This bike ride came together in a hurry. A group of us, friends from high school, had ridden the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) and the C&O Canal together in 2016. It was a 300 mile bike ride from Pittsburgh to the Washington, DC, area over six days. Earlier this year, there was a documentary about this trail produced by a PBS station in Pittsburgh. It was called The Great Ride. It was quite inspiring, and reminded us of the wonderful time we had had in 2016. I said that I was prepared to do this ride with the same group once again. Koushik immediately took me up on the the offer, and proposed that we ride this year, without waiting too long. The others agreed almost immediately after that.
It took just a few weeks for the plans to come together. We decided that we were going to do the ride at a more relaxed pace this time. Instead of covering 300 miles, we would just do the 150 miles of the GAP. We would spend a day exploring Pittsburgh, and 5 days doing the GAP itself. This is how it came together.
Arrival in Pittsburgh for Bike Ride
Seeing Pittsburgh by Bicycle and Boat
Riding to Smithton, PA
On to Ohiopyle. PA
A “Rest” Day in Ohiopyle, and then on to Confluence, PA
In the Rain to Meyersdale, PA
Destination Cumberland, MD
This was a special ride. The more relaxed pace of this ride allowed us to enjoy each other’s company much more. We were not rushed in any way. And as we rode, I could feel a deeper and simpler level of connection emerge. Another layer of my inhibitions in the company of friends slipped away. This ride was especially good for the spirit.
Just as for the previous ride in 2016, not all details of the ride where completely figured out ahead of time. We did know where we were staying – the towns and the establishments in those towns, but the particulars of the places we would stop at during the day, and what we were going to do at any particular place, or where we were going to get food and water during the day, were fluid. We were flexible. It worked out well. We saw some great things, and ate some great food (there was the one clunker for me, but that’s all I am going to say about that!). The boat tour of Pittsburgh turned out to be unexpectedly special.
All the establishments we stayed at along the way this time were different from those we stayed at in 2016. We also stayed at more Bed and Breakfast establishments, and only one motel. The owners of all of these places were great in their own ways. They all made us comfortable, and also spent some time with us. We got to know more about each other. One of the owners was the mayor of the town! All of these places had a character of their own. The experience was not about staying the night at the most luxurious place available, but was about something deeper than that. We were staying at places that represented the local town in some way, and we were getting to know some of these places better. We lived in some of the really old buildings that had been renovated. We met the locals and talked to them. We were getting a flavor of the real America.
One would think that rain would ruin a bike ride. Not for me! Even though the rain did change the nature of the experience on the one day that it poured, it brought out a different kind of joyousness. I became a child once again, riding in the rain. I could hear the sound of the rain through the trees, and on my poncho. There was the dirt thrown up by the wet tires. My glasses were getting wet and my shoes and socks soaked. But, somehow, all of that did not matter that much as I was riding. We just rode on through the rain to the next stopping point while others stopped for shelter. We were able to dry out and warm up nicely finally, at the end of the ride. The rain gear did help!
Something different this time was that towards the later half of the ride we encountered some people over and over again in different places along the trail. And we met all of them again at the end of the ride. We were all people on the same mission. I do not remember anything like this from 2016.
The nature of the end of our ride in Cumberland was simply awesome. It could have been anticlimactic – a slow ride to the end line in a plaza in Cumberland in the middle of a hot day. But, no! We had a cheering squad awaiting us. Our families, and even classmate who was visiting from India. The garlands and the awards were a bonus, but I would have been happy enough simply seeing their smiling faces at the finish line. That was special, and unique to this particular bike ride.
A few days have passed since the end of the ride, and I have had time to ponder the richness of the experience of the week that we rode our bikes. It is going to be a hard act to follow.
This is a view of PIttsburgh as we cross the 
This was a photo opportunity in Homestead, just outside of Pittsburgh.
We were riding near the railroad tracks for some time. I believe the place was called Duquesne.
We crossed the Monongahela river into McKeesport.
This was a break for a second breakfast for some of us. Shankar had not had his morning coffee as yet.
This near the confluence of the Youghiogheny and Monongahela rivers. From now on we will leave the Monongahela, and ride along the Yough.
The trail climbed into the woods. The people who built the GAP left this stretch of railroad tracks standing beside the trail. The GAP is a railtrail.
We made a stop at Boston and met a very interesting trail volunteer. We spent a long time chatting with him.
I thought this house by the trail looked interesting.
We made many stops to take in the views and chill out.
This waterfall was depositing some white mineral on the rocks. It could have been either natural or from some old abandoned mine.
We took a break at the Beuna Vista ramp. We had stopped here to eat teplas when we rode the trail last time in 2016. We were too full from the late breakfast this time.
This section of the trail was built on the right of way of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie railroad.
This waterfall carries iron from the remains of an old mine.
The bike must have been dropped in the water.
We saw fallen trees in a few places, but this was the only location where the trail was completely blocked. We could easily get under the fallen tree.
At the West Newton train station that has been converted into a museum and gift shop.
Crossing the Yough to go into town at West Newton.
We spent some time in West Newton.
We then got back on the trail after crossing back over the river. Here we are approaching the end of the ride for the day. At this point, we got off the trail and crossed the river once again into Smithton.
We easily found the Bed & Breakfast place where we were staying for the evening. One of the natives knew exactly what we were looking for when he saw four tired people on their bikes.
The building is a three story affair that is really old – from the early 20th century. It belonged to the family of the current owner who now happens to also be the volunteer Mayor of Smithton. It was used as a boarding house in times past. There is a lot of history in the place that I have no time to expand on at this point.
There used to be a brewery in town.
We spent a delightful and very relaxed evening on the porch chatting. There was not much choice in town for dinner. We ordered pizza from the only place that was open, and consumed it while enjoying our liquid refreshment in the cool evening breeze as the sun set. 
We also took a walk through the town. It did not take too long to get through it. It is a really small place. 
Smithton is close to the railroad tracks. You can hear the music of the rails and the whistle of the engines as as the freight trains roar by. But I did not hear any trains during the night. I must have slept well.
Our bikes were delivered at Washington’s Landing on the Allegheny river.
We biked along the Allegheny river. Downtown Pittsburgh is in the distance as we start the ride.
This is a view of downtown Pittsburgh from the North Shore trail along the Allegheny river.
We took a short detour to ride past the front of the baseball stadium where the Pittsburgh Pirates play.
This picture shows the confluence of the three rivers at Point State Park. Our trail continued along the Ohio river.
This is a view of downtown Pittsburgh from the banks of the Ohio river as we continue to ride the North Shore trail.
The trail continued past Heinz field, the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers football (American football, that is!) team.
This submarine on the Ohio river is a museum that can be visited.
Time for some fun beside the Ohio.
The end of the North Shore trail provided a break and some time for texting. The trail ran past an older industrialized neighborhood that has seen better days.
The Duquesne Incline and the water fountain at Point State Park are captured in this picture. We were still on the North Shore trail at this point.
We crossed the Allegheny river to get to Point State Park and the water fountain.
Here we are at the confluence of the three rivers. This is the start of the Great Allegheny Passage, otherwise known as the GAP.
Heinz stadium is now across the river from us. One of the Gateway Clipper boats that provides tours of Pittsburgh sails on the river.
We walked the last section through the city on our way to lunch. We went to a Turkish restaurant.
After lunch, we rode back to the start of the GAP, and rode the trail up to the 
Here are some pictures of the city taken from the boat.
This picture is of downtown Pittsburgh. At this point we were on the Ohio river. To the left is the Allegheny river, and to the right, the Monongahela.
The Carnegie Science Center and the Heinz stadium seen from the boat.
And then it was time to head back home and chill. The serious riding starts tomorrow.
The bus and train station are both in the same building.
I am at my friend’s house enjoying the warm hospitality.
We are the riders, the same folks who did the 
We are exploring a little bit of Pittsburgh on our bikes today. I hope the weather holds up.
The river was extremely muddy on the morning of the second day of the ride due to overnight rain. You can see the mud from the abandoned railroad bridge below.
The sediment had cleared up by the time we crossed the 
This is view of the town of Confluence from a bridge over the Casselman.
The skies had cleared by the time we got to 
This is a section near Hancock.
The river itself was quite peaceful for the most part.
The red waterfall shown below is the 
Our bikes arrive at the hotel.
With his proud family!
The riders are ready to depart.
Crossing the Monongahela river.
The Youghiogheny River in McKeesport.
Climbing the hill! This is after they returned back to the bottom of the hill after the initial attempt. They wanted to start the ride back up the hill in first gear!
In Boston, PA.
Along the Youghiogheny river.
He had to get his feet wet in the river.
Enjoying theplas made by Kalpana.
The red waterfall, which is basically waste water from an old mine. This is an unfortunate part of the legacy of industrial development in the area.
Lunch stop.
Bridge at West Newton. We crossed the bridge over the Yough into town for kicks, led by our fearless leader.
Under Interstate 70 on the trail.
The last rest stop.
Bridge over the Yough.
Koushik goes to the Byzantine church in Perryopolis on Sunday.
Chinese food for dinner at our motel.
Goodnight from Perryopolis, PA!
Splattered Brains 