We make it to the end!

Meyersdale, Pennsylvania to Cumberland, Maryland

The Camino Will Provide

Ths morning it provided good weather and a smiling rider, David, my brother-in-law, who was feeling much better than yesterday.  We debate our next steps over a homemade breakfast by our impeccable host Dorothy.  We had gone to bed assuming we were not riding, but now we make the decision to bike to the end.  We are all a bit surprised by the quick turn of events, but David seems OK enough, so off we go.

We pack our bags for the last time, don our rain gear for what is assumed to be only a light rain, and head back on the trail.  Fog and a light mist greet us as we climb up to the Eastern Continental Divide.  It is our last (!) uphill. We have been going up for four days and 130 miles on a slight incline most of the way.  Now it is supposed to be a steep decline all the way to the end. 

We take a few pictures and are glad to be in the tunnel protected from the increasing rain.  We exit the tunnel into a full on rain storm.  It has moved past the drizzle.  We put on another layer to keep warm, tighten down our Gore-tex hoods and keep going.

The previous dey trail is now muddy and sand is sticking to our pants and gloves.  The water has seeped through the shoes and our toes are a bit squishy as we continue to count down the mile markers and the elevation.  We push through the soft spot of fresh gravel at mile 9 (as riders told us about yesterday) and take one last rest before the final descent.

Slowly we emerge from the dense forest to a few wide fields with cows and barns  scattered homes and then into the outskirts of a real city.  We hit pavement and follow the river into town.  The rain has not stopped, but we are now all determined to power through.  David is in the lead with Mike as Siri and I take up the rear not wanting to go too fast over the sections of washed out trails.  The weather has not been good for GAP these past few weeks with flooding and torrential downpours.

We can see the buildings of downtown, cross the train tracks one last time and snake our way to the end.

Mike is at the finish line cheering us on.  We take a few more pedal strokes and we make it!

We have completed the GAP!

Woohoo!

No bands await our arrival, just the sweet satisfaction of a job well done and memories made.  We take a few photos, smile a lot, and then look for some warmth inside the visitors center.

We are all cold and wet. David has pushed through, maybe a bit too much, with whatever bug or cold he has.  He is down and ready to get home.  We get a quick lunch, change into dry (!) clothes and hop on the shuttle back to Pittsburgh and then onto our next destinations.  We say quick goodbyes at the airport, get ready for a long drive back to Connecticut in the pouring rain, and a few can take short naps to start to recover. 

What was just an idea many months ago and then became a call out to friends and family turned into a wonderful adventure.  Great way to see the lush Pennsylvania countryside,  reconnect with my college friend and brother-in-law, and to take on a new challenge together as a couple.  A good ride all in all.

Now we rest.

And then begin to plan the next adventure ….