Day 1 Boston to Meyersdale 102 miles

Our journey started at about 7:30 in the morning after getting a little lost on the way to Boston PA. We were wearing out matching Weber Gallagher bike jersey that the firm had made for an MS ride a few years ago. It was cool and overcast for June - perfect biking weather. This portion of the trip follows the Youghiogheny River to the town of Confluence almost 70 miles away. For the first 40 miles we go went through little towns like Suttersville, West Newton and Connellsville. Connellsville did a particularly nice job of incorporating the trail into the town. The trail goes right through the middle of town, past the businesses and a nice bike store where we stopped. There we met two guys who were traveling west from DC. They gave us some pointers. The pushed on for their last few hours until Pittsburgh, while we had another 300 miles to go.


After Connellsville the ride got more beautiful and remote. We met up with a big flock of Canadian Geese who didn't seem to want to share the trail. Jeff did a great job of herding them away amid a cacophony of honking and hissing. Connellsville leads to Ohiopyle State Park. This area is renown for white water rafting. The rough was rugged and rocky. The views were awesome. Leading into Ohiopyle is a
bridge that has won engineering design awards. It's really a neat bridge and leads right to the little town and former train station. From Ohiopyle we rode 12 miles to Confluence. This was the first part of the trail completed 25 years ago. Confluence is a nice little town and home of the River's Edge Restaurant and B & B. This is where we had an excellent lunch and a nice rest after 70 miles. Jeff made an unfortunate selection for his meal. Although the black bean wrap was tasty it apparently did not sit so well for the last 30 miles. We were now beyond Jeff's longest training ride and he was navigating uncharted waters.

After lunch we pushed on to the town of Rockwood. The trail was now following the Casselman River, we passed a bridge where our law clerk, Tim got engaged to his fiance. We were slowly and gradually climbing into the mountains of the Laurel Highlands, home to ski resorts such as Seven Springs and Hidden Valley. During these 19 miles, as we were climbing and the bean burrito was causing a bit of a revolution, Jeff started to struggle. The temperature also dropped considerably, probably into the low 50's. At Rockwood we stopped at a little bike shop. There was also an information booth there. The booth was manned by a 98 year old named Maynard who hadn't missed a day since the booth opened. The townspeople named the booth after Maynard and he now rides a golf cart there everyday. I had a nice chat with him. He is as sharp as a tack. He gladly posed for a picture when I told him he was famous. When I told him we were going all the way to DC he gave us bracelets that commemorated the recent opening of the Savage Tunnel.

After a rest Jeff and I saddled up for the last leg to Meyersdale. Jeff was really struggling and freezing. Somehow he gathered the strength to keep a decent pace despite the fact that this was the steepest part of the climb. We crossed a long imposing viaduct shortly before reaching the Meyersdale Train Station. We made our way through town and found our accommodations, the Maple City Loft. It was in an alley in an industrial building downtown. The loft was a very nice two level apartment that could sleep 12 people. It had several bedrooms, a living room, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a laundry. We couldn't ask for more. Just as the owner of the loft was greeting us Jeff sauntered across the alley just in time for the black bean wrap to make a hasty escape exiting the same way it entered. Needless to say, Jeff was not in good shape. He was tired, cold and probably dehydrated, but after a ginger ale, a hot shower and some veg time he made a comeback. We went out to dinner. Jeff seemed fully recovered and ready for Day 2.