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!!