Another Two Weeks - Don't Blink

Greetings from Pittsburgh,  PA... the city of bridges.

We got a shuttle from Wheelzup bike shop in Cumberland, MD.  It took close to three hours to get us up to the Golden Triange, which is the official start of the Great Allegheny Passage Trail, the driver said.  We were the only couple on the shuttle!  And he didn't pick up anyone to take back to Cumberland.  

We rode the rest of the way up to Point Park where two rivers come together and which is the spot bikers usually start and end their rides on the GAP.

The GAP meets up in Cumberland with the C & O Canal Trail that goes to Washington, DC.  I did both trails with Joan in... 2021?  

Here is a picture of Steve in Point Park.

And below is a picture of where we got on the trail at the Golden Triangle.

When you ride fully loaded, people often ask where you are headed, and where did you come from.  At Point Park a couple rode up to us and asked.  They have ridden the trail a couple times and were getting a shuttle to DC the next day to ride back to Pittsburgh.

When they learned we winter in Florida, they asked us if we knew the Withlacoochee Trail.  "THAT IS MY HOME TRAIL!" I boomed.

They said they spend a month in Dade City and ride the trail often.  "Do you know Ann and Fred?" She asked.

Oh my, what a small world, yes, Ann and Fred are friends and legends on the Withlacoochee Trail.  They have joined me several times on northern rides and two years ago we rode with them in Minnesota.

The woman... sorry, I think her name was Diane, said Ann and Fred were going to meet up with them on the C&O Trail in a couple days.

I gave the woman my card and told her to text me so we can contact her when we get to Cadillac, MI, because that is where they are from and they will join us to ride the White Pine Trail there.  That is, if she remembers to text me her info so I can contact her.

Before I forget, I want to tell you that the shuttle driver took us along Hwy 40 which is along the route of the very first federal road, a vision of George Washington.  There are still mile markers from that time, construction started in 1811.

We had a gorgeous day to pack our bikes and take a test ride on the C&O. 

The picture below is looking into Cumberland, MD from the C&O Trail.

I thought the packing was very relaxed, but I must have been stressed.  I went in search for a tool.  I thought it might be on my trike in the back of the truck.  I stood up on the bumper and reach in the window and ccouldn't quite reach one pocket.   So i try swinging my leg in without getting all greasy by touching the chain and caset on Steve's trike.  Steve comes over and asked what I am doing.  

I explained.  He said, you know, the door opens.

I climb down off the bumper, we open the door and I am easily able to climb in and check for the tool.

We laughed.  He said there are so many times he wishes he had a video of my antics to send to my sister.  She knows how my brain malfunctions.  

The blue bag is snacks, the shopping bag is a change of shoes... just in case.  I think I packed too much.

Steve carries most the stuff because I can't get a front rack for my bike.  I carry the tent stakes on my front fork, the first aide kit in my handlebar bag.  

Less than two miles from Cumberland on the C&O is a rustic campground on the river.  The owner told us our site was under 5 feet of water two years ago.  There is a VRBO house on the site too.  And two camp sites with electric and water.  But no pit toilet for bike campers!

The place is beautiful.

The owner is a character.  Spending all day building a shower house at his other campground, and then mowing patches of grass until sunset in our campground.  His name is Donnelly,  but we can call him Don, he told us.  He is 87 years old.

We figured what we owed him.  Since he seemed to struggle to do the math.  Steve  paid him.  Three nights at $35 and seven nights at $25 when we won't be there. He drove back over, because he figured we owed him less than we paid and he was going to refund.  No, no, we told him. 

On our test ride, Steve got a flat.  While he was changing the tire we discovered both his tires look ... tired.  So we rode to town and got him two new tires.  They are not Marathon Plus, but they will have to do.  Their max PSI is 60... which is a lot softer than Steve is used to riding.  He says it feels like they are going flat all the time.

So anyway, we are in Pittsburgh now.  Before this we stopped in Cincinnati and what a fun thing to be able to meet up with Amy Spadafore and some of her fellow Ohio Impromptu Trike Riders to ride the Little Miami Trail south of Lebanon, OH.

We talked about dangerous dog encounters on a bicycle.  Amy just ordered a dog whistle that is supposed to stop dogs in their tracks.  She was bit by a pit bull and her friend Eva lost a leg from a dog attack.  

Amy said she will to report back to us on whether the whistle works to deter chasing dogs.

Part of the Little Miami Trail is criss-crossed by routes used by slaves escaping captivity along the underground railroad.

While we were by Cincinnati we took a walking tour that took us to some underground places.  

Cincinnati brewed a whole lot of beer before prohibition.  The beer was boiled and then had to be stored in a cool place to ferment.  This was before refrigeration.  So they dug under the basements, 30 feet underground.  In winter they would gather ice off the lakes and store it in the basement.  The cold water from the melting ice was routed into copper pipes.  The pipes went down to the ceiling of the beer caves and zigzagged there.  

The street we toured was Vine Street.  The guide told us there were over 100 drinking establishments along that street alone.

This was back in a time when it was safer and healthier to drink beer than to drink the water, which came from the same place the sewage went. This was before cities started sanitizing their water. 

The pile of dirt you see in the picture above shows that during prohibition and after, when the caves were no longer used for brewing, people would use them to dump stuff.  The tour company had to have a landscape company clean out a lot of dirt and trash to prepare for the tours.  A lot of junk, antiques, and dirt were removed or moved aside. 

We really enjoyed Nashville.  If you go to the Blues Place on Printers Alley, you will see there are lots of signatures on the wall.  If you are bored, you can search up high on the second floor for my self promotion.

There was lots of eye candy in Nashville. Shorts and short skirts with cowboy boots seem to be popular among the young ladies.  

I found Patsy Cline and John Prine on the walk of fame or whatever you call it.  

Our walking tour in Nashville shared stories about the Grand Ole Opry.  Below is a picture of the original location, it used to be a church, so the performers there had to follow a dress code and their lyrics had to be respectable.

After performances, the artists and fans would go down to the strip (Broadway) and let loose.  The strip still is a very noisy and busy place even during the day.  There seemed to be music in every bar.

I took a video from the roof of one bar.

The twins show up in different bars and do a dance.  I caught them on video.

We were glad we got to go a performance at the Grand Ole Opry while we were in town.  We both were impressed and pleased with the venue, the sound, and the music.  We didn't know that it is still a live radio show every Saturday night.  It reminded us so much of Prairie Home Companion complete with local commercials.

And it wouldn't be complete without the Opry Dancers.

The only name I recognized was Ricky Skaggs.  But I took a video of Connie Smith, I recognized the song.  Steve said it was a song his mom used to sing around the house.  

Speaking of Steve's mom.  Last couple times we called she hasn't had much energy to talk like she used to, but she is still on top of the dirt.  We just may get to see her when we get to NY in a couple weeks!

Outfits from Minnie Pearl, Loretta Lynn, and Johnny Cash were among those displayed.

Steve tried several of the local brews while we were in town.  This one is named Hippies and Cowboys.

Kazam!  A whole two weeks have gone by since I last wrote to you!  How did that happen?

I received a lot of texts and emails after I sent out the last email notice.  Thank you!  It is so good the hear from you.  And it is fun to see what is happening in your life.  Spring flowers are blooming, people are putting their boats in the water, gathering with families on happy and sad occasions. Some are recovering from illness or surgeries.  A few of you are struggling with caregiving.  My heart goes out to you all.

I hope these past weeks were good to you.

Until next time, keep in touch and let's enjoy the moments.