Saturday September 26, 2009 - October 4, 2009
Saturday morning we loaded 5 bikes nto Terry's van. Terry had crated each bike in cartons so we could transport them on the train. Terry and Bethel rode in the van and I drove the Caravan with Pat and Karen. Arrived at Union Station in DC to board the 4PM Capitol Limited to Pittsburgh arriving 11PM. Then a short van ride to Boston, PA and our accommodations at Yough Shore Manor.
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| Yough Shore Manor 1403 Boston Hollow Road, Boston Pennsylvania |
Each room had a different theme!
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| The kitchen where we made our breakfast. |
Day 2 - Sunday September 27 we started out with rain from the night before. Terry took all the bikes out of their boxes and attached all the parts (i.e. pedals, seats) back on the bikes. 41 miles from Boston to a very hilly Connellsville,PA. Arrived there at dusk because of our late start assembling the bikes and waiting for the rain to stop.
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| /Sunday morning getting bikes ready and waiting for rain to stop |
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| Lin the Owner |
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| Leaving at noon for the first day of our ride ... might rain but maybe not. |
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| The trails were muddy but we missed all the rain! |
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| Melody Motor Inn Connellsville PA - Monday morning getting ready to leave. Terry cleaned our bikes. |
Day 3 - Monday September 28. Took a taxi in the morning to Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water in Ohiopyle, PA. Started riding early afternoon. Because of our visit to Falling Water we rode 2 hours in the dark through the wooded trails (not all of us had headlights) to our overnight town in Rockwood Pennsylvania. 50 miles Connellsville to Rockwood, PA. Our accommodation for the night was the Hostel on Main. Our hostess has left dinner and a delicious pie.
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| Falling Water |
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| Youghiogheny River |
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| Ohiopyle State Park Train Station |
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| Confluence - midpoint of the Alleghaney Passage |
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| Finally at hostel after dark! |
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Hostel on Main in the morning after our late night arrival.
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| Judy in center - owner of hostel and store |
Day 4 - Tuesday September 29. Rockwood PA in the daylight! First breakfast and then on our way to Cumberland Maryland the beginning of the C&O Canal Towpath, 46 miles. Our hotel for the night was a brand new Fairfield Inn at the middle of town. We could bring our bikes inside our rooms and walk to dinner.
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| Salisbury Viaduct, 1908 feet long |
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| Keystone Viaduct 909 feet long |
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| Eastern Continental Divide |
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| Big Savage Tunnel Pennsylvania 3294 feel long |
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| Almost to Frostburg - really cold day but caught this rainbow |
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| Frostburg Maryland Train Depot |
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| 18 mile downhill to Cumberland Maryland |
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| Cumberland Maryland beginning of C&O Canal |
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| Overnight at the new Fairlfeld Marriott |
Day 5 - Wednesday September 30 Cumberland Maryland to Little Orleans Maryland, 45 miles. Our most luxurious and beautiful lodging was Town Hall Inn. A special bike shuttle picked us up at the trail head and brought us to the Inn where we had a 5 star dinner.
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| Towpath Light Keepers House |
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| Towpath Lock |
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| Paw Paw Tunnel 3,118 feet - Maryland and West Virginia Border |
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| Climbing stairs to top of tunnel |
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| View from the top |
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| Shuttle to Town Hall Inn |
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| Shuttle pickup in Orleans |
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| Town Hall Inn |
Day 6 - Thursday October 1 Little Orleans Maryland to Williamsport Maryland the midpoint of the C&O Canal Towpath, 45 miles. Overnight at the Red Roof Inn.
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| Frederick State Park Big Pool Maryland |
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| Dam #5 |
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| Williamsport Red Roof |
Day 7 - Friday October 2 Williamsport to Harpers Ferry 43 miles. Overnight at Towns Inn on the main street downtown.
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| Counting down the Dams #4 |
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| On top! |
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| Trail to Anteitam National Battlefield -Sharpsburg Maryland |
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| Overlooking Harper's Ferry |
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| Our accommodations ahead with the flag and white railing. |
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| We had bunk beds! Second time on the trip. |
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| Breakfast in the morning. |
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| Views from our room. |
Day 8 - Saturday October 3 Harpers Ferry to Leesburg Virginia, 30 miles. Today we left the C&O Towpath south of Brunswick Virginia at Whites Ferry and crossed the Potomac River where the Comfort Inn van took our bikes and us to Leesburg, about a 15 minute drive. From the ferry to the hotel there are no bike paths only a major highway.
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| Brunswick Virginia Railroad Stop |
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| Comfort Inn - one BIG suite for all 5 of us! |
Day 9 - Sunday October 4 Leesburg back to Union Station via the Old Dominion Trail, 44 miles. We saw planes taking off and landing from Long Bridge Park near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and biked through Washington DC. Last stop Union Station parking garage around 7pm, Long drive home.
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| Washington and Old Dominion Trail |
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| Long Bridge Park |
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THE END OF A WONDERFUL TRIP
8 DAYS OF BIKING 344 MILES |
