C&O / GAP Forum

Any updates on the Big Slackwater restoration?

Last update from the Park Service is that the project should be completed in the Fall of 2012 (September/October timeframe).
Looking forward to it's completion. This will make the ride much safer.

According to video on Cinabro web site they want to be done by July 4th. Wouldn't that be great. Time will tell.

That is interesting. The detour has been in place for over 12 years. The restoration project began in August 2010. The original target date was to have it completed this summer (July 2012), but the latest information I have is Fall of 2012. I got that information direct from the Park Service. I'm hoping you are right. :)

As of 6-28-12. I received a response from my source at the NPS on the Slackwater Restortion Project. The restoration is scheduled to be completed this FALL (Sept/Oct) time frame. I'll update everyone as I get more information. Stay tuned to this channel for further information :)

Can someone recommend a good camping site at Ohiopyle? I just want to avoid riding all the way to the top of the hill where some sites are located. Thanks

Check out DCNR Pa. State Parks, There are park maps to locate campgrounds

Looking at taking a group of age 14+ boy scouts to cover the 185 miles of CO in 7 days next summer. Plan on camping and having a car support us with gear. Which is the best direction to go. ONly looking at about 30 miles or so a day some less with one day doing 50. Want to spend a good part of day each at antietam and harpers ferry. Any suggestions.

My preference is to proceed eastbound from Cumberland. The prevailing slope is downhill (if only slightly), but over that number of miles you'll descend about 500 ft versus having to climb that same amount.

Also, prevailing winds tend to originate out of the west to southwesterly direction, so you'll have a pushing tail wind versus a headwind to push into. All in all, this makes this the better choice in my estimation, unless you reside around DC and prefer to start from your home area..

I agree. It would be best to start at Cumberland, MD and head East/South toward Washington DC., (especially if the group is not unaccustomed to long bike-hikes.) Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Ray (webmaster) You do a great job, and this is one of the best boards I have ever used. I"m really backward when it comes to computers and this site is easy, as you can see I post regularly. Keep up the great work, I'll close with a thing I made up a few years ago when I was recruiting rider for the first Ride of My Life"Velo Loco.

Thanks Lenny, I appreciate the compliment and am glad to hear that the website has been helpful. And the usefulness of the site is improved even more by folks like you who share your insights here on the forum, so thanks for your contributions to these discussions.

Happy trails!

I totally agree. The information you provide on this website was instrumental in making plans to bike from Cumberland - Pittsburgh! Thank you!

Very informative site. I have learned a lot of information about the C&O and Canal and GAP from this site.

Just got in a couple hours ago, wife and I did a trainer from Pgh to Ohiopyle and back (Sat& Sun) 74 miles each way. Trail was great very hard and fast. Great weather. Passed a lot of Greenway Sojouners both days, they even camped at Ceder Creek County Park and where there when we passed.We did well 6.5 hrs each day but are pretty tired from the accumulative effect of each days ride. It should be easier in Sept.

Leaving car near Pittsburg - shuttling to Cumberland.
1)Is GAP finished into Pittsburg - should we end ride at Homestead or Boston to avoid construction? Not opposed to a connector trail to a different end point.
2) Is there a B&B/hotel near Pittsburgh that will allow car parking for 4 days - will book last night's lodging.
All comments appreciated!

I believe you can take it right into downtown Pittsburgh. There may be a construction detour somewhere. Not sure about that, but someone will chime in or you can check here on the site, as I beleive info on route detours are posted here and updated periodically.

Four days parking may be possible if you're booking a night at end, just depends. More likely a fee may be tacked on as its sorta an extra amenity and during busy season for B&B's, not always a sure thing they'll have space or want to bother when other customers without this type of request are probably a dime a dozen. Then again, you could luck out and get the parking, simply by having a stay booked at the conclusion of your tour. Providing the added convenience will obviously improve the chances for a repeat visit or at the very least good word being spread by yourself about their property.

Trail complete to Sandcastle (Homestead). Check out the GAP website under trail status. The site has all the info. you may need.

After the trip comment:
Yough Shore Inn - Boston, PA: Great place to stay and will allow you to leave car. Boston is 15 miles from end of GAP.
Finished GAP by riding through Sandcastle p/l, out the far back, turn left and walk down the side of RR tracks for about 1/4 mile. The GAP or (maybe) the River Heritage Trail picks up and you can end up riding at least to the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongehelia and Ohio Rivers.

Rode from Boston to Point Park today. Found my way through Sandcastle to CSX railroad tracks. Followed track bed one forth mile to Southside trail @ Baldwin Boro, which leads to the Hot Metal Bridge. Its not the real connection but it works for me til they get there ass in gear and get this trail finally connected. I looked for this Connection today as I want to do Point Park to DC this fall. Now all I need is roll on rail service. By the way Point Park to Boston is Exactly 20 miles.

I am doing the C&O Canal Towpath and GAP from DC to the Southside this September. Can you get through the Sandcastle property if they are closed for the season?

the attendant at the gate told me it would be accessable. but I will check it out for myself later. Will Advise.

Had to finish the GAP - rode through p/l and walked down the tracks and suggested earlier. Thanks to the two young men who told us about it! It worked! Our ride actually ended across from Heinz Stadium on Friday, June 22.

Interested in any of your experiences with the B & Bs or motels in Confluence.

What are you recommendations??

Thanks for any help.

I have used Confluence House B&B. It was great. But I usually ride to Ohiopyle on my rides, and there are more choices there.

Appreciate the advice on Ohiopyle. That actually works better mileage-wise than Confluence....However...When I search this website, I find fewer hotel/motel/lodging options in Ohiopyle than I do in Confluence. I'll keep looking...I'm obviously confused. Thanks again.

On our first DC to Pitt trip and also on the trip we are doing this July, my wife and I stayed at the Yough Plaza Motel. This was nothing fancy. It was clean and they allowed us to bring our bikes into the room. We stayed on the top floor and the end room, helped cut down on noise. There may be nicer places at Ohiopyle but really all we wanted was a place to safely store our bikes and gear, take a shower and sleep. We found a place to eat breakfast and were good to go.

You could try bbbiking.com. Sites like it and this site were a great help to us planning our two trips.

Good luck!

I use the Yough Plaza motel, on the contrary I think it is a really god trail motel. I will be staying there this Sat night . I've posted earlier that I'm doing a trainer.

I almost forgot there web sight sucks,but I'm computer challenged.

This information is very helpful. Thank you all.

For the extra 18 miles I prefer to stay at the Hostel in Rockwood. Right off the path. Friendly atmosphere and good food. Cost is about $22 a person for non private room. Bike storage in the basement with good water hose for cleaning. Check out their web site. Google Rockwood PA hostel.

Just returned and stayed in Confluence - great town and fantastic bike shop!

Lodging: Parker House, Confluence House B & B,
Hanna House, Paddlers Lane Retreat, House at Confluence.

All have websites. We stayed at Parker House Guest House (no breakfast, but kitchen available). Little pricy, but beautiful accommodation!

Confluence Cyclery could also give you names of the ones I didn't list.

FOUND: Sportline Heart Rate Monitor on the GAP between W. Newton and Boston on Thursday, June 21. Provide details to claim.

Does anyone know if you are allowed to leave your vehicle for several days at the Boston Pa.starting point for the GAP.

Sure, why not?

Just returned from the GAP. Left one car at the Trail Inn and Cafe in Frostburg and another at Yough Shore Inn, Boston ($10/day or $10 if you book a room and stay a night).

Planning a trip from DC west for later in the summer. I am not from the area. I can't figure out where the GAP actually ends. Need to make some plans for where to be picked up. Figure out how far/close to the airport I am going to end up, etc.

Thanks for any help.

One final question...am I understanding correctly that the GAP is paved from Cumberland west?

Thanks again!

GAP ends at the Waterfront in Homestead right now.But I have made it to the Southside trail threw Sandcastle and on to Point State Park. But the Airport is still a taxi ride away. Check the maps and mileage charts on this and the Great Allegheny web sites it will clarify a lot for you.

Also, the GAP is not paved. There are some spots that are paved. Usually around a town. The GAP itself is a wonderful trail, smooth and well maintained.

Again. Very helpful. Will plan to end at Homestead and make travel arrangements from there. Thank you all!

You can now technically ride direct to the airport using the Montour trail instead of travelling into town. The Montour connects via couple share the road lanes in Mkeesport. I know its not the entire GAP but no need to take a taxi.

Anything new on the Big Slackwater Restoration? No new posts on The Canal Trust site since May 7.

OK folks, wanting to bring a little levity to the board for a couple days maybe..

Disclaimer: most riders will find hard luck stories while out on tour somewhat comical (depending on the circumstances of course), most of us have been there at some point..so suck it up and spill the awful details.

Please chime in with tours you've went on where Murphy's Law totally took over.

Did the weather go from bad to worse? Lightning, tornado or worse.

Did you lose you ID or wallet while riding, not to realize it until much later in the day another 60 miles down the road somewhere..

Did your bike give you huge headaches??

Did you lose your route map while in an unfamiliar area??

Did you get to a point where you just had to cut your losses, abandon ship and discontinue your tour??

OK speed I'll bite. My story isn't really that bad. I ride lot over 1,500/m a season. One of the rides is always a summer run Pgh. to DC. I am notorious for getting lots of flats. I run my tires up to the limit, and ride them hard .Needless to say my ride partners rag the daylights out of me about all the flats. I average one flat per day on The Ride. And 1 flat per week in season. Tires.com loves me.

My worst experience happened before my rear end ever even hit the saddle. I loaded my bike onto my car's rear-mount bike rack and headed off to the trail. When I reached the trail, I found a smoldering mass of melted rubber at the bottom of the rear wheel - the tire had been too close to the car exhaust and literally melted. Luckily there was an open bike shop where they chiseled the melted rubber off of the rim and set me up with a new tire. All was good after that!

Not bad so far..thanks guys.

Along the lines of Ray's post, has anyone used a rear mounted rack system on their car and had their bike fall off while in transit?? Did a strap snap or work its way loose? Did the whole rack collapse off the car? That would be pretty bad karma and possibly not something anyone would want to own up to, but who knows..

Also, in a similar vein, were you using a rear rack system for your bike and in transit to your trail ride got rear-ended and the bike or bikes mounted there were destroyed??

I don't really have any hard luck stories, I have been pretty lucky so far....

Did have one interesting incident at Ohiopyle a couple of years back. My kids and some friends went rafting down the Yough. My wife and I rode from Ohiopyle to Confluence and back. We decided to get a bite to eat at the Ohiopyle House Cafe, out on the deck. I had the bikes on the rack and had moved the van up near the visitors center, in the big gravel parking lot. There is only a half dozen cares or so as it was early evening and most people were gone. So we are eating when an old beat up car pulls into the parking lot with two 20 somethings. They get out and stand around their car and casually look at the cars in the lot. After a short time they get in their car and leave. 15 - 20 minutes later they pull back in right next to our van. They hop out of their car and go right for our bikes, a Gary Fisher and a Specialized. They were strapped in the rack and bungee corded together. They started to yank on the bikes when I jumped up and ran to the railing and yelled at them. This got their attention but really startled the other people eating. It took the other folks a second or two to realize what was going on. The two 20 somethings were trying to figure out where to voice was coming from. Right after I yelled at them, another,much larger gentleman got up, stood beside me and started yelling at them too. The boys finally figured out where the voices were coming from and stared at us for a moment or two and hopped back in their beater and tore out of there.

I really don't know what they were thinking. They couldn't have taken the bike(s) in their car. I guess they could have tried to ride it somewhere but they didn't look like they would have made it too far. Maybe it was just something to do. When we finished eating and went back to the van, you could see their handprints on the rims.

I was pretty upset at the time but just laugh know when I think o

Lost the last sentence. Should read -
I was pretty upset at the time but just laugh now when I think about the look on their faces when they realized there was a small crowd of diners watching them try to steal our bikes.

And it was cars, not cares, in the parking lot.

OK, mine happened this year. I started off in Boston Pa. on the GAP and was doing fine until Rockwood Pa.It started raining hard that night and ended up being 2 inches of rain. I was bragging how I had sprayed the tent with silicone so it shouldnt leak. Leaked awful! Tent was full of rain the next morning. I manged to get everything dried out but because of the weather being only 60 with rain all day in the forecast I stayed at camp in Rockwood. The next day I left with my destination being Cumberland. A mile into the ride I noticed my chain jumping a bit. I thought the derailer might need some adjustment so I guessed I could make it to Cumberland then get it tuned up there. Well, 5 miles into the ride the chain breaks. No extra chain,tools. nothing. So I push the bike back to Rockwood 5 miles. The funny part is I had told people along the trail that as long as I didnt break a spoke or chain I would be fine. Turns out I got it fixed quick at the bike shop along the trail and was back on the road the next day.Not fun when its actually happeninig but when its over it makes for a good story. I was lucky enough to film the whole thing, my expressions, ( I edited the cuss words) all of it. I did make it to Harpers Ferry and would do it all again tomorrow.

Doing a trainer next Sat. and Sun. Pitt. to Ohiopyle and back.76 miles each way. My wife is doing The Ride with me this year and wanted to see how 2 long days felt. She has already done 3 60+days in the past, but isn't real confident in her ability. She will be fine . I'll report.

It looks like you are going to have some great weather for your ride. Can I ask what speed will you average on your trip or how long do you think it will take you to do the 76 miles? Good luck to you and your wife!

just over 6 hrs. saddle time , but less going back to Pgh.

Thanks Lenny. Right around 12mph is what my wife and I average on our normal trail rides. A little faster on paved trails and a little slower on wet, unpaved trails. I think on the C&O we were around 8mph in some spots.

his site wouldnt connect for me the last couple days, but today it opened. My computer or the site???

I apologize, the database on the web server ran out of space. I cleaned it up a few hours ago, and all is back to normal now. Sorry about that. Thanks for coming back!

Happy trails!

I noticed that yesterday too.

Figured it was a 'site maintainence' thing..