Andy and Kate, Ditto on Dravo. A nice camp with plenty of room (and large bathroom, nicer than most). Check out the old graveyard and local history there. Paul Germain Midlothian, Va On Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at 12:00:03 PM UTC-4 [email protected] wrote:
> Andy, > My thoughts exactly. A hotel for 2 nights and explore the bike and brew > spots in the area. I love the museums there as well. > Kate > > On Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at 7:24:06 AM UTC-4 ascpgh wrote: > >> if starting from Pittsburgh late, I'd really put a plug for getting >> yourself a better go of the first day by getting a room at a hotel in >> downtown (some really cool boutique offerings these days: Distrikt, The >> Industrialist, etc.) and have a nice dinner before setting out. Hotels in >> Homestead too, food's a bit chain-oriented in the area and it's ten miles >> down the path. >> >> If camping, the first place I'd recommend is the Dravo Campsite next to >> the cemetery on the Youghigheny River and is 40 miles from the Point. It >> is not accessible to cars which is a good thing in my mind as you depart >> the urban western end of the GAP. Less formal than others a bit farther >> along but provides opportunity to set up camp as you are comfortable, given >> arrangement of other campers. >> >> Here is a site on the lower portion, maybe 200 yards off the trail, >> closer to the river (right in the image): >> [image: 31E8CA4F-AAD6-4219-A19A-42252B9A471D_1_105_c.jpeg] >> >> Andy Cheatham >> Pittsburgh >> >> On Sunday, May 30, 2021 at 7:50:16 PM UTC-4 John Hawrylak wrote: >> >>> Kate >>> >>> I believe the only direct PHL-PIT Amtrak train is the #43 Pennsylvanian >>> with dep/arr times of 1242 to 1959. The Capitol Limited would be PHL to >>> DC on NE Regional, changing to the Capitol for DC to PIT. They show 1445 >>> dep PHL and 2358 PIT arrival. Pittsburgh is roughly the mid point of the >>> DC to Chicago on the Capital. Amtrak shows the Pennsylvanian allows >>> checked bicycle service meaning you need to box the bike. The Capitol and >>> NE Regional trains 65, 66, 67 have carry on bicycle service which does not >>> require a box (Amtrak does a good business between Cumberland and DC/PIT >>> with the carry on for people riding the Western Maryland RR Trail). >>> >>> The Pennsylvanian 2000 arrival would permit riding to the GAP in >>> McKeesport via the trails to Hot <Metal Bridge and over to Southside to >>> Mckeesport RR trail and beyond to a trail campsite, probably by 0000. Or >>> overnight in hotel in Pittsburgh or Homestead (on the trial). The Capitol >>> 2358 arrival is challenging, although can head out to the trail via the >>> same route. >>> >>> John Hawrylak >>> Woodstown NJ >>> >>> On Sunday, May 30, 2021 at 12:37:39 PM UTC-4 [email protected] wrote: >>> >>>> Hi Andy, >>>> Amtrak has limited trains and routes, don't remember the details a year >>>> later. I do know that there was no availability to travel along the >>>> northeast corridor. New Jersey Transit is the only way we can take bikes >>>> on the train. Just did a ride last weekend allowing us to access North >>>> Jersey trails and ride out the coast. Philly to Pittsburgh had options. >>>> Check Amtrak site for details. >>>> I am definitely going to the Philly Bike Expo this year. Hey.....I'll >>>> probably be riding there and bring my brand spanking new Platypus up to >>>> the >>>> Riv booth for show and tell!!! >>>> Kate-Trenton, NJ >>>> >>>> On Sunday, May 30, 2021 at 9:22:35 AM UTC-4 ascpgh wrote: >>>> >>>>> Do it Kate! >>>>> >>>>> Love the multi-mode (intermode if by train and bike?) travel to and >>>>> from a big multi day bike and camp. Does Amtrak have bike capacity other >>>>> than as luggage to/from Philadelphia? It'd be sweet if so. >>>>> >>>>> Maybe I could pull together a carless plan for the Philly Bike Expo in >>>>> November from home. The RBW newsletter said they'll be going again. I >>>>> think >>>>> everyone's attention really surprised them and they realized that >>>>> appreciation >>>>> of their perspective isn't limited to the west coast, despite this >>>>> group and the calls they take from around the country. >>>>> >>>>> Andy Cheatham >>>>> Pittsburgh >>>>> On Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 4:21:59 PM UTC-4 [email protected] >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Thanks for sharing your awesome pics of your ride. My husband and I >>>>>> had planned on this ride last year but the world shut down. Now it's >>>>>> not >>>>>> going to happen for me for a bit. We had a car free trip planned from >>>>>> Trenton, NJ where we were going to take NJ transit to Philly with our >>>>>> bikes >>>>>> and then Amtrak from 30th street station out to Pittsburgh with our >>>>>> bikes >>>>>> to the start. Bike and camp all the way to DC and then take the train >>>>>> back >>>>>> to Philly and on home to Trenton. No car. We will make it happen >>>>>> eventually. Maybe with my new Platypus!!! >>>>>> Kate-Trenton, NJ >>>>>> >>>>>> On Friday, May 28, 2021 at 9:58:13 AM UTC-4 [email protected] wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> That's great advice Paul. Still finalizing all the details of our >>>>>>> trip and we were going to take the MARC out to Harpers Ferry and camp >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> bike home one of these Fridays as a test run for mileage. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Pat >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 3:56:37 PM UTC-4 Bikie#4646 wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Pat in DC, You are very likely younger than I am, (closing in on 75 >>>>>>>> years,) but my travel companion for this trip is also younger by a >>>>>>>> decade >>>>>>>> and a much stronger rider than I. We both were glad we settled on 50 >>>>>>>> miles >>>>>>>> a day and tried our best to schedule the camps accordingly. After more >>>>>>>> than >>>>>>>> a decade of doing rail trail multi-day trips, three things I have >>>>>>>> found >>>>>>>> feels proper for me: >>>>>>>> 1. A 5-minute break every 10 miles or so. Mainly to relive the butt >>>>>>>> and resupply the tank with a small snack. (I rarely stop for a "real" >>>>>>>> lunch >>>>>>>> unless it is some kind of coffee shop stop.) >>>>>>>> 2. 50 miles a day, riding loaded seems to prevent being too weary >>>>>>>> and making the trip a chore. A little time in camp, even if just a >>>>>>>> relaxed >>>>>>>> meal preparation is nice too. >>>>>>>> 3. No matter how fast I can ride if I have too, like making up lost >>>>>>>> time, beating an incoming storm, etc., It's hard and unpleasant for me >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> sustain 12 - 14 mph all day. I seem to always fall back to 10 mph, >>>>>>>> unless >>>>>>>> riding surfaces, etc. are perfectly smooth and level. >>>>>>>> However, your schedule is your schedule and if it is inflexible, >>>>>>>> you may not have a choice. Depending on your exact start and finish >>>>>>>> locations, the GAPCO is pretty close to 350 miles (50 miles x 7 days). >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Paul Germain >>>>>>>> Midlothian, Va. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 9:55:21 AM UTC-4 [email protected] >>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Woops yeah 5 days. I figure 65 or so miles a day is a good 6-7 >>>>>>>>> hours of riding. Seems like it would leave some time to explore. I'm >>>>>>>>> also >>>>>>>>> not sure how capable my friend and I are of doing that sort of >>>>>>>>> mileage but >>>>>>>>> time will tell. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Pat in DC >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 6:38:52 PM UTC-4 marshmonster wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Pat, you mean 5 days? It's doable but you won't have much time to >>>>>>>>>> stop and check out some of the small towns, take a dip in the >>>>>>>>>> Potomac, ride >>>>>>>>>> around Antietem, etc. C&O was my first bikepacking trip. My only >>>>>>>>>> regret is >>>>>>>>>> not giving it more time, I kind of plowed through it in 3 days. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Monday, May 24, 2021 at 9:04:11 AM UTC-5 [email protected] >>>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Nice pics Paul thanks for sharing. A friend and I are doing the >>>>>>>>>>> DC to Pitt direction later this year. I've only ever done overnight >>>>>>>>>>> bike >>>>>>>>>>> camping trips and he's never even done that. Hoping to do it in 50 >>>>>>>>>>> days. We >>>>>>>>>>> live in DC. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Originally had this planned for end of August, but life got in >>>>>>>>>>> the way so now we are shooting for mid October. Gonna need some >>>>>>>>>>> extra >>>>>>>>>>> layers for sure. Do you know when everything starts to shut down >>>>>>>>>>> for the >>>>>>>>>>> season? >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Pat in DC >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> On Monday, May 24, 2021 at 6:41:07 AM UTC-4 ascpgh wrote: >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> I really enjoy seeing all the variations of folks' trips and >>>>>>>>>>>> iterations of outfitting on this route. I'm fortunate to be a >>>>>>>>>>>> twenty minute >>>>>>>>>>>> bike ride from the Pittsburgh end and frequent the GAP portions >>>>>>>>>>>> and points >>>>>>>>>>>> along that way that are fun detours and sightseeing. >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> I started riding on the GAP with my Rambouillet which doesn't >>>>>>>>>>>> have a load capacity for self supported travel but as a result >>>>>>>>>>>> I've refined >>>>>>>>>>>> my options for refreshments, meals and accommodations. My >>>>>>>>>>>> favorites are two >>>>>>>>>>>> day rides from home, either out to Ohiopyle for the night and back >>>>>>>>>>>> or to >>>>>>>>>>>> Cumberland with a overnighting in Ohiopyle and Amtrak home from >>>>>>>>>>>> Cumberland >>>>>>>>>>>> at 7pm. It is the use I patterned my custom bike to support. >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> Last year I rode several centuries out and back on the GAP to >>>>>>>>>>>> take advantage of the crowd thinning weather, my familiar >>>>>>>>>>>> trailside >>>>>>>>>>>> resources and the relatively level grades. >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> Andy Cheatham >>>>>>>>>>>> Pittsburgh >>>>>>>>>>>> On Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 12:12:57 PM UTC-4 Bikie#4646 wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> While I have done unsupported multi-day trip from Pittsburgh >>>>>>>>>>>>> to DC (GAPCO) a number of times, this time I accompanied friend, >>>>>>>>>>>>> Dan on his >>>>>>>>>>>>> 7-day trip from east-to-west in the opposite direction. A bit of >>>>>>>>>>>>> a new >>>>>>>>>>>>> perspective on the trails along the C&O Towpath in Maryland and >>>>>>>>>>>>> the Great >>>>>>>>>>>>> Allegheny Passage in Pennsylvania. >>>>>>>>>>>>> I was on my Sam Hillborne, which is my dedicated touring bike, >>>>>>>>>>>>> mostly. It serves me very well for this sort of thing. I have a >>>>>>>>>>>>> Homer >>>>>>>>>>>>> Hilsen I use for mixed-surface riding day trips and love it. It >>>>>>>>>>>>> could >>>>>>>>>>>>> probably handle touring, but I suspect the slightly stouter >>>>>>>>>>>>> Hillborne is >>>>>>>>>>>>> more reliable for multi-day loads. >>>>>>>>>>>>> We chose to go a bit early, the end of April, and were met >>>>>>>>>>>>> with a variety of weather conditions, from sunny (even hot) days >>>>>>>>>>>>> to cold >>>>>>>>>>>>> (down to freezing one night) with a bit of rain thrown in for >>>>>>>>>>>>> fun. We were >>>>>>>>>>>>> prepared for it so the cooler temps were welcomed. >>>>>>>>>>>>> The benefits - especially this year when many more folks will >>>>>>>>>>>>> undoubtedly be out riding these trails - were fewer trail users >>>>>>>>>>>>> and more >>>>>>>>>>>>> available campsites and fewer bugs along the Potomac River. (Not >>>>>>>>>>>>> that is >>>>>>>>>>>>> usually a big problem for us, even in the summer.) >>>>>>>>>>>>> My Flickr trip album of the trip is chock full unfortunately - >>>>>>>>>>>>> for my own memories - so I apologize in advance. This time >>>>>>>>>>>>> around, however, >>>>>>>>>>>>> I tried not to duplicate photos of the numerous and more >>>>>>>>>>>>> recognizable >>>>>>>>>>>>> landmarks for the GAPCO, which I have done before. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/bikecrazy-paul/albums/72157719131492162 >>>>>>>>>>>>> Happy trails to all, >>>>>>>>>>>>> Paul Germain >>>>>>>>>>>>> Midlothian, Va. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a2cebfa6-b5a6-48c8-9c83-9787d1c29e12n%40googlegroups.com.
