exercion

Hadn't been riding in awhile. I let work, weather, and depression keep me on the couch instead of the bike. Which wasn't exactly a good thing, as you can guess. Anyway, I kicked myself out of the house with the bike, and out onto a section of the Great Allegheny Passage. Put in 32 miles, climbed some, and stopped for pictures. It's such a beautiful trail, and this section has interesting features, scenery, and engineering feats of tunnels and bridges. Rode from Garrett, PA to the MD/PA border and back.


Salisbury Viaduct

Big Savage Tunnel





Salisbury Viaduct from a distance.

streetsurfer

Much more appealing than the couch.

nice pictures!

csport

Great ride!!!

I need to follow your example, I also let work, depression and some flu-like virus (not COVID) keep me on the couch. This needs to change!

rumrunn6

wow! gorgeous! spooky after sunset eh? I think those high trestles would be outright scary after dark!

Grudey1

Riding this from Pittsburgh to DC is a bucket list item for me.

exercion

Go for it! I rode the GAP last year, Cumberland to Pittsburgh, had hoped to do the C&O from Cumberland to DC this year but probably won't get to it.

Eric

exercion

HHmmm haven't been on it at night yet...could be interesting

Frank72

Great Ride!! Gorgeous pictures and scenery!

rm -rf

I can easily procrastinate going riding. "I'll go later today." Ha. Once I'm riding, it's always good. Riding with a small group that has a set start time helps me -- that's key for getting out a few times every week.

GAP trail
A few years ago, I did some long day rides on the trail. Out and back rides -- it's interesting to see the same scenes later in the day, from the other direction. I routed "uphill" outbound, so the return mostly had a very slight downhill grade -- I could tell the difference! I could wait for really nice weather, no advance planning needed.

At the Mason-Dixon line:



A model of the surveyor's chain.


~~~

Shady forest paths are what I remember from most of the miles I rode.




And some spectacular scenes too.

Milton Keynes

Weather and laziness has kept me off my bike a lot this year. Spring started out cold & rainy and stayed that way, then at the end of May it went from cold & rainy to incredibly hot. So I hadn't really felt much like riding in 100 degree heat. Plus I think a little bit of it was depression. So last Monday I decided to get back on the bike, and at 5 AM I got dressed in my biking clothes, put on my helmet & gloves, pulled my bike out the back door and was ready to ride, only to find that the rear tire was flat. So I took it to the shop only to find that the rim tape was old and deteriorating. My wife was headed for another town where there was a bike shop so sent her to get some new rim tape. Unfortunately I didn't look at Google close enough to see that they are closed on Mondays. So ordered some from Jeff Bezos' space program funding site but it took it a week to arrive. Thankfully I got it last Friday and was able to install it quickly. Looking at the old rim tape on the front wheel it's a miracle I didn't get a flat tire on the front, too, since at least one of the spoke holes was almost completely open. But anyway, this morning got up and did my usual 10 miles. Yes, I felt like I was totally out of shape, but I did manage to hit 12 MPH average speed. At the end of the ride I felt like my legs were finally warmed up for a ride and if I'd had the time I'd have gone longer, but I needed to get ready for work. Tomorrow morning, as long as it's not raining, I'll get out and do it again.

csport

exercion and rm -rf *
These photos are so awesome they should be illegal.
I rode the GAP in July as a part of a tour, still they make me wanna come back and ride it again.

indyfabz

I’ve done the GAP twice starting in Pittsburgh during self contained trips to Philly. I also did an up and back starting in Cumberland to have dinner with an old friend in Pittsburgh, where I went to law school. The last time I rode it (2020) I took a short side trip to see Buffalo Bill’s house from The Silence of the Lambs.

It’s a nice ride and particularly friendly to those looking to plan their first multi-day trip because there are numerous overnight options, whether you sleep indoors or tent it. Finding places to eat is easy. Decent enough grocery stores can also be found.



Buffalo Bill’s house. Basement scenes filmed elsewhere. It’s now available to rent. You can also buy gifts on line, including Skin Suit So Soft Lotion.

Chicken_fat

Getting into a regular riding routine has been the best therapy for depression I’ve found. It also provides many other health benefits. I don’t always enjoy Pennsylvania seasonal weather, but I am always glad I went when the ride is done.