GAP - C&O Canal - Day 1

 Monday, 12 October 2020

Pittsburgh to West Newton, 34.5 miles (+ 2.5 miles to the start)

We're on our way to ride bicycles from Pittsburgh to Washington DC on the "GAP-C&O" trail -- a rails-to-trails trip that combines the Great Allegheny Passage (149 miles) and the C&O Canal towpath (184.5 miles). The combination makes a great bike path between the two cities over the Eastern Divide.

The trip starts at Point State Park in Pittsburgh where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers converge to become the Ohio River. Amos is the background looking at the fountain.

David and Amos joined us for the start - from the Point to the Hot Metal Bridge.

Crossing the Monongahela on the Hot Metal Bridge.

Crossing the "Mon", again, at McKeesport.

Fixing a flat tire after riding through broken glass on the trail in McKeesport.

Acid mine drainage gives the runoff waters along the trail a distinct reddish hue.

I tried to add this image nearer the top, but the new interface from Blogger won't let me do it. (Sometimes "new" is not "improved".) Regardless, Lon liked this photo of three generations of bicycle riders.