Day 3 Meyersdale to Confluence 31 mile, 98 cum

The kitchen in our B&B

Turner and I slept in a little bit this morning, the trains seemed to be ultra busy last night. Did I mention that they are only about 100 yards behind our B&B. We can see them from our window and they seem to blow the horn when they are closest to us!!

We got up packed our things, had breakfast, got the bikes ready and were on the road by 9:30AM. We never did have any additional guests so we had the whole place to ourselves for both days.

We started down the trail to Confluence. We both remarked about how much easier it was to go down than it was to go up. Amazing how we discovered that fact!!

We had a single biker come up on us riding a tandem bike. He said, "did't I see you guys riding east yesterday?". I told him what we did yesterday and he thought that was pretty cool. He asked Turner how he like his first bike ride and Turner said it was awesome! Turner talked to everyone about how he really liked riding cross country.

A few miles later, a group of folks flagged us down and asked if we had any tools as one of the girls had a very loose handlebar. I was able to tighten it up with my Tri-tool wrench. I told her she should get one as it will fit almost every thing on the bike. That was the second person we came across who is riding a long distance without tools. The first one was a man who had a flat as we rode into Meyersdale the first day and didn't have anything to fix a flat. I didn't help him as he had less than a mile to walk and I thought he needed to learn his lesson!

We came back to the farm where Turner talked to the Peacock on the first day so he gave out his best Peacock call and sure enough, the Peacock answered him. We didn't see it as we were moving fast today, down hill don't you know?

We came again to the tunnel being opened for bikers but not yet so we did the mile detour and continued on. Even though we were going down hill, we both started to get tired.

Another half hour or so and we made it back to the parking lot. Our three day ride was over but not the memories. Turner was an excellant companion. He gave me quite an education on a variety of topics.  Turner is a real biker, he didn't complain and he kept on going even when it was hard. He enjoys long distance bike riding and I hope we can do this again in the near future.

Day 2 Meyersdale to Frostburg and back 36 miles, 67 cum

The day started cloudy and cool. We wore our jackets for the first few miles. We started about 8:30 but didn't get far before we realized that we had forgot our lights so back we went to put them on. While we were doing that, two couples came by and asked us how we like Gram Gram's place. We told them it was nice although the trains by quite often during the night blowing their horns.
We started off again and started to cross the many bridges that are on this stretch of the trail some are very long. We met up again with the two couples that we talked to back at the house just before reaching the contiental divide. They were very nice and told us that they were going from Pittsburgh to Cumberland.
We reached the Continetal Divide and took our pictures Turner thought it was very interesting because if you poured water on one side, it would go to the Gulf of Mexico and ifyou poured it on the other side it would go to the Chesapeake Bay.
Now we were going down hill for the first time in 40 miles, Yahoo!!!
We reached the Big Savage Mountain Tunnel and Turner turned on his green wheel lights. They were very cool!!!

We continued on and reached the Mason Dixon Line. Turner was able to stand with one foot in Pennsylvania and one foot in Maryland.
This was a new park that was built in 2013. The last time I was there they only had a wooden painted sign. Don't forget you have to ride a bike to see it!!

We continued on to Frostburg going through the Borgan tunnel, again turning on Turner's wheel lights. They were more impressive because this tunnel is not lit at all.
Frostburg was our next stop. We had lunch in Frostburg and found out that the train does not run on Wed. It is only active on the weekends.
Now it was back up hill to the Continental Divide, a little steeper going back but doable. We made it back to our house by 3:45. Tired but with a good ride under our belts

Day 1 Confluence to Meyersdale - 31 miles

Turner and I got up around 7AM this morning, packed our things, loaded the bikes and go on the road to Confluence around 8:30AM. We stopped for Starbucks coffee and a chocolate scone for Turner.

We found our place to park in Confluence, loaded the bikes andstarted up the trail to Meyersdale.
The trail was in good shape but it was definitely a steady climb. Turner wanted to go faster but I pointed out that I was pulling the BOB trailer and he wasn't. He seemed happy to go fast, slow down and essentially ride rings around me! I told his that on our next ride, he was pulling the trailer.
We had the Casselman river on our left for 25 miles. It was roaring from all of the rain. We kept seeing water falls on our right as the water poured from the cliffs to the river. The little streams that we passed were also roaring as we passed because of all the rain that we have had over the past few weeks.
We crossed several bridges and viaducts as we made our way up. Turner kept seeing frogs along the way but I never saw one! He also spotted a small snake that was crossing the trail at one point.
We passed the tunnel that has been closed ever since the trail opened but now that are working on it. You can see from one end to the other but can't fo through it yer. The detour is about a mile and a half. We took 15 minutes to from one end to the other
There were not a lot of people on the trail today. An occasional group of riders would pass going towards Pittsburgh and a solitary rider would go past now  and then.It was a nice ride.
We passed a farm and Turner spotted a Peacock in the barnyard. He started making Peacock calls, don't ask me how he knew, and the Peacock started answering. I took a picture but it is too hard to see it.
We were worried about the the rain in the forecast and ocasionally we felt drops but nothing to worry about. In Rockwood we talked to some men in the visitor center and he said no rain until 7:00PM Felt a lot better after that.
The rhododendron was in full bloom and we enjoyed looking at them.

We arrived in Meyersdael around 4:00PM. Found our B&B with no trouble. There are four guest rooms in this house but no one else is here. Of course there could still be someone coming but I doubt it.
Meyersdale rolls up their sidewalks at 5:00PM. There was only one restaurant within walking distance of our B&B, It was plain but the food was good.
We stopped for ice cream on our walk back.
I think we will be going to bed early tonight, Turner found some ear plugs which he plans to wear. No not because of my snoring but because of the trains that pass by every 15 minutes. We are half a block from the train tracks!!

Getting Ready for the ride.

This blog will document Turner Leo Fey and Norbert Leo Fey's ride on the Great Allegheny Passage. We plan to spend three days riding the trail from Confluence to Meyersdale to Frostburg MD and back to Confluence. We will stay two nights in Meyersdale. This will be Turner's first multi-day ride and hopefully not his last. We will update this blog each day.

Turner is looking forward to this ride and you will too!!