Day 3, Wed: Confluence, PA to Meyersdale, PA - 33 miles

Today started out as a very hazy foggy day, but later in the morning it turned out to be quite warm and humid.  A phenomena of bicycling the GAP are the numerous areas where it feels like air conditioning, due to the many, many waterfalls coming down the bluffs of the mountains.  Today we followed the Casselman River with miles of rapids.  It is so relaxing and soothing biking the GAP surrounded by trees and the continuous sound of the rapids and waterfalls.

 

The Casselman River

One of the many types of waterfalls.

No matter where we are, Harold will ALWAYS find the coins on the ground, even on the GAP.

  

This locomotive sculpture pays homage to Rockwood's rail history as well as its present-day investment in biking.  Note that the steam cloud is fashioned from bike rims.

  

The Salisbury Viaduct is one of the most distinctive structures on the GAP.   

At 1,908 feet long and 101 feet high this steel trestle dominates the valley below. 



 

What?  A corn field on the mountain top?  Feels like home.

 

 

Meyersdale, our destination town for today, is at an elevation of 2,106 feet above sea level.  Springfield, IL is 600 feet above sea level.  Tomorrow we will reach our highest level at 2,392 feet.  It has not been difficult to bicycle to this altitude since the maximum grade is only 1.5%.  If you study the chart above, it is obvious as to why we chose to ride from Pittsburgh to D.C. instead of vice versa.  Wonder if we will be able to coast all the way to D.C.

 

When we arrived at in Meyersdale, we learned that we are only 24 miles South of Shanksville, PA, the site of the 9/11 plane crash.  The reverberation of the crash was felt in this small town.

 

Our lodging for tonight is at the Levi Deal Mansion Bed & Breakfast.  Oh my, what a mansion it is!  The interior decor is breath-taking.  It is a mansion in every sense of the word.  Our room is absolutely luxurious.