Biking the Great Alleghany Passage - Day 2

Day 2- The Trail Only Gets More Beautiful Day

Rain was forecasted for Wednesday! However, we lucked out and woke up to beautiful blue skies and a temperature of 60 degrees.

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Our Route on Day 2

Today's ride was 30 miles. We added a side trip into Ohiopyle State Park. Thought by many to be the most beautiful part of the GAP.

Ready to head out on our second day

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Bowsers Bridge just south of Connellsville, PA.

Built in 1916 by Bethlehem Steel, this is a Plate Girder and Warren Through-Truss bridge. This bridge is 731.5 feet long and goes over the Pennsylvania Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad.

It was so awesome to travel over old railroad bridges that have been turned into bike paths.

Dunbar Creek Viaduct -- The beauty of the trail was constantly breathtaking

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Mile 86 - First of over a dozen waterfalls we passed along the trail.

Water break along the trail

For three days all of our gear was carried on our bikes

Mile 82 - The ride between Connellsville and Confluence

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You get people out of the city and into the greenery and beauty of the forest and it has a calming influence on all of us.

Everyone we met was friendly and helpful

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Mile Marker #74 - HALF WAY TO CUMBERLAND, our final destination! The trail was well marked with milestones for the entire 150 miles

YEE-HA

One of the many beautiful overlooks over the Youghiogheny River

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Just before the Ohiopyle Upper Bridge we took a dirt walking path through the woods to Cucumber Falls

A road less traveled. The trail through Ohiopyle State Park

Enjoying a moment at Meadows Run Waterslide inside Ohiopyle State Park

People actually ride the waterfalls! And crazy Carl wanted to do it!

Leaving the Ohiopyle State Park and crossing over the Upper Ohiopyle Bridge. 663 feet long and over 100 feet above the river.

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Crossing the Upper Ohiopyle Bridge

Lower Ohiopyle Bridge over the Yough River just outside of Ohiopyle

Cruising into Ohiopyle for lunch

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Pulled Pork, hot fresh Fries, Chicken Sandwiches, Ice Creams - Eating like real men!

Maybe we were just hungry but the pulled pork on a brioche bun was scrumptious

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The maps, amenities and directories along the trail are friendly and helpful

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Carl found an EV charging station to get himself amped up for the second half of the day..

Rob Halminski pumping hard to get the day finished </span></center>>

Checking in to the Paddler's Lane Retreat

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Beautiful cottage on banks of the river. Ate our dinner looking out over the Youghiogheny River

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Our night's stay is at the Paddler's Lane Retreat in Confluence, PA. A beautiful house near the trail and a change from the hotel stay of the last two nights. However, Mark missed his continental buffet of the last two mornings.

Dining choices were limited in Confluence PA

End of the second day thoughts

Carl: "the ice cream was a killer. Wish we could have rode down the waterfall at Meadow Run Waterslide!"

C.: "Very calm ride today. Getting ready to ramp up for tomorrow’s 60 miles to the finish.."

Rob: oh damn, I don’t know what to say. How about this: “The forest of your soul can be found in the deep roots of the wilderness”."

Mark: "I gotta do a part of the GAP with my grandkids when they are older"

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