spinnaker

We had a BF GAP ? C&O tour several years ago that was a lot of fun.

Here is how it worked. Basically we all got together to ride the GAP / C&O. I think we did it in 7 days. At most 60 miles a day. We all agreed on the same itinerary. Some of us paired up to ride based on capabilities and just desire to ride at a given speed that day. We helped one another with break downs etc. A sub group got together and arranged for a shuttle back home. We shared information and I acted as guide down the sometimes confusing Montour Trail. I opened my home to a few people on first come first serve basis.

For those that arrive a day early, we could do a side trip through Pittsburgh and the bicycle museum.

Other than that you were pretty much on your own. You had to make your own reservations for hotel stays, campgrounds etc. Arrange for your own meals. Be responsible enough to get yourself up and going in the morning if you wanted to ride with others. Arrange your own way home.

Would there be any interest in this kind of tour?

If there is interest, an option would be to shorten the tour by a day or day and a half by starting in Connelsville. We wouldn't have my home as a base there and parking might be an issue but we could work some things out. You would miss the Montour, IMHO much of it just as pretty as the GAP. The new lower section south of Library PA is really something to be seen.

mev

Perhaps.

I have a sequence of past one-week trips that when placed end-to-end bring me to Pittsburgh:
- San Jose to Reno
- Reno to Salt Lake City
- Salt Lake City to Fort Collins
- Fort Collins to Wichita
- Wichita to Memphis
- Memphis to Cincinnati
- Cincinnati to Pittsburgh
So at some point, I have an interest in connecting Pittsburgh to somewhere in downtown Washington DC, e.g. Union Station or similar place. Normally, a path like C&O isn't my typical tour, but given the area and surroundings, the C&O seems like a good way to connect these locations.

Generally, the way you describe the logistics as creating a set of synchronization points e.g. roughly where to overnight - and leaving further synchronization/coordination to the parties involved makes sense and would fit for me as well. The wildcard is really my timing and how things line up with everything else going on. So if you do put something like this together, keep me informed. Outside of that, I might be coming through Pittsburgh in any case to complete this last link.

spinnaker

If the schedules don't match up or the BF tour does not happen, I would still be willing to help once you get to Pittsburgh. Just PM me when you get closer in.

You really would want to take the GAP / C&O from Pittsburgh to DC. The only other alternative (Route 40) is an awfully steep climb. My 6 cylinder has had trouble getting over that pass with 3 people and luggage in the car.


.

alan s 

spinnaker

I need to look at my literary. I know we rarely exceeded 60 miles. Mostly under. Maybe it was 6 days but thought it was 5. We started from the Montour Trail near my house.

veganbikes

I like that idea a lot. I would be game sometime. It would be fun to tour with random people I know from internet posts and see the trail from different eyes as I have ridden it plenty but never the whole dang thing. Let's do it.

u235

Closer to 70 or more if you go off the path much. Subscribing to see where this goes.

spinnaker

I found the old thread.

https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/7...11-anyone.html

I think the old itinerary is in there somewhere. Too late to look for details noe. Going to sleep.

spinnaker

Man do I have this thread messed up. I mustbe getting old.

Here is the correct old thread

https://www.bikeforums.net/hosted-tr...ur-2009-a.html

We actually took 7 days. This makes it doable for almost everyone. Some took side trips such as up to Fallingwater. We had lots of time to do non bike thinks like swimming. Connelsville has kayaking, can't remember if anyone participated. I know we spent time in places of interest like Ohiopyle, the causeway and the other side of the Big Savage. Once we got to Cumberland, it started to rain. We were all very happy the day would not be too long. We had a nice amount of time in DC to look around before returning home the next day.


Here is the old itinerary.

Day From To Mileage
1 Sat. Robinson,PA Boston, PA 57 mi
2 Sun. Boston, PA Connellsville, PA 40 mi
3 Mon. Connellsville ,PA Rockwood, PA 46
4 Tue. Rockwood, PA Cumberland, MD 46 mi
5 Wed. Cumberland, MD Hancock 60 mi
6 Thr. Hancock, MD Harpers Ferry MD 63 mi
7 Fri. Harpers Ferry, MD Washington DC 60 mi

mattbur

Spinnaker, any thoughts of the dates you plan on doing this ride? I read thru the 2009 ride report and it seemed to take place around mid June. I know you can't please everyone cause of all the conflicting schedules. This ride sounds like a dandy though. I would like to try and make it depending on dates.

Tony

DBT

Following. I have never toured before, but have wanted to do so. That looks like a good beginner friendly tour to take. I am on the west coast and have been considering taking Amtrak to Pittsburgh and return from D.C.

spinnaker

Actually was thinking June. I have a tentative tour Spokane to Whitefish in September.

And like last trip, nothing says you have to do the whole thing. You can start where you want. End where you want. Because of my Whitefish trip, I might not have the time to do the whole thing.

spinnaker

It would. Keeping the miles short enough that it will be comfortable for most people. It is an easy ride and you will have people along to help you out and give you tips.

mattbur

Ahh, June may take me out of the picture depending how early or late you decide on. I'm committing myself to doing GOBA again next year. It starts on Fathers day June 16th of 2019. Its a hell of a ride and I hate to miss it. But...you're ride sounds like a great time too. Decisions, decisions.

The wife and I did four days on the Gap a couple years ago and we loved it. It'd be great to do the entire thing. I'd also like to do some part of the Montour Trail. We've been down to Pittsburgh twice with the intent on riding the Montour and haven't even been able to even find it. Is it really so difficult to find or am I just directionally challenged??

We'll see what you decide on as time moves along.

Tony

spinsheet

I'm actually planning to do part of the GAP and all of the C&O next year. Not sure about June though, I was targeting fall as the weather would be cooler. I did it this year (May) but had to bail after four nights as the rain was non stop, it just stopped being fun. I look forward to completing it. So yeah, depending on timetables I would certainly be interested.

indyfabz

In 2013 I started a cross-PA tour on the GAP on the Saturday after Labor Day. That day was a little more humid than I was hoping for, but still better than the height of summer. Sunday and Monday were great temperature-wise. Both nights featured good tent sleeping temperatures. And only a few skeeters at Husky Haven, which is wooded.

spinnaker

The hostel is a better deal IMHO.

u235

Two thumbs up for the Hostel in Harpers Ferry. Would be a great time for a lose knit group

spinnaker

Husky Haven is in Rockwood. There is a hostel in Rockwood.

indyfabz

I know. I sleep inside most days of my life. Unless conditions are horrible, I prefer camping when I am out on the road.

alan s 

indyfabz

Heh. Same here. Husky Haven features free firewood. Made a nice one there. Earlier in the evening an owl pounced on a chipmunk and flew off with it right near my picnic table.

And of course, there was this :

mattbur

Indy,

LOL That video reminded me of a time when a buddy and me were camped along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River on a canoe trip. A train was on the other side of the river from us and laid on his horn off and on for miles. There wasn't a crossing any where near. I think he looked for campfires and got a kick out of harassing us.

indyfabz

I work for a railroad and just had to take that video. Quite a transition from crickets chirping to the horn. The train you hear is the Capitol Limited heading to Chicago from D.C. I could hear it coming up the hill and whipped out the camera. There are a couple of grade crossings in Rockwood. By law, a train has to blow its horn at each one unless what is called a "quiet zone" has been established. To establish one, a municipality has to jump through a lot of regulatory hoops, including having a vehicular traffic study performed. Based on that study, and several other factors, the municipality may have to make certain physical improvements to the crossing to qualify for a quiet zone. All that (and future maintenance) is paid for by the municipality, and the costs can be very high depending on what's needed. I worked on two for my employer. Both were in very tony areas in North Jersey that had the money to spend.

u235

Same in Harpers Ferry Hostel. Wood and a ring. Anything but discouraged