Day 1

            Well we left this morning at about 9:15 AM, after we got the bikes loaded. We had a van and driver, deliver us to Southside near downtown Pittsburgh, across the Monongahela River from “The Point” where the Mon (for short) and the Allegheny Rivers meet to form the Ohio River. We had stopped for lunch shortly before arriving and were ready to ride by1:15 PM.

            Each of the nine riders (or couples) gave a little bio about themselves, which I will share now. All are from the Wayne/Holmes County area.

            Jan B. is retired from nursing. “I’ve been riding for 20 years and I rode GOBA twice           Today we crossed the Mon River and then the Yough (Youghiogheny) River and will follow the Yough for several days. Here are some pictures from today. . Besides biking, I play table tennis and ski.”

            Gary B. is retired. “I now spend my time playing table tennis, skiing, biking and playing cards. We have four cats and 6 grandchildren.”

            J.D. Milliken retired from J M Smucker Co. 6 years ago after 34 years with them. “I live in Wooster with my wife Arlene and when not spending winters in Florida, play golf, in addition to bicycling and visiting our two married daughters and their families in Columbus. We have two grandsons (ages 6 and 9) who play baseball.”

            Lee and Deb Miller live in Berlin. Lee works at The Commercial & Savings Bank in Millersburg and Deb works in the surgery area of The Wooster Eye Center in Wooster. “We have only been biking a few years but really enjoy rail-trails.”

            Bob and Jenny Brooker are both teachers; Bob at Dalton Intermediate and Jenny at Orrville Middle School. Bob is currently in his 14^th year as mayor of Marshallville and Jen is serving in her 2^nd year as secretary of RTWC. “We love to do all things active and love to travel.”

            Dean and Tess Cooper are retired and living near Wooster. “This is our first type of biking experience. Hopefully we will survive to tell our future grandchildren.”

            Keith and Carol live outside Orrville. Carol is a retired Green Local Schools cook and Keith is a retired toolmaker from Will-Burt Co. in Orrville. We enjoy riding rail trails and have ridden many around the US. We first rode the C&O 25 years ago and when Keith found out about the proposed long distance trail from Cumberland toward, he started exploring it 20 years ago before much of it was open.  

            So that is our group of riders. Today we rode 20 miles to the town of Boston, PA and are staying in bed & breakfast type lodging tonight. Carol brought our van pulling the trailer with all the bikes loaded on it. She also shuttles us to our lodging and then the restaurant at night, if we are not close to the trail or the road is dangerous.

            The trail out of Pittsburgh is now (FINALLY) open but has a few places where it is not well marked, so having a map or guide to show the way is helpful. It is improving though and an improvement from 2 years ago when I did this ride.

           Today we crossed the Mon River and then the Yough (Youghiogheny) River and will follow the Yough for several days. Here are some pictures from today.

Our group, ready to leave.

                     This is the trailer load of bikes. They hang from the front wheel of each bike.

Here we are in Pittsburgh, ready to start our ride.

 

 

"The Point" across the Mon River. That's the Allegheny on the left side and to the far left, out of the picture, is the Ohio River.

 

At the end of the day, arriving in Boston, PA.