I woke up early and did my morning routine. Made it to breakfast when they opened at 6:00. Ate a huge breakfast to fuel up for the day. I was biking by 7:00. The weather was great! High 50’s to start with a high of 75. Almost no wind.
It was a fast, mostly downhill mile to get back on the Montour Trail. Went over a large trestle bridge and through a tunnel. Pennsylvania does a great job putting lights in the tunnels on the trail. It makes it much easier and safer to get through them.
After about 10 miles I switched over to the Panhandle Trail. This was the nicest trail yet. It was wide and paved, with almost no bumps. It was a smooth 18 miles.
I met a woman named Emma who caught up to me on the trail (I don’t bike very fast). We chatted for a few miles about my trip and the challenges she was having with her recent retirement.
While on the Panhandle Trail, I crossed into West Virginia.
I was wearing my bright yellow jersey today, because after the Panhandle Trail I was riding on roads for a while. Started out with a two lane highway, then that turned into a four lane city street, then that turned into a four lane highway. The reason for those roads was that I had to get to a bridge across the Ohio River and into Ohio. At least the highway had a very wide shoulder to ride on – just had to watch for debris.
When I got to the bridge that Komoot wanted me to take, it was closed. I learned that those road closure signs don’t apply to me. If Komoot says to go that way, I go. So, I squeezed around the barriers and biked across. No problem getting across. The only issue was there wasn’t a “Welcome to Ohio” sign on the other side to take a picture at.
I knew from reviewing the route the day before that there were two very steep climbs of over ten percent grade once I got into Ohio. The first one was a mile long and I had to walk my bike up the hill. It was exhausting!! There was construction on the hill and the road was down to one lane. I had no problem getting through and I got to take a couple of breaks to chat with the guys who were directing traffic. Sweat was pouring off me by the time I got to the top.
After some rolling hills, I hit what I thought was the second climb, but I had made a wrong turn. I didn’t realize it until I was at the top of the climb after over a mile (and a lot of walking). So I backtracked down the hill and got back on my route. It was very frustrating!!
After a few more miles, I got to the “real” second climb. It was worse than I expected, because it was up a beat up gravel road. I walked the whole way up. I was beat!!
After that hill there were lots of rolling hills. I would get up to my highest gear and try to get as much speed as I could, then push to get as far up the hill as I could before getting into my lowest gear to slowly crawl up the rest of the hill. My lowest gear puts me at 4 mph, and makes it hard to keep the bike balanced, because I’m moving so slow.
But that’s not all.
I turned onto a single lane country road and saw another bridge closed sign. Again, I simply ignored the sign and kept going. At the end of the pavement, the road turned to gravel and went downhill very steeply. I didn’t feel safe riding my bike on that steep of a downhill on loose gravel, so I stopped and got off my bike to walk it down the hill. Fortunately for me, the owner of the last house on the road was outside and walked over to chat with me. We talked about my bike ride (once I left the GAP trail, everyone asks me where I’m going – the panniers are a great conversation starter) and I asked him about the bridge. He told me that the bridge was removed by the railroad (the bridge was a way over the railroad tracks), but I could get through it. He told me that when I got to the bridge, I should stay to the left. When I get down to the tracks I should walk on them until I get to the first signal. Then on the right will be a red gate that I can get through to get back on the road on the other side of the bridge. Seemed complicated, but it worked. More walking my bike. And he forgot to tell me, or didn’t know, about the old carcass of a deer that was alongside the tracks (no picture of that!!). I don’t think I would have made it through without his advice. So, after biking on all these rail trails, that is how I got to get some mileage on an actual rail road.
The rolling hills were getting less steep and farther apart as I got further into Ohio. Eventually I got to the Conotton Trail. It was nice to be back on a flat rail trail! Unfortunately, it was only 11 miles long. But it was similar to the Panhandle Trail – paved and wide. I only saw two other people on the trail.
After the Conotton Trail, it was back on roads until I got to my campsite a couple miles outside of Leesville at 5:00. There is not much out here in this part of Ohio, so I’m camping tonight. It was a long hard day.
For the day, it was 83 miles and 4,400 feet of climbing. My hardest day yet.
Tomorrow they are forecasting rain…we’ll see.
Glad this wasn’t your first day you might have rethought this adventure. How are the legs holding up? Any cramps? Love Dad.
My legs were sore at the end of that day for the first time. They felt fine in the morning, though.
Ohio! You are truckin’. Love the photos – the greens all look so lush.
Fascinating day. You’re getting a first-hand look at the infrastructure issues in the USA. And meeting cool folks along the way.
I’m so glad you can talk to folks and get directions. Fun and also very helpful–especially with birdges closed down. Some very nice shots. Glad I wasn’t navigating those steep hills–even on foot. Talked to your mom last night. She had some helpful suggestions about pillows and legs.
Bridget is dog sitting. I told her not to bring those two big cuties backf here with her.
So interesting that most of us expect a trouble free trip whenever we travel in this modern world. But you are dealing with the path as it comes along and it is not always cooperative or in line with your plans. Great to deal with situations as they arise. Fallen trees, bridges blocked off, routes not available, and more. As general Buford told his cavalry at Gettysburg – Keep a sharp eye out!
I enjoy reading how you are dealing with all of these obstacles!