Riding the Rails - Great Allegheny Passage
25 September 2017 I think most children have fantasies about hitching rides on rail cars with their little red hankerchief bundles of supplies. Facing the adventure of the unknown, casting off to the west in search of winds that have a new smell. Ok, maybe this isn't something ALL kids dream about, but I pondered it seriously and even when as a hobo for Halloween one year. So what does this have to do with bicycling? There is a network of trails in the US that are composed of old railroad beds converted to paths for cycling, hiking, walking, running, etc. These "rail to trail" conversions provide you with less than 3% grade in most places (don't underestimate this) and often a network of little towns providing services such as groceries, B&Bs or just a nice pavilion and informative sign. This trip took me on the Great Allegheny Passage from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA. 179.5 miles of crushed gravel, more pavement than I expected and...