up with the TuTu Girls in Rockwood. It was picture time again! We discovered that we would all be spending the night at the Levi Deal Mansion in Meyersdale.

A couple miles before arriving in Meyersdale we crossed the Salisbury Viaduct, 1,908 feet long.

View from Salisbury Viaduct showing Flight 23 Memorial Highway in upper left hand corner.

Our last night on the trail we stayed at the Levi Deal Mansion. Perfect in every way.

It was so beautiful and comfortable at the Levi that we all decided to have dinner delivered. We had lots of laughs and a relaxing evening with our new friends, the TuTu Girls. Debby the owner joined us for a glass of wine.

Weary bikers relaxing on the porch at the end of the day.

Day 2 on the GAP – West Newton to Ohiopyle

Thursday September 7, 2023

We started the morning off with a good breakfast at Bright Morning B&B. We were on the trail about 10:15 AM, pedaled about 2 miles and it started to rain and then it poured.

Trying to stay dry but we were already wet and muddy.

The rain let up some but we traveled the next 8 to 10 miles in a light rain. You can only get so wet.

We stopped in Perryopolis at Sager Mosaics. The Tu, Tu girls told us it was a must see. We really enjoyed seeing the unique mosaic art done by Rachel Sager. She was so gracious and did not mind us being wet and dirt.

The weather continued to improve and the trail began drying nicely in most places.

Traveling through West Yough we were able to visit the bridge pictured below. By this time the skies were clear and beautiful.

West Yough Transfer Bridge made from ruins of abandoned Warren truss bridge once used by Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad.

On the way into Connellsville we passed under this arch which features stained glass from the town’s Youghiogheny Opalescent Glass Factory.

Bowest bridge near Connellsville is 747 feet long.

This road seemed to go on forever – straight, tree lined and steadily uphill.

There was a section of forest south of Connellsville where trees had been taken down by a storm a couple weeks ago. It looked as though the area had been timbered. The area was several miles long. I can’t imagine the hours it took the trail volunteers to clear the trail. Kudos to them!

A few miles before arriving in Ohiopyle we reached the halfway point of the trail.

We arrived in Ohiopyle still a bit damp and very dirty. We are staying at the Ohiopyle Suites and they were kind enough to provide towels and water hose to clean our dirty bikes.

Day 1 on Great Allegheny Passage (GAP)

Wednesday September 6, 2023

We arrived in Pittsburgh yesterday evening and stopped at Point State Park which is the terminus of the GAP trail.

We had decided not to begin our ride here as there is construction and detours which would involve some city street riding. At the tip of the park, the Monongahela and the Allegheny join to form the Ohio River.

Bronze medallion at the tip of the park indicating the western terminus of the Great Allegheny Passage.

Also in the park is Fort Pitt Block House. Built in 1746 it is the oldest authenticated structure west of the Allegheny Mountains.

Following are more images taken Point State Park.

Beautiful fountain in the park. The wind blowing the mist was very cooling.

Looking toward fountain from downtown Pittsburgh with the confluence of the rivers in the background.

We spent last night at Traveler’s Rest a historic South Side building. It has been refurbished and is now a very welcoming and homey hotel, at mile marker 148 on the GAP trail. Mary Beth was a wonderful hostess and her dog Peabody was a pleasure to meet.

We were on the trail at about 10:30 AM. The weather was already really warm and we rode most of the day in 90+ temperatures. Our destination was West Newton, where we had reservations at Bright Morning B&B, 34 miles down the trail.

The Waterfront area is about 9 miles out of Pittsburgh. This is where we passed former sites of 3 steel mills.

Lots of graffiti on the way out of Pittsburgh.

Hot medal bridge built in 1901 to carry the iron from the furnaces to the steel mills on the other side of the Monongahela River.

We passed through Homestead site of the 1892 Homestead Lockout and Strike, among the first deadly management- labor disputes in American history.

Until we left McKeesport, known as “Tube City” for it’s production of iron pipes at the National Tube Works, we were on an asphalt trail in a mostly urban setting. It was a relief to get on the very tightly packed gravel which is in excellent shape. Getting into the more rural areas made for some much appreciated SHADE!

We met these wonderful ladies at the Traveler’s Rest last night. They call themselves the Tu Tu, Tu Tu girls.

The Tu Tu, Tu Tu girls are also headed for Cumberland, MD. One of the girls has ridden the GAP 9 times. They had some good advice and were very entertaining.

Our home for the night, Bright Morning B&B.

This is a sculpture made of railroad spikes welded together.

We are at mile marker 114 on the trail. Cumberland is 115 miles down the trail. Tomorrow we head for Ohiopyle which will be a 42 mile pedal. It should be a bit cooler with a 50% chance of showers. That’s a 50% chance of NO showers 🙂