Day 47, Tuesday, 9 July, Confluence, PA to Cumberland, MD

Today was the second and last day of riding on the GAP. The first 38 miles were uphill at a 1.5% grade and the last 22 miles were downhill at a -1.75% grade. The end of the ride always better than the beginning; our average speed increased from around 12 mph to approximately 19 mph. The trial is beautiful and lush. We rode over several bridges and through a few tunnels. Judy Pletcher gave us a tour of an old mill in Rockwood that she bought and renovated. Now it contains shops and an Opera House. To learn more visit http://www.rockwoodmillshoppes.com/. The only distraction was the weather- an intermittent mix of clouds, rain, mist, and brief periods of sunshine. 

We rode 67.31 miles at an average speed of 12.4 mph. My maximum speed was 22.7 mph. Our maximum elevation was 2,392 ft.

The view from camp in the misty morning

View from a bridge

Part of the trail

Old lettering with no h in Pittsburgh 

The ballroom at the mill. It hosts dinner theater and other events.

More views from bridges and the trail

A windmill

An early and rare iron bridge, built in 1887 and moved to its current location to serve the GAP

Another windmill

We reach the Eastern Continental Divide

A tunnel built in 1911 or 1901

We cross the Mason-Dixon Line into MD

The path into Cumberland runs beside an active RR line

Coming into Cumberland

Lovers Leap

End to the GAP, beginning of the Towpath. I left my wallet and iPad on the corner of a fence between the center and the courtyard for over an hour. 

Mural at the visitors' center

Signage on a wall

A marker in the pavement