Day 3: Ohiopyle, PA to Rockwood, PA

Today’s Highlights:
After a light breakfast at the Laural House, we set off at 8:80 AM for your 30-mile ride to Rockwood. Since the trail is a constant climb in this section, we planned for reasonable mileage. At an unhurried pace and with some goofing off, we completed the ride four hours later. The trail was similar to yesterday’s section on hard-packed crushed stone, surrounded by lovely tall trees, and with a refreshing meandering river beside us. We again dodged the rain predicted for today and enjoyed a very comfortable, although humid, sunny summer day.

The first half of our ride followed the Youghiogheny River. At the town of Confluence, named for the merger of four rivers, we crossed the Youghiogheny and began following the Casselman River. As we climb upstream toward the Eastern Continental Divide, the river is getting a bit smaller, shallower and clear. In some sections it is lined with smoothed river rocks, and there are more areas of small rapids. Most of the rail bed we are traveling on is 20 to 30 feet above the river, with a steep drop off to it. We found a place where there was easier access to the river’s edge and hiked down to it so we could jump in. That was one of our highlights of the day. The water was very cold and very refreshing.

For much of the morning ride we had the trail to ourselves. It is surprising to ride these distances and see so few people. We eventually met a group of six or so people and chatted along the ride, sharing our plans and delights in the ride. Several of the people we have met in the passed few days are return riders to the GAP. It’s easy to understand why when you ride it for the first time.

We arrived in the small town of Rockwood at 12:30 at a very nice B&B called the Rockwood Trail House. They greeted us with cookies and iced tea. Then the next big highlight of the day occurred. Stacia got another special gift from an awesome friend! Yep, she was given a 1-hour massage at a place a few minutes away. If any of our family is out there reading this, we really think this is setting a new precedent that we would welcome immensely. So just to recap – Sunday was chocolate covered strawberry and wine, and today was a massage. If you want to try to raise the bar, go for it. We will be in Frostburg tomorrow at the Trail Inn and Campground.

We went to the Opera House for a late lunch. Today is also laundry and bike cleaning day. Soccer watching is on the schedule. Then another late dinner. We are all doing well and having a ball.

GAP and C&O Day 03

Here is a link to Joe’s pictures.
http://www.aimlesswanderings.com/Travel/2014-GAP-CO-Tail-Ride-1/Day-3-Ohiopyle-to-Rockwood/

Statistics: Zoom and pan the map to explore the route.

Time: 7/1/2014, 5:23:43

Duration: 04:03:24

Ascent/Descent: 694 ft 175 ft

Distance: 30.03 M