Cumberland to Rockwood

Jake insisted that I write today. He thinks that I tell him he's a really good writer just to get out of blogging, but honestly his writing is clear, cohesive and coherent and a tough act to follow. Besides, after riding I really haven't had the energy (mental or physical) to make much sense at all.

Yes, here I sit in another B&B (The Gingerbread House... quaint or creepy? You decide!). The weather tonight calls for a 50% chance of showers after midnight and lows in the low 50s. A warm bed and a bathroom that isn't across a campground seems to be the intelligent choice. Also, Jake and I are doing our best to support the local economies along the way.

On to today's ride...

We had a substantial breakfast at the Fairfield Inn and mounted Ol' Bessie. The path connecting the C&O Towpath and the GAP runs right behind the Fairfield, so that was a great start to the day. As advertised, the first 22 miles of our ride were uphill at a grade that averaged 1.7%. It wasn't brutal but more like an unrelenting headwind on A1A. We had Ol' Bessie in the middle ring and were spinning our way up. I asked Jake if we could put it in the big ring for a while and so on every 10 minute mark, we powered for a minute so that the middle ring felt relatively easy.

At the top of Mt. Savage we passed the Mason-Dixon line, went over the Eastern Contiental Divide and went through the Big Savage Tunnel.

On the other side of the tunnel, we were done with the uphill, but did pick up a little headwind, but no worries, we were feeling great for having done our penance up the mountain.

The air was cool and the breeze was brisk. Fall is definitely in the air up here... we were cruising through a tree canopied stretch with the faint aroma of woodsmoke in the air watching the leaves drift aimlessly to the ground and Jake said, "Take a mental snapshot of this and it will be in a dream one day." I am positive that he is right, it was gorgeous and this ride already holds such great mental snapshots that I will relive in dreams (daydreams and in sleep) for many years to come.

About ten miles after the peak, we hit our second water stop at an old rail station in Meyersdale, PA. We got there so early that we helped Valerie set up the canopy. One of the volunteers of the rail station came out to greet us and invited us in to come have a warm cup of coffee. Inside, there were several Lionel train displays and the history of Meyersdale. Unlike our more usual quick stops, Jake and I stayed for nearly 30 minutes and chatted with the two proud and lovely volunteers. What a hoot and a highlight of our day that was already pretty frickin' awesome!

The rest of the ride was uneventful but not in a boring way. We enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of autumn which we will surely savor as we return to the heat and humidity of Florida.

We arrived in Rockwood and found the campsite, got showered and changed into our off the bike clothes. The owner of the campsite recommended Rock City Cafe for their cheeseburgers. We walked through the quaint little town and had a great cheeseburger... of course, after our solid effort on the bike today, anything would taste good, but I really think this was a great cheeseburger. The bartender/waitress regaled us with tales of small town life and invited us to the American Legion! We thanked her properly, tipped her well and set back through town to the Mill Shop and Opera House for dessert and met up with fellow cyclists to do what cyclists seem to do at the end of the day... talk about the route that they all just took.

We had dinner and listened to a presentation about the GAP and walked back up the hill to our creepily quaint B&B... did I mention that our room has a dressmaker's form dressed up with a hat next to our bed??

Tomorrow is 71 miles down to West Newton, most of it downhill, but still it's 71 miles. Several people are SAGging some or most of the way. Jake and I plan to get up early and ride the whole way. Saturday is only 30 miles and then a long bus ride back to DC.

Kelly