GREAT ALLEGHENY PASSAGE AND C&O CANAL
2013 Trip Report
As in 2010 we departed a day early on the evening train and spent the night in Kewanee. This avoided having to get up extremely early two days in a row. The early train the next day dropped us off in Naperville around 10:00AM; and we biked through the Herrick Lake Preserve and the Illinois Prairie Path via Wheaton toward Chicago.
Waiting for the Illinois Zephyr at the fancy new station in Kewanee which replaced the old Amshack.
School bus stop style shelter is still on the opposite side of the tracks
Becky on the trail through Herrick Lake Nature Preserve
I always have brunch at the Egg-centric cafe in Wheaton. I want to call it the Eccentric Cafe.
Back onto the Illinois Prairie Path main stem heading East
We bailed out at Elmhurst and caught the Metra into the Loop about a block north of Union Station. It was fortunate that we did because we got to the station with just about enough time to handle some business at the ticket counter for our overnight ride to Pittsburg.
As Becky, Jeanine, and I were biking down Ross Street from the Pittsburgh Amtrak station to the bike trail along the Monongahela River, I heard a commotion behind me. It was Kevin and Andrew who had somehow located us. We had arranged to meet at the Hot Metal Bridge. But with Kevin, you just never know.
Cell phone and get organized stop on the South Side Trail along the Monongahela River.
The recently opened stretch just before the Glenwood Bridge. The rail line is behind the fence to the left; and the high stone wall on the right is protects the scrap metal yard from dangerous bicyclist.
We've passed under the Glenwood Bridge and riding between the railroad line and the infamous Sandcastle Water Park.
After you get around Sandcastle you enter the Waterfront, a large, bike friendly shopping area. It was a perfect time for a light breakfast and coffee at Panteras.
The line-up included a road bike, a touring-hybrid bike, and four folders, including the blue Dahon Stowaway of uncertain vintage.
After leaving the Waterfront you come to another segment that is new since our 2010 trip. The stretch from the Waterfront to Duquesne was the second to last to be completed. It crosses over PA 287 and runs on a bluff to the right of it.
One of the last steel mills in the area, viewed from the trail across the river.
One of the few unattractive stretches - between Duquesne and the bridge across the river to McKeesport, the third to last section to be completed.
This time we opted to take the alternate route via Versailles between McKeesport and Boston. At some point the paved trail seems to end at a dirt parking lot. So we exited onto the road through Versailles which eventually crosses the river to Boston. Checking the map later, it appears we could have avoided a hill by continuing along the river as far as the bridge.
On the old crushed limestone, pea gravel trail past Boston.
John Butler B&B, abut a mile up the hill from the trail at Buena Vista
Coming up from the 9th hole. The B&B was part of a golf course and restaurant complex
It's beautiful! At least Becky thought so until she found that it was caused by pollution from an old mine.
Having lunch at a former company town between West Newton and Dawson.
Approaching Round Bottom campground near Perryopolis
Round bottom Campground
Hot breakfast at park along the trail in Connellsville. It was supplied by brother Gary who joined us for the day's ride to Confluence.
The first of two long wooding bridges just outside of Connellsville.
Second long wooden bridge outside Connellsville
Cruising along the Youghiogheny River in Ohiopyle State Park
A wide spot in the Yough in Ohiopyle State Park
Every trip we get a picture resting on this rock high above the Yough.
View from the Fernclift High Bridge approaching the village of Ohiopyle.
Getting organized after a rest between Ohiopyle and Confluence
Confluence in the Background
River's Edge Cafe & B&B, Confluence
Lynn joined us for supper at the Lucky Dog Cafe on the edge of town near the highway bridge across the Yock and the GAP heading toward Rockwood.
Pinkerton High Bridge. The west portal of the closed Pinkerton Tunnel is in the distance. The after effects of CSXT Railroad daylighting project is seen in the upper left.
The backside of the daylighting seen from the detour around the Pinkerton Horn.
The effects of the daylighting up close.
East portal of Pinkerton Tunnel from the Pinkerton Low Bridge. K & A climbed into the tunnel and reported it's pretty creepy.
West end of the Salisbury Viaduct. About the time we left Rockwood, it began to rain.
Looking down on the river, RR, and highway from the Salisbury Viaduct.
East end of Salisbury Viaduct
The rain didn't slow us down much, but by the time we reached Meyersdale, our clothes and bikes were covered with wet pea gravel. The person at the Yoder Motel suggested we use the car wash at a nearby gas station to clean off our bikes. But we used the torrent of water cascading down the gutter in from of the motel instead.
Due to a mix-up, the Yoder didn't have enough rooms for us all. So K & A went across the street to the Donges Drive Inn and Motel. Not wanting to go very far for supper, we gave Donges a try. It may have been a drive inn at one time, but now it was just a small restaurant with great home cooking and incredibly low prices.
The rain didn't slow us down much, but by the time we reached Meyersdale, our clothes and bikes were covered with wet pea gravel. The person at the Yoder Motel suggested we use the car wash at a nearby gas station to clean off our bikes. But we used the torrent of water cascading down the gutter in from of the motel instead.
Due to a mix-up, the Yoder didn't have enough rooms for us all. So K & A went across the street to the Donges Drive Inn and Motel. Not wanting to go very far for supper, we gave Donges a try. It may have been a drive inn at one time, but now it was now just a small restaurant with great home cooking and incredibly low prices.
Keystone Viaduct, another very interesting bridge just east of Meyersdale.
More keystone Viaduct
Chugging up to the Eastern Continental Divide
We made it.
Coming out of the Big Savage Tunnel.
Photo op outside the east portal of the Big Savage Tunnel.
Fixing a flat at the trailhead down the hill from Frostburg.
While we were fixing the flat, the Western Maryland Scenic RR steam train came into view.
The end of the line - historic Western Maryland RR station in Cumberland
The train we saw in Frostburg is pulling away from the station in Cumberland.
Steam engine up close
Murry of Grouseland Tours was waiting for us at the end of the trail to shuttle Kevin, Andrew, Paula, and Becky back to Pittsburg. Jeanine and I waited around until about 7:30 to catch the train back to Chicago.
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