thesvb

hi,
i'm planning on cycling from columbus, oh or canton, oh to the coast in late march. have any of you ever taken this route (ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf...state_mapv.pdf) through Pennsylvania. What did you think of it, were there camping areas on route?

thanks for the help

Fueled by Boh

where does Baltimore fit into all that?

thesvb

good point. i'll be on spring break for a week and wanted to try and make the ocean from columbus, oh. baltimore looked like the most direct path to the ocean from columbus.

that bike path takes me well north of baltimore, but still close to the ocean. if i was going to baltimore i was thinking of taking 'maryland 140' to the city. do you have any experience with that road?

thanks again!

Fueled by Boh

if your ultimate goal is the eastern shore -- Delaware or Ocean City, MD -- i'd skip baltimore. I really enjoyed riding on the PA route system while traveling through PA with the cross-country trip I worked for over the summer. From what I've seen, the routes are well signed, and maps are readily available.

Route S could take you to the GAP trail, which would eventually lead you to the C&O canal and eventually to downtown DC. Or you could stay on S until you get towards the Delaware corner of PA, and then continue south to your ultimate destination.

I'd suggest picking an ultimate goal (ocean city, MD for instance) and then go about requesting state DOT bike maps. MD, PA, VA, and DE have them.

Neil_B

As stated, the PA S route runs into and uses the Great Allegheny Passage for about 60 miles, from near West Newton to near Rockwood. There are free or low-coast campsites along the GAP and C & O Canal Towpath. What's more, the local towns are extremely bike-friendly. And you get over the mountains with no more than a 2 per cent grade. Spinnaker is leading a group of posters on a Pittsburgh to DC trip June 13; perhaps you could join us?

Following the S route across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a fun trip, but it's very hilly and there are no free campsites. PM me if you come through - I live on the S route and might be able to offer you a place to stay.

Neil_B

Oh, I didn't realize this trip was in March! Some, and perhaps many, campgrounds in PA will be closed for the winter at that time. And while the GAP/C & O is open, there may be some detours - Big Savage Tunnel is closed for the winter, for instance.

Mallory

thesvb:

I'm from the Baltimore area and go to school in Columbus (OSU), so when I saw the this thread I had to look! I'm in the process of planning/training/saving for a coast-to-coast trip this summer.

Would you be interested in someone going with you part of the way? I was planning on driving home for a few days over break, but I just bought a Trek 520 and am dying to try it out on a shorter tour before June. Of course, this would depend on what day you're leaving and whether you'd just rather go solo, but I'm not opposed to camping (obviously), and down for whatever mileage you're going for if you wanted some company. I'm no wuss!

Let me know,
Mallory

Greg_R

Up toward Westminster the road has adequate shoulders but it becomes a death trap closer to Baltimore (along with most of the other roads). One major issue with your Baltimore route is that bikes are not allowed on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (last I checked). They are allowed on the Delaware river bridge and through the Chesapeake Bay tunnel (at the mouth of the bay). I would investigate travel through the Lancaster, PA area and around the north end of the bay (have to find a way around Philly) or the southern route down into VA and across to the ocean. C&O down to Washington, DC and then through the tidewater area would also work. Definitely ensure that the bridges / tunnels that you plan on using are bikable!

mkauffman

Hey Sean,

First tour since cross country? I was thinking about a week or two this summer if you're looking for any other trips.

thesvb

matt,
what's up buddy, long time no see. we need to kick back and get some beers before we graduate. yeah, i think it'll be my first tour since the northern tier, i am waaay out of shape, but we'll see how it goes.