Over the Eastern Divide

We are now on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP)

September 28 Cumberland to Meyersdale.  Change of plans due to the threat of heavy rain.  We planned to take a day off in Cumberland, but a low front promised at least scattered rain on Monday, and the likelihood of even more substantial rain on Tuesday. So we hedged our bets, cancelled our Fairfield room, and arranged for B&B accommodations in Meyersdale, 35 miles up the GAP.  Our hope was that we could stay ahead of the rain, but that hope was soon dashed and we rode in light rain most all day.  But at least it was not pounding rain, and there were some breaks where we thought maybe we had out ridden the rain.

The surface on the GAP is crushed stone,  and when it’s wet, it slows you down about three miles an hour.  That, and the fact that we were making a 23 mile climb to the eastern continental divide,  made for a long day.

23 miles of uphill at 1.5% doesn't seem like much until realize you never glide. Below is what that looks like on a map.

 

(Remember we started in Cumberland and ended in Meyersdale, so Diane was smiling has she pedaled over the divide)

 We were averaging only 6.1 mph.  But when we reached the top of the divide we hustled the last ten miles into Meyersdale at about 12 mph. 

  
Once at the Levi Deal Mansion, we were very well pampered!  And Diane declared that while we had not out run the rain she had at least outrun her cold.

We rode through 3 tunnels this day. The Borden Tunnel is not lighted.  It was so dark you could only orientate yourself with the other end of the tunnel and hope to ride a straight-line.  Above is the Big Savage, the longest, well lite but the slight up and down of the floor made you feel like you were riding over light swells on the ocean.

Fall at the top of the Eastern Continental Divide. (This pic proves that it did not rain every minute of the day. Rob)