Trippin' with Susan Straley

You will find the start of this blog in the middle.  Dang phone shot these pictures up to the top.  When I wanted to add them toward the end. I forgot to mention two fun encounters I had yesterday. Matt Marra was out on a day ride and saw me so loaded and had to turn around and ride with me a while.  He is new to biking for fun and exercise and was now starting to toy with the idea of loading up and venturing out on a tour.  He asked for advice on what to pack. I told him atwo shirts for biking and one shirt for evenings after your shower.  One to sleep in. I should have also said to pack as if he would be caught in a downpour when it is cold out.  We haven’t had that this trip, but cold and wet do not make an enjoyable camping trip. Matt is visiting from The Carolina’s I met up with Joan in Williamsport.  A lovely town with old colonial style homes lining some of the streets. I got a sub, where do I put it?  Joan came over and snapped it under my bungee.  Fixed! It didn’t fall, eggpla

 It is Monday morning and since I can’t sleep I am writing to you again to try to catch up to where we are at in the trip right now (at a cool place in Hancock, MD the skinniest part of any state in the union.  MD is only two miles wide here between PA and WV.) Leaving Frostburg at Eight while the morning mist was still Rising and the air was even cooler when you are bikin downhill. Happy happy morning!  We both slept very well in our cozy bunkhouse.  Right across the street is a station for the scenic railroad.  Look at what appears to be coming soon to this area if not already in service! Joan suggested we ride together today since we would be going downhill and I could keep up Better.  At first I said I would go first because I knew she’d be faster anyway.  Then I changed my mind and waited for her at the bottom of the switchback in Frostburg. It was a super grea ride!  We kept stopping for pictures and then to remove layers.  It took close to two hours to get to Cumberland where we

After dinner Joan wanted to visit the historic hotel.  While I pulled out my phone and tried to search, Joan zipped into a pet store and returned with answers much quicker than my internet search. I am learning a lot from her.  She just lights up when on a good tour day.  She meets lots of people on the trail and makes friends easily. Below is my letter to you.  But above it are some pictures out of place.  Sorry, iPhone editing issues. The first pictures below are supposed to be inserted where I talk about the Continental Divide.  See how the ride for Joan anI took a downhill turn a few miles before we arrived in Frostburg. Below I am looking down I one of the switchbacks I just rode up.  Dear Friends and Family, We have ridden by some lovely sites and arrived at campgrounds with wonderful surprises.   Ohiopyle to Frostburg was a long ride of 57 miles.  Though the sites were amazing I was pretty tired. The Great Allegheny Passage Rail Trail, GAP, in that area was a very gradual climb