jagraham

Things were pretty uneventful the remainder of the trip. We rescued a painted turtle from the perils of the towpath. We stopped for very good frozen custard in Canal Fulton. I felt like I was reenacting the scene where the hunter shot Bambi's mother when I told Peter that the canal boat replica's hull was concrete and not wood like he thought it was... such sacrilege! We saw canal mules, a black squirrel (rare in my area), Canada geese (without green cards) and ducks, goslings and ducklings (tasty, tasty ducklings). We saw the beauty of water irises and arrowhead plants, wild roses, dame's rocket (Peter's favorite), honeysuckle, wild grape vines, poison ivy contrasted with fetid, algae covered pools of stagnant water laced with soda bottles, old tires, construction waste and even a trashed toilet. I found that Peter kept his "trike grin" over the entire two days out. You could tell by the smiles of the people we passed.



... and I got it straight from the horse's mouth that Peter is going to have a successful tour of the Great Allegheny Passage!

Neil_B

This is the take away from your post. Peter is going to have a great time, perhaps stretching himself a bit in ways he never expected he would. You captured him very well in the photo.

BTW that bridge leads to another trail on the other side of the river, one that runs from south of Canal Fulton. I believe it's the Old Muskegon Trail, and it's bikeable. It's possible to ride them as a loop.

Neil_B

BTW, I very much want to at least ride a day with Peter C, but I can't manage it. Camping is out since I my quads aren't working and I'd never be able to get up from the tent. Also the drive is very long for someone who isn't entirely comfortable behind the wheel. Peter_C, win one for the Gimper!

Peter_C

Gee, what a neat and interesting write-up~! Much, much better than I can do! I think that Jagraham should be my ghost-writer, or at least my photographer and editor!! After reading her write-up, it makes me want to do what she did! Oh - wait, I did do what she did!?! Plus, her photos are way cooler than mine too.

Win one for the 'Gimper' - nice one Neil :-) The question is, which 'Gimper' did you mean?? You, or me?? Or, perhaps I need to win two? Course, we need to define 'win'? A good time? Just 'finishing'? Simply not dying? Hehe - a little of all three me thinks.

By the way - rumor has Neil coming to Ohio (maybe) this summer? How many think if he does, he should visit Peter??? Why, maybe Jagraham might even have a reason to drive over this way again, and we could all go on an overnight ride/camp trip together??

thestoutdog

I think its a great idea and time permitting (we're moving), I will ride with you all.

Neil_B

My coming out depends on job, money, and recovery (mine, not the economy.) But I'd asked for the last week of July as vacation. Lets see.

Neil_B

Oh, and take the canal boat ride at Canal Fulton sometime!

Altair 4

If it were me and I was pulling that trailer, I'd forego the scenic side to avoid the climb and descent outside of McKeesport.

jagraham

Ssssh! I'm going to plead selective memory and tell Peter I forgot about Dead Man's Hollow (and the couple of flyover bridges along the Homestead-McKeesport route, too). They are easily handled, and that segment is so very little % of the total trip. Scenic and paved, too. You do trust me, Peter, don't you? We're about evenly matched and I'm not dreading this.

Neil_B

Its a little bitty one. Peter_C has gears. He'll have to use them, that's all.

BTW, Dead Man's Hollow is cursed for Bike Forums posters. Neilfein and I got soaked in a rain squall there in 2008. In 2009 I had severe cramping as I rode on the Bike Forums GAP/C & O trip. And Sayre Kulp got drenched in the first band of what turned out to be a day of rain as he slogged onto Connellsville.

goldfinch

Peter and Judy, great reports and great pictures! I wish I was on the GAP ride with you folks and look forward to the stories.

Peter_C

In the fake concrete boat??? Why??

Peter_C

I'm with you Judy~! I was going to say, where-ever I am pointed, that is the way I'll be going. In for a penny, in for a pound!

Peter_C

I actually hope to do it again this summer. Am already trying to decide when

Sounds like rain jackets will be a good idea then

Neil_B

Because its a fun trip?

Neil_B

What the well dressed Neils on Wheels were wearing that rainy May 2007:







We both wore light jackets as much to keep warm as anything. The rain was refreshing. However it made the railroad tracks near Cumberland slippery, as I found out a few minutes after the above photo was taken.

That said, we might as well have ridden without jackets, as the light nylon shells we wore did not keep us dry. Note how wet I look in this post-rain photo:

Sayre Kulp 

I recommend fenders for the trikers. Jus' sayin'....

Peter_C

My first tour was a success~!

While I am working on a write-up about it, I thought I'd at least give you all a link to the 145 photos I took of the trip.

https://s1103.photobucket.com/albums/...20Ride%202012/

Again, I went from Homestead, PA to Cumberland, MD, then got a ride back to Meyersdale, PA and round back to Connellsville, PA before calling it done. My trike did great, and I didn't bring anything that I regretted bringing either. I did take 5.5 days to make it to Cumberland, about 2 days longer than most. But I enjoyed going at my own pace, and having more time in the day to do other stuff besides ride, make camp, eat, sleep, wake, break camp, and repeat.

One person did say to me that the above is what touring is all about! Well, not in my book~! I want to stop and read all the signs, I want to be able to take a break any time I see an inviting/pretty area, I want to be able to take the time to chat with other through-riders, whether I see one in a day, or five.

By all means, the riding itself is a joy! But to me, just focusing on hurry, hurry, hurry to camp, to sleep, to break camp, and to ride again - multiple days in a row?? That's not for me! I want the 'pace' to just happen. If it means I only get 11 miles one day, then so be it. Who knows when I'll be able to take this trip again?? So I want to make the most of it, and I did...

The group split into two smaller groups on the second day. One group which needed to be done and home on Monday, and the other group, which had three people in it, that had more flexible schedules.

In closing, if you're thinking of trying a tour, I say go for it!! Just try to allow extra time, or else have the ability to be flexible, so if you want a rest day, or wish to sight-see more than you thought, you'll be able to do so.

chefisaac

Awesome Peter....Awesome!

I look forward to reading your write up and looking at the pictures..... but will do it while at work to pass the 8-10 hour work day before riding!

thestoutdog

Congratulations, it looks like a blast! Thanks for all the pictures.

goldfinch

I enjoyed your pictures and look forward to your tour report. You sound much like my husband, he too likes to read every sign, talk to as many people as he can, and look at all the sights. I have the tendency to say: "Okay, break time over, let's go!"

Peter_C

Hehe-yup!! That's what happened to me multiple times. To me, chatting with others is an important part of my day. But my tour-mates sorta thought differently at times.

jagraham

Yes, Peter - the day we HAD to push thru to Confluence from Connellsville (and we managed to beat out the storm -- eating 'za at Lucky Dog and coming home to a dry tent). At avg. 4 mph and near 30 miles, it was a long day.