USNA 1973 Ride-2-Remember

Day 56, 28 September: Connellsville to Meyersdale, PA

An early encounter with a blocked trail started out our day. We had to clear a path through the downed trees in order to move forward. Going back was not an option. We quickly pushed through the debris and set up a 5-man “bucket brigade” bending the debris as we passed the bikes through the downed trees and tree branches.

Once we got through to the other side, we were on our way to a wonderful ride. Every day has some drama – today was no exception. What a privilege to be able to ride the GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) Trail today! We biked from Connellsville to Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, along the Youghiogheny River (a tributary of the Monongahela River) and the Casselman River, a total of 58 miles. Below are some pictures of our trail. We could not pass up milestone 73 without taking a break.

Below are pictures of my fellow riders today.

We passed over Great Gorge, as seen in the pictures below from a bridge we rode over today.

The ride today was generally relaxing and surrounded us with such beauty. As an added bonus – mere yards from our final destination at the Yoder House, we were given the opportunity to see one of the many long trains that traverse this area.

Our resting place for the evening was the Yoder House. This was the town doctor’s home and office. According to the owners, the doctor would deliver babies at this house back in the day. We ventured out to a nice restaurant, The White House, for dinner before retiring for the evening at this very comfortable guest house.

Tomorrow a relatively short ride into Cumberland, Maryland!

Tom Tesoriero