Author: russloomis

April 25, 2025

6:40 AM

When we arrived last night and looked at the forecast we decided to shorten our day and only ride the seventeen miles to Rockwood and stay at the Rockwood Trail House. I had a deep sleep last night, the trains and the we’re muffled from the distance. It was a dry night so the tents are dry making packing up fast and easy. Then it is time for coffee and oatmeal. Now everything is packed and loaded.

9:35 AM

We visit a bit with the people in the next site then clip in and leave. The ride being short would allow us plenty of time to beat the rain. We stop at the Pinkerton Tunnel for a selfie.

12:00 PM

We arrive three hours before check-in but we are able to get into our room. We are now relaxing.

April 24, 2025

8:40 AM

We put our mattresses and sleeping bags on the floor of the pavilion last night. It was a nice night and we wanted to be able to break down camp early so we left tents inside the bags. Katie, a young woman from Pittsburgh, rode into our campground around 8 PM. We had a nice visit and then when we all went to bed, the train kept us up every hour on the hour all night long blowing their horns at the five intersections in the town across the river.

9:15 AM

After breakfast we loaded the bike and started our 54 mile ride to Confluence, PA. This will be our longest ride of the tour. We chose to do this so it would be an easy day to get to Frostburg in the afternoon before the rain storm Friday afternoon. It’s supposed to rain hard with thunder and lightning.

2:00 PM

On the way to Ohiopyle we meet a guy on tour that is also riding to DC. He is staying in Ohiopyle, sleeping in a hotel. We have lunch and exchange stories. He has toured quite a few places around the world.

5:00 PM

We are now in the Overflow Campground in Confluence, PA. This is right on the GAP trail so it’s convenient. We are close enough to Frostburg to hopefully be in the hostel before the heavy rain with a thunderstorm. We had a nice visit with a couple camping next to us about touring the GAP. They are interested in touring this trail. It is now late, we are ready to sleep.

April 23, 2025

10:00 AM

Debbie and I said goodbye to the Travelers Rest and left Pittsburgh at around 9 o’clock to head out on our tour. 

12:20 PM

We’ve gone through all of the cities. Now we’re in New Boston. It’s 12:20 and stop here for lunch and as we are leaving I begin talking with Josiah, he and his wife own the Inn in town. After this long, exciting and pleasant visit we leave for West Newton where we will stay the night. We should be there in a few hours.

4:30 PM

We are now showered and relaxing at the Gap Trail Campground. We have this wonderful place all to ourselves.

April/22/2025

7:00 AM

We get up early to load the gear into the shuttle. Debby and I drive to Williamsport, MD following the shuttle van. We leave the car at the old visitor center. This is where it will stay until the end of our tour. Now in the van we head to Cumberland, MD to pick up four cyclists to bring them with us to Pittsburgh. They will start their tour back to Cumberland.

12:30 PM

Debby and I check in to the Travelers Rest and settle in. We visit with our host Mary Beth, it’s nice to be back here again, I was here last year.

 1:27 PM

We are riding to the Point State Park Fountain, the start of the GAP trail.

We ride over to Bicycle Heaven, a bicycle museum. Ten thousand or more old and rare bicycles.

We are now on the GAP to ride over the Hot Metal Bridge to make our way back to the Travelers Rest.

5:00 PM

The Sly Fox Brewery is our choice for dinner. Great food and excellent beer.

April 22, 2025

3:02 PM We arrive.

4:16 PM 

After a pleasant breakfast with Adam, we set out for Cascade, Maryland.

Five hours of uneventful driving. In Gettysburg, PA, we filled up the tank before stopping at a nice small grocery store for lunch and food for dinner. We are making dinner for our host.

It is rest time before dinner then and early dinner tonight. We leave at seven tomorrow morning on our hosts shuttle. They own a touring company, 2 Wheel Escapes. We will be shuttled to Pittsburgh to start our tour.

April 20, 2025

11:00 AM 

It is Sunday morning, and everything is packed and on the porch.

I am now waiting for my sister to arrive around noon, then we will pack up and head out. We will begin our tour today. We will be driving out to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and riding the gap south to the C&O in Cumberland, Maryland, before heading to Washington, DC. It should be a fun 10 days.

9:59 PM 

We are at Debby’s son Adam’s house in Stanfordville, NY. We are now going to bed after a meal of homemade pizza and a few stories. Tomorrow, we will travel to Cascade, MD, to visit our hosts, Greg and Rhona.

My sister set me up with her massage therapist for a 9 AM appointment. She drove me to the appointment and then up to the town of Wheelock to start today’s ride.

The gravel wavy roads carried us up and down to the Old North Church that is on a section of the VTXT route.

From the church we made our way to Danville for lunch at Bentleys.

Then over to Joe’s Pond Road to connect to County Road to finish the ride. I cleaned my bike and cleaned myself while Deb and Lyn drove to get her car at Wheelock. It was a great riding day.

Today Deb and I went on a short ride while Lin worked on this winter’s fire wood. We rode into Saint Johnsbury to pick up a few supplies and stopped at an ice cream shop. Then we made our way back home.

After a nice meal and catching up, it’s been a year since seeing my sister and Lyn, I retire to my room for a night’s sleep. I wake up at 8 AM and eat breakfast. We visit over coffee and get ready to ride. Our first stop will be Bentleys for lunch.

After lunch we ride off to see the sights. I really enjoy riding up here on the Northeast Kingdom roads. The weather is perfect, warm and a feeling of fall is in the air.

We pack up and leave Campobello heading to the border. I will visit my sister Debra and husband. Lynn will drive home to Adams, MA. I had a great time touring with him and we both plan to tour again.

We stop in Rumsford, ME to see the falls. When we arrive in Saint Johnsbury, VT I call my sister to meet us and bring me to her house. I say good bye to Lynn and he drives home.

My sister and I load my bike and gear into her car and head to her home.