Trip Journal Post 12: Day 50-54

Day 50: Natural Bridge to Harrisonburg, VA. (68 miles) Leaving the Adventure Cycling maps is a little unnerving, as they provide essential information that mere road maps do not provide. Map Quest for bicycles is nearly useless too. I finally got a road map and aimed for Harrisonburg. The motels were out near the interstate so I had to ride some extra miles.
Day 51: Harrisonburg to Springfield, WV. (100 miles) I peeled out of there fairly early, anxious to put in some miles to get through this transition period. The road maps hold few clues as to the terrain which is important to bikers. I took a road through Lost River State Park--It was the longest, steepest climb yet! Eventually I ended up in Moorefield at about 3pm. The traffic was so heavy that I hung out at Walmart, eating fruit and re-hydrating for an hour. Then I took the Trough road north to Romney, WV., 21 miles away. It was a pretty ride along the Potomac river with very few hills. I ate dinner in Romney, but decided to head onward and camp around Springfield. As it turned out the camp sites were 5 miles to the east and took a series of dirt hill climbs to reach. The logging trucks are still out here, the coal trucks have thinned, and a new truck has been added...live chicken trucks. Feathers are everywhere.
Day 52: Springfield to Frostburg, MD. (45 miles) My legs were tired from climbing all day yesterday. I left the campground late and had breakfast in Fort Ashbey. Arriving in Cumberland during the mid-afternoon, I snapped a picture of the Welcome To Maryland sign. Bike were prohibited on the road I entered town on so I had to scout another route into the old downtown area. Once I reached the Cumberland Terminus they advised the bike route was now officially open all the way to Pittsburgh. I fooled around there for a little while, eventually jumped on the GAP trail from there, and arrived in Frostburg, 14 miles later, during a slight rain. I ended early today, grateful for an excuse to rest.
Day 53: Frostburg to, Confluence, PA. (50 miles) Most of my final miles will be completed on this dirt "rail to trails". I started this cool morning with the sun shining brightly, but rain is expected tonight. There are several tunnels and bridges that are incredibly beautiful additions to the ride. I entered Pennslyvania about 6-7 miles north of Frostburg, and have since crossed over the Continental Divide once again. It divides the Chesapeake Watershed (which I'm leaving) from the Gulf of Mexico Watershed (which I'm re-entering), and, in this case, signifies a slight downhill all the way to Pittsburgh. I feel the momentum slowing, due partly from the beautiful surroundings and partly from the doldrums that must surely accompany the end of such a journey. It's a densely wooded corridor, having a gentle downgrade, smoothly graveled, through a damp, dark canopy of trees and a river always on one side. Often I'm riding beside places with water seeping through the porous slate rock walls covered with moss. I stopped in Myersdale to update the blog site and to grab some lunch. I visited a couple who suggested that I camp in Confluence instead of the more primitive Ohiopyle. It was a great place, right on the river, yet near food and a shower!
Day 54: Confluence to Export, PA. (78 miles) It was still very foggy as I left this morning and I needed the rain jacket to stay warm as I breezed through Ohiopyle State Park. The fly fishermen were out in force along the entire length of the Yough River. I had breakfast with a group of cyclist primarily from Atlanta, who were riding into Washington D.C. and were taking the train back to Pittsburgh. My feet are leaving noticeable drag marks now and I was sorely tempted to join them! Instead I left there and put on a burst of speed, determined to make this the last day. I stopped for a few pictures and a Gatorade, but cycled steadily until I arrived in West Newton. I ate lunch just off the trail and at the bottom of a big hill, that began the final 25 miles towards the home of my parents. After lunch it was a variety of hills and moderately heavy traffic until I arrived at their house 2 1/2 hours later. It was certainly great to see them, to be finished, and to arrive safely after so many miles. The total mileage was 3279...far short of the 4000 I had expected.

There will be a few more postings as I cover any details pertinent to cyclists considering a tour in the near future.