Day 5, Friday, April 25

Rockwood, PA, to Roundbottom Campsite, Great Allegheny Passage, 58 miles

We got up a little earlier today. Even with John having to do a bit of work (poor fellow) we were able to get out of the hostel before 7:00 AM, our earliest start yet. After a quick stop at the local convenience store (run by two people so surly some locals will not go there, according to a bartender) we were on the trail.

I wasn't sure how I would feel on the bike today since my legs were a little sore from the climb yesterday. But I was feeling pretty good and we blasted the 18 miles to the next town, Confluence, at the confluence (get it?) of the Casselman and Youghiogheny Rivers, where we stopped for a coffee and some snacks. 

We were in a bit of a rush because we wanted to get to Roundbottom Campsite, 55 miles or so down the trail, before the predicted rain hit. The GAP has four free campsites with Adirondack shelters, and we wanted to be in one for the rain tonight.

It was mostly an uneventful ride, but there were some impressive views of the rivers, especially from the viaducts. It's all downhill, too, so we maintained an average speed much higher than the first four days and kept our stops short.

We did get enough rain just outside Connellsville, ten miles from our destination, to make us break out the rain jackets. It didn't last long, though we did run into a little more just before we reached Roundbottom.

We rolled into the campsite around 2:00. There were no other cyclists so we got a shelter. There was also a crew of volunteers, some of the nicest people you could hope to meet. They gave us some local info, warned us off the water from the pump (red sludge thanks to fracking, they say), and granted us some trail magic in the form of water, chips and granola bars. They are from the Yough River Trail Council, responsible for maintenance of 23 miles of the GAP, if I remember correctly. They could probably use your support if you are so inclined.

After we unloaded, John decided to ride three miles to a local town for groceries. He was unsuccessful but he did have an nteresting encounter with some local residents. I will leave it to him to describe his experience.

There was very little rain in the afternoon. We rued, a little, stopping here rather than continuing ten miles or so to the next campsite, but there was no way we were repacking for a mere ten miles.

If I have routed correctly, we have just under 50 miles to go to the Pittsburgh home of a friend from the Peace Corps. I can hardly wait to see her and to spend a glorious day off the bike. As much as we are enjoying the adventure so far, we can both use a recovery day.