It was another fantastic weather day on the GAP. It was 47°F when I started in Connellsville and about 80°F when I finished in Pittsburgh. The glove liners I picked up yesterday worked great for keeping my fingers toasty.
My last day was a little over 60 miles and neatly breaks into two sections, separated by Boston PA. East of Boston, the trail still feels very rural. West of Boston, the outskirts and city of Pittsburgh begin to take shape; the industrial buildings, train tracks, and steel mills start taking over the landscape.
I rolled along listening to upbeat music and took a few stops along the way to hydrate, snack, and stretch my legs. I arrived in West Newton a few minutes before 11A. I stopped in the Trailside restaurant for an early lunch. A Cobb salad hit the spot.
The rest of the trip was beautiful but uneventful. I ended up in Pittsburgh just before 3PM. There is a nice change to the prior route – now you can continue along the Mon Wharf area all the way to The Point. The Point state park is the confluence of the Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio rivers – the Three Rivers of Pittsburgh. I took a few pictures and took a little time to enjoy the weather and scenery. The riverfront was very busy today with people enjoying the water and parks.
My car was parked at the hotel and I had a 3 hour drive after to get to work for tomorrow in Columbus, OH. So I made my way over to the hotel and did a quick cleanup in the bathroom before heading out.
This long weekend was just about right. The weather and trail conditions were perfect and it gave me a nice break before a busy couple of work weeks ahead. I think this long-weekend ride could become an annual tradition – time will tell.
Today’s Stats: 61.4 miles, no issues, one strawberry UnCrustable PB&J, great weather, and lots of sunshine.
May the Lord bless you and shine His face upon you!
Peace,
— Dcn. Matt
Deacon Matt's Blog 