Food, friends, fun in DC

DC

We made it!

Hot, sweaty, but we made it!

Thunderstorm

We’re so close! 15 miles outside of DC, we stopped for a snack. And a spring thunderstorm. Might as well wait a few.

Harpers Ferry, WV

Posting this for yesterday, on our coffee and stock-up-for-lunch stop in an amazing old church turned coffee shop in Brunswick, MD.

Yesterday was intense! It was very hot and humid, with several longer and unplanned detours, one of which included finding a seat collar with eyelets to attach my rack as we had discovered that the screwed in the stripped hole had been lost somewhere during the day. I like to imagine that it shot hundreds of feet into the air and surprised a bird.

Harpers Ferry is a state park, and absolutely gorgeous. While our last 10 miles last night were pretty brutal, the views were fantastic.

On to DC today!

Hancock, MD

The most important part is that we made it to Hancock! Today was a little bit killer. It was a beautiful day, and our first day on the C&O Trail.

Several people we met this morning in Cumberland made us believe we’d end the day as tick infested mud monsters when in fact we reached Hancock as exhausted food monsters. The rain stopped before we even got going this morning and the path itself goes along the C&O canal, which almost seemed like something out of True Blood (read: swampy southern backwoods). We were basically alone on the trail all day which was a nice change from the previous days.

We also passed through the infamous Paw Paw tunnel. At about 3100 unlit feet, we walked our bikes along the narrow and bumpy ledge which probably took about 10 minutes. Plus weird dripping tunnel water. Spooky!

The hitch in our plan came about 17 miles before Hancock, when the only restaurant and our proposed lunch spot was inexplicably closed.

On a diet of Clif bars, gels, and trail mix, we made it the 61 miles here. Yesss! Previously I hadn’t ever thought I’d be so happy to eat at a place called the Potomac Grill. Besides being 100 feet from our motel, the food was southern style delicious! Jamie and I both ate to bursting our fill of pulled park, baked beans, Mac and cheese, cornbread, fries, key lime pie, and a brownie. All for less than $20 and the best food I have ever eaten. At least as an exhausted food monster. And a good little vegetarian…

At it again tomorrow!

***post meant to be published last night but no service until this morning!

Rain…

Noooooo! It’s raining!!! Nah, it’ll be fine.

Cumberland, MD

Thank goodness for the short day! We began this morning in a bit of a panic–as it’s Memorial Day, in a tiny ass town like Meyersdale, the recommended breakfast locale was closed. Oddly enough, as we stood staring stupidly at the closed sign, the owner of the establishment drove up and recommended a different spot. Donges Restaurant was, in fact, the only spot open besides Sheetz. And we were the only non-locals, it seemed. Great spot to watch people set up for the 2 minute Memorial Day Parade!

Today’s ride was fantastic. At about 8 miles we reached the Continental Divide, which was itself a bit anticlimactic except for the small fact that we were now clearly going downhill! (Or, coasting/drafting with no effort behind Jamie, which isn’t cheating but rather using resources more efficiently). We then passed a man on a bike who was grinning like a fool. After much guessing, we figured out why: the Savage Tunnel! Almost 3300 feet long, somewhat lit, somewhat pitch black, requiring absolute faith that the path ahead of you is clear from holes, pits, dangerous debris, monsters because your bike light dies next to nothing… Terrifying and exhilarating. We also passed through two other tunnels, not as long, but entirely unlit. A sensation of flying through darkness.

Cumberland appears entirely deserted but we did manage to find our lodging and food, including a delicious and random Mexican restaurant, El Jinete, with an absurd drink called the Texan Margarita, which is an already strong margarita with a shot of tequila on the side. Did I mention it’s time for bed?

Starting the C&O tomorrow! I hear tell of an epic tunnel, so stay tuned!

Meyersdale

Whew!

We made the most “uphill” part of our ride today. We have only a few more miles of elevation gain to the Continental Divide and then hopefully it’s all downhill to DC! In a literal sense. We dodged squirrelly kids, wayward adults, and lollygagging lollygaggers around Ohiopyle. So far, no crashes (though Amy secretly wished I would run into her around mile 58 so she could walk her bike the rest of the way), flat tires, or horribly bad food.

We’ve met some fellow bike tourists also headed for DC. We shared some pizza, some stories, some small talk, but mostly we just ride. We’re looking forward to a shorter day tomorrow (32 miles), and perhaps a movie in Cumberland, our first foray into another state. And the fabled views from the Continental Divide.

Now it’s time to rest up in this fabulous hotel/bar/restaurant/music venue, the Morguen Toole Company. Cheers!

First leg, check!

We made it to Connellsville! After a bit of a late and stressful start (i.e. stop at REI for fenders and to make sure my rack wasn’t going to fall off at some due to a stripped screw eyelet on the seat stay, plus coffee at Big Dog) we had a perfect day of riding. The weather was sunny but not too warm, no bike mishaps, and no fights! :).

Most of today’s ride we had done previously, so one if the highlights came near the end on an untrodden part if the trail: an abandoned mine. We could walk around the top of this concrete, abandoned structure. Extremely spooky and fascinating. It’s amazing how nature retakes what we leave behind.

We arrived in Connellsville at 7, three hours after our estimated arrival time.

Pretty darn tired with some sore legs. Excited for tomorrow though!

***disclaimer: I am posting this from an iPhone app so if it looks weird, I apologize!

Adventures to DC

Jamie and I leave tomorrow morning (5/25/2013) on our bicycle trip to Washington, DC. This trip has been in the works since we moved here–approaching 3 years ago!  With the craziness of buying a house last year behind us, and finally being both of us gainfully employed, we decided to make the trip happen this year.  There is a nearly contiguous rail-trail from Pittsburgh to DC, with a few detours throughout, making the 335 mile bike ride nearly car-free.  From Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD we will ride the Great Allegheny Passage, then from Cumberland to DC is the C&O Canal Trail.

As this is our first trip of the sort, and given the unpredictable spring weather, and my grouchy distaste of being wet and cold, and that this is a vacation, we will be staying in hotels and b&bs along the way.  Perhaps we will do another section of the trail with camping in the future.

We plan to leave the house at 8am (hah!) and cycle along the [the newly fully-linked] Great Allegheny Passage to Connellsville, PA.  From there, our bikes will take us past Ohiopyle, up, up, up to Meyersdale, PA, near the Continental Divide.  The next day, our short day of 32 miles or so, will take us downhill to Cumberland, MD.  From there, with little in between, we will arrive in Hancock, WV.  From Hancock we journey to Harpers (no apostrophe) Ferry, WV.  Then to Washington, DC!

We will spend 3 nights in DC, enjoying the hospitality of one of Jamie’s friends from Hometown, TX, then back to Pgh on the train!  Back to work and our disgruntled pup, that is.

The weather appears promising.  Wish us luck!