Day Two Connellsville to Meyersdale-GAP Trail

The Second day did not start off as well as the first. It rained most of Monday night and Tuesday was supposed to complete the 2+inches of rain the Pittsburgh area was expecting. I sat and watch rain for a few hours and figured I'd just better plan on riding in the rain.

It took a while to get breakfast and pack up the crew and check out so they could drop me off where I had stopped in Connellsville. I got on the trail around noon and started off toward Meyersdale as the rain had stopped. I had some back-up destinations set up in case the rain got too heavy. I needed to go far enough that Wednesday would be less then 60 miles so I could finish and meet the group in Cumberland for a Thursday start of the C and O. I started out on the road which is actually a wide lane next to the road that led past the Bike shop in Connesville. I would later regret not stopping in to have my misaligned derailer fixed.

It took me a long time to get through the first 10 miles of the day. I rode with the river on my left and forest or cliffs to the right. I think due to the heavy rain, all the water flows were in high volume mode. I think I stopped every 1/4 mile to get a picture of another waterfall.

By the time I hit Ohiopyle, I was done looking at waterfalls. The incline of the ride was obvious for most of the day but the gradual nature of the slope made it almost unnoticeable to the legs.

At some point during the morning, I saw two ladies walking their dog. I think I startled the dog and the unleashed pet began barking and chasing me till the owners were finally able to call it back. I thanked them for there hospitality and road away wishing I was carrying pepper spray.

I wondered what they would have thought if I had given their dog a nice spray? Would they be upset at me or realized that their stupidity caused their dog to get temporarily decommissioned? I hate the thought of spraying an innocent dog just slightly less than the thought of getting bit! I wish spaying the owners would solve things but I doubt it.

About 1/2 way into the ride I hit Confluence one of the most inviting towns on the GAP trail. they had a little bridge into town and even a map to inform bikers where everything was. I stopped at the Lucky Dog Cafe for a sandwich as it started to rain again. The rain only lasted a few minutes and I was off.

Confluence was the first bail out point of the trip but since the weather was not bad, I decided to continue on. I tried to call in but the best I could do was get a txt message through during a brief call connection. Note: at this point in the trail there is a sign stating that there is NO cell signals for the next 20-30 miles. I guess I was going all the way to Meyersdale.

My bike was acting funny and I was having shifting issues for some time. I was not too concerned because I was only alternating between 2 or 3 gears anyway and I could find them. Somewhere near Fort Hill, I hit a bump and could no longer peddle. I looked down to find my chain mangled and broken. I was carrying a spare but figured I would attempt to fix this one.
Using my new Alien Tool, I was able to fix the chain in a matter of minutes. Ok, it was closer to 1/2 an hour. I had a hard time lining up the pin to drive it into the chain. The tool came with and alignment gadget but to use that I had to dismantle the tool. Once done I threw the tool pieces in a zip-lock bag and continued on. Did mention it started to rain while I was fixing the chain?

I think it had rained throughout the day but most of the time I was under thick tree coverage and did not really notice it.

No sooner did I fix the chain but I came across a Large Tree downed blocking the trail. I had seen two crews earlier in the day working on trees but they must have missed this one. I also crossed two other downed trees but they were both less than 4" in diameter. As I was maneuvering my bike through the tree, I heard two other bikers coming behind me at the same time. All I could think of was where were they 10 minutes ago when I was working on my chain.

They (Grant and his son-in-law Joe - hope I got the names correct) were doing 90 miles today starting out in McKeesport (I think) and ending in Rockwood. Their plan was to get to DC and turn around and come back! I don't know if they made it but that would have been an impressive ride. I was grateful to have a chance to ride with them as I figured out if my chain fix was going to keep together. I continued on as they stopped for a break because I was still 15 plus miles away from Meyersdale and it was getting late. I passed Rockwood and the Bed and Breakfast/Bike shop around 7:30 and continued on for the last 10 miles of the day.

Around 7:40 I came across another creature on the trail. It was getting late but the site of the dog ahead made me panic. I had already been chased today and now it was late. I had no way to go but forward where my ride was and it was getting late. I saw no signs of owners and I began to ponder my options. 1. Fly by and attempt to out run him or 2. creep by and hope he was friendly. None of these options convinced me to approach. When he began to move, I realize it was not a dog but a BLACK BEAR! Oh boy! Funny thing is, I figured I had a better chance getting past the bear than a dog. I went a little closer and sounded my bell. Bing! Bing! Bing! The bear looked up and ran off. I continued the ride.

It was now getting very late and cold. I switch to a long sleeve shirt and continued on binging my bell hard throughout the ride. At some point I came across two local teen using the trail. I am sure they thought I was a crazy coming through the dark ringing my bell so loud.

By the time I got to the Salisbury Viaduct, it was too dark for a picture and the cars below all had their lights on. The last mile and a half was discerning. I had to get to Meyersdale but it was so dark that it was getting to the point that riding below the tree cover made it almost impossible to see. I was not 100% sure how much farther I had to go and I figured out that by the time I would give up, it would be too dark to turn around. I ended up hitting Meyersdale station around 8:20 PM and called for my ride out of town.

I grabbed a bite and went to the hotel to get some sleep.

62 miles for the day and about 8hrs from start to finish.

62 miles - total 124 miles