[RBW] Re: Going out on the GAP Sunday and Monday

[REC (Roberta)]

Andy,

That was a wonderful ride report.  I was on the GAP a month ago for only 40 
miles though (I'll write a small something later), and was able to relive 
my ride through your wonderful descriptions.  Your report makes me want to 
visit again and ride farther next time.  Thank you so much.  

Roberta

On Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 8:54:46 AM UTC-4, ascpgh wrote:

> I had a vacation week that didn't fully mesh with my wife's so, on her 
> prompting, I planned a two day trip down the Great Allegheny Passage to 
> Cumberland, MD returning via Amtrak. A two day solo ride through the 
> wilderness on a non-paved path on my own resources riding my go-fast bike, 
> what's not to like? Here's the run down, sorry it's long and a few days 
> old. My wife and I had to move the young woman we mentor and has been our 
> summer roommate into her new apartment. 
>
> I crossed the Hot Metal Bridge to the South Side and the GAP ant the temp 
> was already in the 80°s, humid (...a different thread). Dew point? Over 
> 70°. Not so many folks out for a weekend morning but it was going to be a 
> hot one. 
>
> For the next 20 miles I was on pavement with a pretty good head of steam, 
> imagining becoming less motivated as the day heated up. I stopped at the 
> bench with the USS Edgar Thompson Works across the Monongahela River. What 
> you don't get in the picture is the steep hillside behind me down which the 
> Phantom's Revenge roller coaster of Kennywood roars, riders even more so. 
> Their voices getting the Doppler effect as they go around.
>
> I cross the Mon River on a span between Duquesne and McKeesport which is 
> both the one time largest steel tube manufacturing site and very confusing 
> urban section. You can scan the Google satellite images and see all the 
> stacks of light green coated steel pipe everywhere. The GAP takes a hard 
> right after the railroad tracks, behind buildings and police station of the 
> main drag. 
>
> I weave the rest of the way through the tired, unpopulated part of town 
> through the assisted living projects and the Swin Cash Rec Center. The 
> outdoor courts are empty, not a soul in sight other than a resident trying 
> to get all of her shopping bags in one trip. A left, an upslope and a right 
> onto a bridge over the Youghiogheny River terminus and I am into the 
> watershed I'll follow for 70 miles. 
>
> This stretch is post-industrial wasteland. Warehouse line the river for no 
> obvious reason. The trail takes leave of them soon enough and takes you 
> over the shoulder of a hill and into Dead Man's Hollow just before Boston 
> where both the pavement ends but a surge of activity from the popular 
> access point and vendors close by. I passed a rider on a light blue Boulder 
> Bikes All-road here. Most riders are on comfort bikes with the seats too 
> low. They won't be a presence on the trail in very many minutes as I ride 
> beyond their intended range and the beginning of some sparse sections of 
> trail. Things will continue like that until Lunch.
>
> West Newton. Home of the  Trailside restaurant and bike shop. Also where 
> most of the electric pizelle irons are made. I stop and have lunch on their 
> outdoor deck, habitually. The next stretch is  sparse until Connellsville, 
> about 20 more miles. After getting back on the trail I pass a fellow diner 
> finishing before me on his Bleriot. I was worrying about popup 
> thunderstorms and wanted to reach my day's end as I went by him, only able 
> to process and recognize his bike after I passed and yelled back "nice 
> bike, have a good ride". 
>
> The path gets very narrow along this part. Not a problem since few riders 
> are out in this heat and humidity. Dew point is more impressive. As I ride 
> through coves of tributaries coming to join the Yough, their moving water 
> and topography create small biomes of cooler air that immediately makes my 
> entire body, if not concentrated in my clothing, feel like the substrate 
> for condensation. I am accumulating a thick coating of partly dried sweat 
> and sunscreen to which gnats stick. My clothing feels wet and sticky. I 
> ride underneath I-70s bridge over the Yough, unaware of whatever 
> civilization it would suggest had I seen the vehicle traffic. 
>
> It's still more than a dozen miles to Conellsville and I'm switching water 
> bottles. It's hot and sweltering along stretches in the open sun. This is 
> the epicenter of the Whiskey Rebellion, George Washington had land in the 
> town of Perryopolis which is just as fleeting an idea as American history 
> topics are along this stretch since you'd have to come off the trail and 
> know your way around to find it. The GAP maps aren't confidence-inspiring 
> as off trail navigation tools to sight-see those places.
>
> Entry to Connellsville is via a "campground" area of permanently placed 
> tightly packed travel trailers each replete with landscaping and 
> mag-wheeled golf carts. After passing the community 

[RBW] Re: Going out on the GAP Sunday and Monday

[Howard Hatten]

Nice ride report Andy. Brought back fond memories of my 2016 ride. 

Howard
Livonia Mi

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[RBW] Re: Going out on the GAP Sunday and Monday

[ascpgh]

I had a vacation week that didn't fully mesh with my wife's so, on her 
prompting, I planned a two day trip down the Great Allegheny Passage to 
Cumberland, MD returning via Amtrak. A two day solo ride through the 
wilderness on a non-paved path on my own resources riding my go-fast bike, 
what's not to like? Here's the run down, sorry it's long and a few days 
old. My wife and I had to move the young woman we mentor and has been our 
summer roommate into her new apartment. 

I crossed the Hot Metal Bridge to the South Side and the GAP ant the temp 
was already in the 80°s, humid (...a different thread). Dew point? Over 
70°. Not so many folks out for a weekend morning but it was going to be a 
hot one. 

For the next 20 miles I was on pavement with a pretty good head of steam, 
imagining becoming less motivated as the day heated up. I stopped at the 
bench with the USS Edgar Thompson Works across the Monongahela River. What 
you don't get in the picture is the steep hillside behind me down which the 
Phantom's Revenge roller coaster of Kennywood roars, riders even more so. 
Their voices getting the Doppler effect as they go around.

I cross the Mon River on a span between Duquesne and McKeesport which is 
both the one time largest steel tube manufacturing site and very confusing 
urban section. You can scan the Google satellite images and see all the 
stacks of light green coated steel pipe everywhere. The GAP takes a hard 
right after the railroad tracks, behind buildings and police station of the 
main drag. 

I weave the rest of the way through the tired, unpopulated part of town 
through the assisted living projects and the Swin Cash Rec Center. The 
outdoor courts are empty, not a soul in sight other than a resident trying 
to get all of her shopping bags in one trip. A left, an upslope and a right 
onto a bridge over the Youghiogheny River terminus and I am into the 
watershed I'll follow for 70 miles. 

This stretch is post-industrial wasteland. Warehouse line the river for no 
obvious reason. The trail takes leave of them soon enough and takes you 
over the shoulder of a hill and into Dead Man's Hollow just before Boston 
where both the pavement ends but a surge of activity from the popular 
access point and vendors close by. I passed a rider on a light blue Boulder 
Bikes All-road here. Most riders are on comfort bikes with the seats too 
low. They won't be a presence on the trail in very many minutes as I ride 
beyond their intended range and the beginning of some sparse sections of 
trail. Things will continue like that until Lunch.

West Newton. Home of the  Trailside restaurant and bike shop. Also where 
most of the electric pizelle irons are made. I stop and have lunch on their 
outdoor deck, habitually. The next stretch is  sparse until Connellsville, 
about 20 more miles. After getting back on the trail I pass a fellow diner 
finishing before me on his Bleriot. I was worrying about popup 
thunderstorms and wanted to reach my day's end as I went by him, only able 
to process and recognize his bike after I passed and yelled back "nice 
bike, have a good ride". 

The path gets very narrow along this part. Not a problem since few riders 
are out in this heat and humidity. Dew point is more impressive. As I ride 
through coves of tributaries coming to join the Yough, their moving water 
and topography create small biomes of cooler air that immediately makes my 
entire body, if not concentrated in my clothing, feel like the substrate 
for condensation. I am accumulating a thick coating of partly dried sweat 
and sunscreen to which gnats stick. My clothing feels wet and sticky. I 
ride underneath I-70s bridge over the Yough, unaware of whatever 
civilization it would suggest had I seen the vehicle traffic. 

It's still more than a dozen miles to Conellsville and I'm switching water 
bottles. It's hot and sweltering along stretches in the open sun. This is 
the epicenter of the Whiskey Rebellion, George Washington had land in the 
town of Perryopolis which is just as fleeting an idea as American history 
topics are along this stretch since you'd have to come off the trail and 
know your way around to find it. The GAP maps aren't confidence-inspiring 
as off trail navigation tools to sight-see those places.

Entry to Connellsville is via a "campground" area of permanently placed 
tightly packed travel trailers each replete with landscaping and 
mag-wheeled golf carts. After passing the community pool of this enclave 
things get back to the sparse country homes outside a small town until I 
begin the descent into the city riverside park. For a place that gets 
flooded about every other year by the waters of the Youghiogheny, they sure 
embrace it. There's even a hotel on the far end just before you reach the 
main street stoplight. Just across that street is Bicycles Unlimited, their 
door on the GAP. I always stop and buy Gatorade from them and sit at their 
table and chat. 

Leaving Connellsville 

[RBW] Re: Going out on the GAP Sunday and Monday

[Ryan Thompson]

Thanks for sharing the photos. I plan on riding the GAP this year from 
Cumberland to Pittsburg. Now just have to decide between my Sam Hillborne or 
Crust Romanceur. 

Regards,
Ryan
Arlington, VA

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Re: [RBW] Re: Going out on the GAP Sunday and Monday

[R Shannon]

Looks like you had a fine trip. Thanks so much for all the pics. Your Ram
looks mighty fine too!

Regards,
Rich in ATL

On Tue, Aug 7, 2018 at 1:56 PM, Pondero  wrote:

> So many great photos, and familiar views!  It brought back pleasant
> memories from my trip down.  Thanks for the fun, and am looking forward to
> any narrative you might share with us.
>
> Chris Johnson
> Sanger, Texas
>
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[RBW] Re: Going out on the GAP Sunday and Monday

[Pondero]

So many great photos, and familiar views!  It brought back pleasant 
memories from my trip down.  Thanks for the fun, and am looking forward to 
any narrative you might share with us.

Chris Johnson
Sanger, Texas

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[RBW] Re: Going out on the GAP Sunday and Monday

[ascpgh]

Here's pics, ride report will follow. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ErSUHmvYvjnuks6J8

Andy Cheatham
Pittsburgh



On Sunday, August 5, 2018 at 8:09:52 AM UTC-4, ascpgh wrote:
>
> I have to log my vacation choices more than a year ahead of time and this 
> week was one of my picks, it just didn't mesh well with my wife's work, so 
> I'm taking a solo jaunt south on the GAP to Cumberland.
>
> I will be on the trail at the South Side by about 9:15. Lunch in West 
> Newton, overnight in Ohiopyle.  Monday I'll ride to Cumberland, MD in time 
> to ride Amtrak back to Pittsburgh. I'll clip on my lights and ride home 
> from the station around midnight. 
>
> Seemed like a lot of fun, Just have to finish my breakfast and coffee, 
> print my reservations and head out. I'm on my orange Rambouillet, wave if 
> your out there. Hopefully some good pictures to follow.
>
> Andy Cheatham
> Pittsburgh
>

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Re: [RBW] Re: Going out on the GAP Sunday and Monday

[RichS]

Hope you had an enjoyable ride. GAP trail is on my bucket list.

Regards,
Rich (in hot & humid ATL)

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Re: [RBW] Re: Going out on the GAP Sunday and Monday

[Steve Palincsar]

Have a wonderful time.  Here's your send-off!


On 08/05/2018 06:38 PM, Steve Butcher wrote:

I'm jealous, too!  Have a blast, Andy!

On Sunday, August 5, 2018 at 7:09:52 AM UTC-5, ascpgh wrote:

I have to log my vacation choices more than a year ahead of time
and this week was one of my picks, it just didn't mesh well with
my wife's work, so I'm taking a solo jaunt south on the GAP to
Cumberland.

I will be on the trail at the South Side by about 9:15. Lunch in
West Newton, overnight in Ohiopyle.  Monday I'll ride to
Cumberland, MD in time to ride Amtrak back to Pittsburgh. I'll
clip on my lights and ride home from the station around midnight.

Seemed like a lot of fun, Just have to finish my breakfast and
coffee, print my reservations and head out. I'm on my orange
Rambouillet, wave if your out there. Hopefully some good pictures
to follow.

Andy Cheatham
Pittsburgh




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Steve Palincsar
Alexandria, Virginia
USA

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[RBW] Re: Going out on the GAP Sunday and Monday

[Steve Butcher]

I'm jealous, too!  Have a blast, Andy!

On Sunday, August 5, 2018 at 7:09:52 AM UTC-5, ascpgh wrote:
>
> I have to log my vacation choices more than a year ahead of time and this 
> week was one of my picks, it just didn't mesh well with my wife's work, so 
> I'm taking a solo jaunt south on the GAP to Cumberland.
>
> I will be on the trail at the South Side by about 9:15. Lunch in West 
> Newton, overnight in Ohiopyle.  Monday I'll ride to Cumberland, MD in time 
> to ride Amtrak back to Pittsburgh. I'll clip on my lights and ride home 
> from the station around midnight. 
>
> Seemed like a lot of fun, Just have to finish my breakfast and coffee, 
> print my reservations and head out. I'm on my orange Rambouillet, wave if 
> your out there. Hopefully some good pictures to follow.
>
> Andy Cheatham
> Pittsburgh
>

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[RBW] Re: Going out on the GAP Sunday and Monday

[Belopsky]

Very nice, it's a nice ride. I did this ride with my friends a few summers 
ago. We parked in this lot here in West Newtown, stayed in those houses in 
the background, and headed towards Cumberland. We had a shop in Cumberland 
drive us back.



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