Before I tell you about today, I forgot to say that last night we were hosted by a sister-in-law in Scottdale, PA.We put Cal’s bike on the rack at Dawson and drove a few miles to Scottdale. We had a great home cooked meal and chatted until late – I was trying to type this blog while we were visiting, and I forgot to mention her.
Today!The sun shone almost all day!!The temp was up in the low 70’s - at I changed to Capri pants and sandals, however by it was cooling down.
This morning we drove back to Dawson and Cal began riding.We decided on the town (Ohiopyle) where we would meet for lunch – I have miles to drive while Cal goes more directly on the path. I did arrive in Ohiopyle 35 minutes before him, so I had time to hike a short trail.After lunch and after Cal hit the trail again, I went to the local water falls - OhiopyleFalls and CucumberFalls.Photos below:
Ohiopyle Falls
Cal Crossing the Bridge over the Youghiogheny River
Cucumber Falls
On the road to Ohiopyle I passed the road going to Fallingwater. Fallingwater is a Frank Lloyd Wright house. I would have liked to visit the house, but last night we looked at their website. Would you believe, they are closed on Wednesday - which was today. We were dissappointed.
As I drove I took some of these photos:
Beginning of Fall Colors in PA
More Fall Colors along the Highway
If you want a Vacation Rental - Here It Is
Moth Enjoying the Sun's Heat
Cal also took photos along the trail:
Sun Shining Through the Trees along The Great Allegheny Passage
The GAP Trail along The Youghiogheny River
The Youghiogheny River
Trail/Railroad bed cut through a rock formation
Cal stopped riding at Fort Hill today. We drove to Grantsville, Maryland for the night.At Grantsville there is an area Penn Alps. There is a replica of a small village with artisans working on crafts.
Penn-Alps Village
Yoder House in Penn-Alps Village
Fireplace in the Yoder House
Dining Room inside The Yoder House
Casselman River Bridge - Crossed by General George Washington in 1755
The weather!It finally stopped raining today after lunch and by mid afternoon the sun was shinning! Yeah!!We hope it stays out for a few days.We need sun and dry weather for a change.It has been 10 days since we have had sun!
This morning Cal began on the Great Allegheny Passage. The trail is on an abandon rail bed. Today the trail was on the south side of the YoughioghenyRiver. Cal can see the river most all of the time along the trail. There is also an active railroad along the other side river.The trail is level so Cal is not peddling up hills, like the ones I am driving.
Cal Checking the Tires before starting along the Monongahela River
Bike Trail Bridge/Old Railroad Bridge Across the Monongahela River
Bike Trail Bridge/Old Railroad Bridge Across the Monongahela River
I left Cal this morning when he began and then met him at a small village along the trail for lunch. I did not see him again until the end of the day.I spent time at an antique shop (did not leave any money) and I drove through some of the towns I passed through.
The village of Dawson had several beautiful homes and an old Methodist church.
Here are some photos of the day:
River Scene near Dawson, PA - With Late Afternoon Sun
House With Porch very close to the Street
Water Falls with White Calcium Deposits along the Trail
Depot/Visitor Center at Boston, PA
Depot/Visitor Center at West Newton, PA
Tomorrow Cal will continue down the trail toward Cumberland, Maryland. We will see how far he progresses.If the weather is good, it will be great help.
On part II of our trip, as of today Cal has ridden a total of 777 miles.
Today was a short day on the bike, as we spent time in downtown Pittsburgh! As we neared the downtown area we encountered congested traffic, so we loaded the bike on the rack and drove the rest of the way.As I mentioned earlier, we planned to go to the Heinz Football Stadium. The ‘scared acre’ to Pittsburgh Steelers fans!!! There were no tours of the facilities this afternoon to Cal’s disappointment, but he was able to leave some money in the gift shop!!
After we left the Stadium, we tried to negotiate our way to a certain bike path along the river.After making a ‘wrong turn’, we ended up on Mount Washington.What a wonderful view of the rivers and city.It was one of the best ‘wrong turns’ I have made!Here is a photo of the Stadium from Mount Washington.I am sure a night time view of the city from that location would be fabulous.
Pittsburgh River in the Afternoon Haze
Monongahelia River Flowing into Pittsburgh
Confluence of the Three Rivers - Mongonhelia, Allegheny and Ohio
Pittsburgh River Bridge
Pittsburgh Skyline
Pittsburgh is a city on three rivers.I don’t know what other city we have visited that has as many bridges as Pittsburgh.In the central downtown area alone there are 11 bridges.As we were driving over one of the bridges, I snapped a couple of photos.It shows today’s weather! – Cloudy, rainy, and slightly foggy – this morning was miserable again.The temp was up to 54 degrees which was better than yesterday, whereas at home in Iowa it was in the 70’s today.
Tonight we again had dinner with Rotary friends.They live southeast of Pittsburgh.It is great to make connections with these Rotarians outside of official Rotary meetings - (both are Past District Governors – Cal’s classmates).
The weather is supposed to change!We sure hope so. Tomorrow Cal will begin riding on the Great Allegheny Passage.When people hear where we are going, they tell me the ‘most stop’ locations for me.
Miserable, Miserable, Miserable!That’s the best description for today. It was a short day mileage wise, but Cal did well under the conditions.
Rain and more rain, all day!It was not heavy until about this afternoon, but it varied from a light to heavy drizzle. Plus the temperature did not get higher than 45 degrees. Very cool!By the time we arrived at the motel, Cal was soaked and chilly.We have a whirlpool tub in our room tonight which Cal used immediately.The weather will not be changing for the next several days.By next weekend it is to be in the 70’s.It can not happen soon enough!
The weather this week has been a nightmare for biking. Each night we have to clean the bike and ‘wash the works’ of wet clothing. Most hotels/motels have guest laundry facilities that are wonderful. We brought a laundry drying rack with us as we do not put all of Cal’s biking clothes in the dryer. Plus on days when the weather is good we still wash the smelly biking clothes. We are able to set the rack in front of the AC/heater so that by morning everything is dry.This is especially important this week.
How about this bridge? It was on a bike path – Cal needed to carry his bike across this bridge!
How would you like an oil pump sitting in your front yard? – I guess it is money, money and more money!
We left Ohio and entered PA today. We were on a road when there was a ‘welcome’ sign for a photo.
I took a few photos of several lovely settings I saw today as I was driving.
We were on hilly roads again – until we came to the Beaver River.At that point we started going down hill. Cal had been told that the western mountains (Rockies) have gradual longer slopes than the Appalachians but the Appalachians have shorter hills with steeper grades.He definitely concurs with this analysis.
We are in Monaca, PA and tonight we were able to have dinner with a Rotary friend. We had a great evening of conversation and he was so helpful regarding information of this area.Tomorrow we hope to see another Rotary friend who lives southeast of Pittsburgh.
We hope to get to Pittsburgh by .Cal wants to go to the Pittsburgh Steelers stadium while we are there, before we head south on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail.
Yesterday, Friday, we had the day off.Cal’s cousin and husband showed us their area of Ohio.When we have been to this area before, we have never driven around.
Isn’t this a cute sculpture at the city library?
First we went to Smucker’s jams visitors center located in Orville, Ohio.We did not know all the food companies owned by Smucker’s. They own Crisco, Jif, Pillsbury, Eagle Brand, Foger’s coffee, and Hungry Jack.There are other companies I cannot remember at this point.
Yesterday was a rainy day – a good day to off the bike, but it was a gloomy day to take photos as you can see.We stopped by a Swiss cheese factory.Doesn’t this place look like it is in Switzerland?
We also stopped at Lehman’s Hardware in Kidron, Ohio.This place has ‘everything’, plus everything for a non-electric Amish home – such as gas refrigerators, gas freezers, etc. What a place!We also went to Keim Lumber store – there isn’t another lumber store like it in the US!! Beautiful store!
After meeting the cousin’s children and grand’s, we returned to their home at – tired!
This morning when we woke up it was raining hard. Thank goodness it had decreased to a light rain before we left Orville. It did rain most of the morning, and most of the afternoon.It seemed like it would rain every 20 minutes. However, tonight when we returned from a restaurant the moon was shining. We hope this is a good sign for tomorrow.
Cal rode on a bike trail that was in poor shape he and ended up all muddy. Thank good the motel where we are staying tonight has a coin operated W/D.We washed ‘the works’!!
Here are photos I took yesterday and today of farmsteads – you can see the weather conditions!We are still on rural roads.They are beginning to be very hilly -thus the reason for Cal’s lower mileage today.
Cal Negotiating the Hills
We did not realize Ohio has oil/natural gas.Yesterday and today we have seen oil/natural gas pumps. How would you like a pump in your side yard?
Oil Pump in the Side Yard
New Oil Pump
Tonight at dinner we were talking to a person who has a friend in this area who is from Texas. He has been in Ohio for two years drilling for oil – they are capping the new wells just like in North Dakota.
I have seen many rural cemetery – I took a photo of this one today.
