2022-09-23
Left about 10am, brought wawa for lunch
Leapfrogging with 2 old dudes also going to pit from DC
Stopped at 50.3 bald eagle island HB. 3 dudes arrived after sunset to the campground with bright lights. noisy, had to close tent fly
Pushed it too much and knee hurt
Resolved to go slower for knee. Left camp by 9am. A bunch of boy scouts on bikes. Lunch at sheperdstown, Saw football game. Met a couple from reston. Drove to Harper's ferry for a day ride. Guy went to UVA.
Camped at Jordan junction HB
Mile 101.2
Arrived at 6:30
There's like 7 ppl here. Previous campsite had no water, next site in 9 miles so I decided to stay. Ate dinner then found out water pump here was broken. Tired and sticky
Left at 8. Went 9 miles and water was turned on there! Had breakfast left at 10. Seem to be parallel to highway all morning, can hear heavy traffic. Hancock lunch at sheetz, At at nice picnic area, charged my phone to 50. Met homeless type dude with cough. He had a bike with a bunch of heavy gear and knew area. Western Maryland rail trail, parallel to c&o, Decided to go on c&o wasn't sure if paved rsol trail connected
Met beard dude, Has done pit to DC and bsck any times.
Met couple who said WM trail connects to c&o, they were right
Met old woman and young woman, on cruiser bikes wanted to know how far it was to the next vehicle access point. Asked for phone but I also had no bars. They bit off more than they thought.
154.1 sorrel ridge hb. No one else here. No service.
Next day will be long. Paw paw tunnel detour, 1 hr says beard guy
Good sleep, Left at 8:45 Paw paw tunnel closed, used hiking trail. Took 40min, beard guy said 1 hr. I rode down, he advised not too. Single track kinda fun. Rode my breaks the whole time, but that's what they're for.
Since mile 160 seen like 20 loaded bike tourers, guess its close to cumberland. drizzling. Not My favorite part of c&o. Stinky sewage plant. Cumberland, not that nice. Got Italian sandwich and banana at 3pm from euro deserts place. Historic cumberland = covered in freeways.
Immediately got on GAP. Started up hill. 5 miles Ate Italian in parking lot. Best Italian yet. Rode up 10 miles to frostburg with an older couple. Very nice. They're retired. Told me about GAP. Set a nice pace, made it fly by. Arrived at 6pm.
15$ lawn camp in frostburg @ 15.5 mile. Shower!! 7eleven and take out Chinese
Big rainstorm at 2am. Didn't sleep well after storm. Intimidated by 57miles. Perfect weather. Sheetz in meyersdale. Gap from meyersdale to confluence very excellent. All I dream that gravel should be.
Maybe didn't enjoy as much as I should've because I was pushing myself to do 57 miles which was very hard. Got into ohiopyle. Didn't feel like eating in town. Vibe didn't feel right, they were leisurely vacationing, I just destroyed myself.
Kentuck campground 72.6 Camping in walk in spot without paying. Couldn't find any staff. Setup tent at 7, still soaking wet. Had Patagonia soup for dinner
A little more than 4oz (.5 cup) of oatmeal and craisins is a good breakfast. Had a good sleep. Kentuck campground was very nice, had water + flush toilet. Walk-in sites very quiet.
I didn't pay for it. Tent dried out. Trail in state park was still amazing. Stopped in connellsville at 11:30 to buy Italian.
Got to dravo HB at 5:00pm. Sticky and my butt hurty.
Good sleep. Windy morning. Coldish day. Cold and drizzled in Pitt. Only 27 mile day. Hung out in parks before going to warmshowers host at 4pm.
Enjoyed evening with tom and bonnie. Bonnie bullied me into letting tom drive me to Amtrak tomorrow morning.