Day 44, Confluence to Bedford, PA

Today was to be our second day climbing in the Pennsylvanian Appalachians, but we started with 31 miles on the rail trail. While it was a steady 2% grade, it was beautiful, peaceful, and traffic free. There was an option to avoid the trail entirely, and instead spend the first 30 or so miles climbing up to the highest peak in western PA. If you know us and our tandem, you know which option we chose.














We were planning to have a second breakfast in Meyersdale where we exited the trail. While on the trail, we passed a blue heron who also was looking for breakfast.








Once off the trail, the climbing began in earnest. This was a very tough day for us. Part of our difficulty was that we did not want to hold up our support crew by lagging behind. The other difficulty was that we climb very slowly; we get up the hills, but at our own pace. I have become accustomed to seeing the speedometer reading between 3.6 and 3.9 mph while we work our way up 9% hills that are half a mile long and longer. We have not walked a single inch of any hill on this ride, and intend not to do so.


Our cue sheet warned of a big climb (what the heck were we doing up 'til then?!) at the end of the day before a "huge descent" into camp. We were also warned that the descent would be steep and have many sharp curves. We were advised to, "Control speed, feather brakes and cool rims if necessary."



At 66.3 miles, we passed the Bald Knob summit sign. What a wonderful, 6 mile, 8 to 9% descent! I have to take a moment to thank Nate at Village Bike in Jenison, who installed our 203 mm disk brakes. They have worked flawlessly going over and descending the Cascades, the Continental Divide, and now in the Appalachians. Controlling a 400+ pound bike on long, steep grades is not easy. These brakes were absolutely wonderful.



Margaret got a picture near the top of the descent.

We arrived in Friendship Village Campground tired but not the last ones in. Tomorrow is billed as the toughest day of the ride, the "final exam." We go 102 miles from Bedford into Gettysburg, with the toughest climbing of the ride.