Day 14 Connellsville, PA

 
Date:                      July 22, 2019

Distance:                29 miles

Average Speed:      10.6 mph

Maximum Speed:    26.6 mph

Feet Climbed:        169 ft

Day Trip:                Confluence to Connellsville

The forecast today was for thunderstorms all day.  Our experience told us that summer storms have a good chance of changing from one day to the next, so we decided to rise early and check out the forecast in the morning.  The night before, the weather forecast in the morning had only a 40% chance of thunderstorms, so we thought we might be able to escape early to ride out the storm.  I woke early about 6:30a and took a look at the forecast.  We had a 4 hour window without rain to get to Connellsville.  We hurriedly packed and quickly set out to Mitch's Fuel and Food.  A little place we scouted the previous night for breakfast.

Getting bikes and leaving The Loft

Morning Mist

We had only a 28 mile, flat ride to Connellsville.  We felt like we could make it before the rain, but first we needed to get fuel before we left and Mitch's was the perfect place to go.

It took 9 minutes for us to get our breakfast after we ordered.  A good start!  We ordered two eggs, bacon and potato tots.  Additionally, I bought an egg sandwich to go so I would have it for the ride.  We drank our coffee and apple juice and water too!  

Loved it!

We were on the trail by 8:20a.

Great riding path

Hydrating

It had stormed the night before; there were definite signs left behind.  Steve cleared every tree branch blocking the trail for the next people to pass freely. We did realize that those riders who passed before us weren't as courteous because we encountered many fallen branches before and after riders passed us on the trail.

The first downfall

The path sweeper

Watch out!

We took a short break to admire the view.

A great view

Youghiogheny River

Ready to go

We made it to Ohiopyle without any sign of rain.  We took a bio-break, we hydrated and I ate a few bites of my egg sandwich.

 

We came across an old coal mining location on the trail.  You can still see the coal embedded into the cliff side. There is a lively coal mining industry that still exists in this area. Actually, quite an industry in the towns up and down the GAP and the C&O. The working trains in this area carry coal, amongst other cargo, so the locals say.

Coal Mining Site

Not a great read - unfortunately

About two hours into our ride and about 8 miles left to ride, the rain started easy at first; within 5 minutes, it started coming down pretty hard.  No thunder or lightening so we kept riding; we did however pick it up a bit.  We didn't take pictures while it rained.  It rained for the rest of the ride, but as we exited the GAP in Connellsville the sun started peaking through.  

Entering Connellsville

Old train station

We were surprised just how well the trail drained the rain water.  The surface held up pretty well. The crushed limestone and the natural pitch created a decent runoff. 

The hotel was right around the corner from the trail head.  We hosed off the bikes and then checked into the Cobblestone Hotel and Suites.

The rain stopped for about 2 hours.  It was long enough for us to take showers and head out for lunch.  We decided to eat lunch at the Valley Dairy Restaurant.  It was a 7 minute walk away.

Downtown Connellsville

The lone diner, again

Steve had a tuna melt and home fries

I had a chicken salad sandwich w/pecans, fries

As we ate, the rain started coming down. We looked at the radar weather app and knew that we should wait it out in the restaurant.  It was a 7 minute walk so instead of walking to the hotel and getting wet, Steve decided to order a banana split.  See Jen - dad is just fine!

This is a small; if so, what does the large look like?

Delicious - I tasted it!

It was only a light rain at this point, so we decided to make a run for it!

Well, a walk for it!

Because we had a late lunch and dessert, we are not sure what we will be doing for dinner tonight; perhaps we may just get snacks from the the hotel store.  

We ride 26 miles to West Newton tomorrow.  It is slightly downhill for the entire stretch. The forecast is rain so we will be checking the forecast to find a window of opportunity to ride.  It will only take us 2-1/2 hours to get to West Newton given the mileage, so we have all day to figure it out; at this time, it looks like it may be an afternoon ride. The temperature high for tomorrow is forecased at 75 degrees.