October -- Traveling Through via Bicycle

Riding into October makes me think of:

October

By Robert Frost

O hushed October morning mild,

Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;

Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,

Should waste them all.

The crows above the forest call;

Tomorrow they may form and go.

O hushed October morning mild,

Begin the hours of this day slow.

Make the day seem to us less brief.

Hearts not averse to being beguiled,

Beguile us in the way you know.

Release one leaf at break of day;

At noon release another leaf;

One from our trees, one far away.

Retard the sun with gentle mist;

Enchant the land with amethyst.

Slow, slow!

For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,

Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,

Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—

For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

C&O CANAL TRAIL Day #1

We are now on the C&O Trail. 

Typical trail view

It's GREEN

A lock

The C&O Trail was the towpath for the C&O Canal.  It is 184.5 miles from Cumberland to Washington DC.

Typical trailside lunch
--not too many options at the stores around here.

This is a national historic park created in part by Justice Douglas who brought an awareness to the trail by leading a hike from Cumberland to DC to bring awareness to the trail and keep it from becoming a highway.

Stopped for lunch along the trail, this is much different than the GAP trail.  This trail is more like a path in a wooded area not a road and the canal is green.  The lock houses speak to a different era.

You can really see the importance of this region and the importance of the canal to the nation’s development.  

We camped for the night near Paw Paw.  We are seeing lots of turtles.  Not as much wildlife overall.

Claire is getting to be a wonderful assistant in taking down and putting up camp!  The temps tonight is getting close to freezing.  Brrrrr.

Animals seen on the GAP and C&O:

• Blue Heron - C&O
• Turtles, Turtles! - C&O
• Gophers - GAP
• Woodchuck - GAP
• Blue Jay - C&O
• Deer - GAP
• Turkeys - C&O
• Milk Snake - C&O

GREAT ALLEGHENY PASSAGE Day #6 & 7

We left and made it to Meyersdale where that had an incredible visitor center that Neil never wanted to leave due to all of the model and toy trains.  We stopped for lunch and for a very needed laundry break!

Trains and Trails

Trains at the visitor center

After lunch we climbed the last uphill section of the trail and made it to the Eastern Continental Divide.  We all coasted to Forestburg--it's all downhill from here!

More downhill to Cumberland where we will stay for the evening.  We crossed the Mason - Dixon Line.  A spoke broke on Laura's bike and needs repairs at a shop here.

We are staying at a B&B that was funded by a community loan from the G.A.P. group.  Really amazing how much of an economic driver this trail is.  We are at the end of the GAP and tommorow will start the C&O Trail.

Cumberland is historic but with some grit and an obvious drug problem--still it was a nice stay here.

Forestburg Sculptures!

Bike friendly B&B

Cumberland Gap

GREAT ALLEGHENY PASSAGE Day #4 & 5

The air was think with fog and the chill of fall was for sure present this morning…brrr.  We made it out by 10:30am!  Paul and I had stayed up late watching the debate last night.  

It was nice to have a short ride today.  The trail is beautiful and just seeing the leaves fall catching the light as the spun down from the tree—filled us with peace.

Lot’s of singing nursery rhymes and a lunch by the overlook of the river. 

Watched people kayaking and got dinner in Ohiophyle were we are spending the evening in a B&B.  

Got a nice evenings rest and then we got up to get smoothies for breakfast and to see the falls.  Then back to the outfitters for coffee and to the trail!  

Pedaling as the trains roll by across the river.  We stayed at a campground just out of Rockwood.  The leaves are getting more yellow.  We stopped for lunch in Confluence and a sweet older gentleman bought our family lunch.  

Camped at Husky Inn Campground and made a huge bonfire and enjoyed a pasta dinner before a restless night—ahhh camping.

Typical trail view!

Picnic Lunch--Trailside

Favorite--Butterfly landed on Paul

Shadow dancing!

Our bikes and gear!

GREAT ALLEGHENY PASSAGE Day #2 & 3

We left Little Boston—no more rain and pedaled to Cedar Creek Park.

Good morning from along the trail!

We had lunch in West Newton, PA and hiked along the creek before having oatmeal for dinner and calling it a night.

Met lots of great people on the trail but no little kids.

Mine runoff

Typical PA trailside town

Happy Campers

We camped at the park—our new sleeping pad/bag system seems to work much better.  Still can’t keep Neil contained though.  

An orange kitty came and hung around us all evening.  

The camp kitty

Lot’s of trains—the track is across the river.  Trains run all the time.  

We still are not too fast at getting going.  This morning we got a 11am start.  Pedaled alongside the Youghhiogeny River in the brilliant blue sky of a cool fall day.  The kids did great and were so excited when we stopped for the evening at a KOA early in the afternoon so that they could play.  They played and played in the sand box doing “struction” as Neil calls playing with sand or construction.

Tonight is marshmallows over the campfire!