Rockwood Pa.

Money spent. 15 campground 4 bacon

I got up around 6 after a restless night sleep. The trains were pretty busy and being so close to the tracks it was nearly impossible to sleep through the racket. I fired up my little stove and started packing while the water boiled for my coffee. I wanted an early start to get as much of the climb over with before it got too hot. Big Savage Mountain is a 21 mile grade. Its not steep, only about 3% but it just doesnt stop.I always wish it was steeper to just get it over with faster.The ascent went well though, I took several breaks and didn’t get in a hurry. Around a 3rd of the way up I stopped to refill my water bottles from a nearby stream. I always filter water from this same creek but as dry as it has been I was worried it wouldn’t be running. Or just running with muddy run off from yesterday’s rain. But I had no reason to worry. It was flowing cool and clear as always. I filled both my bottle and added Gatorade powder to one and left one just water. Even with it being fairly early and still relatively cool I had drank 80 oz in 2 hours. I had to fill up once more before I finally made it to the Eastern Continental divide around noon.

At the top I cooked a quick lunch, a pack of spicy chicken Ramen noodles with 2 eggs cracked on top. The air was surprisingly cooler on the other side of the mountain. My thermometer said 73. It was perfect biking weather. I made it to Myersdale in about 45 minutes. I was cruising at about 15 mph. I wish I could do that all the time. At myersdale I took another little break and had a can of espresso from the sheets there. Well 2 cans really there only 4 oz and it was 2 for 5 and my brother was buying.

And then I was enlightened on many things! I even had the secret of the universe explained go me! Not from the major jolt of caffeine in the espressos but by this fellow.

I had just left Myersdale and was getting ready to really make some miles when I was stopped. If a cyclist that is coming towards you stops its common courtesy to stop as well, they probably will ask something important or if you have a particular wrench or an air pump. This man stopped so I did as well. My cheerful salutation was met with silence followed by fierce scrutiny. You look like an intellectual, he finally said rather loudly. Its been my experience rarely does an enjoyable conversation ensue when the opening gambit is You look like a… I was rather surprised though. I mean out of all the things I could look like he chose an intellectual. I replied ok. I was trying to stay very neutral in case he was unclear on the definition of intellectual and with me not knowing if he knew or not, I was unwilling to commit with a yes or no.

But a simple ok from me was all he needed to start on some very long winded theories. He talked so much and so fast he actually would get out of breath. So right in the middle of how time is not linear,paradigm shifts and in the 16th century Galileo up covered this astounding truth he would stop,mop his brow and noisily suck in huge lung fulls of air. He talked at least an hour while all I could do was nod my head.

After what felt like forever I was back on my bike heading towards the Salisbury viaduct. Its a bridge that spans the whole valley. It’s always been one of my favorite things on the GAP. Its 1908 feet long and goes over fields the Casselman River, active railroad tracks and route 219.

After that it was about 10 miles to Rockwood and that’s where I’m at now. I’m at Husky Haven Campground. Its a private campground right on the Casselman River. Its $ 15 dollars a night which I’m not too happy about spending but after climbing that mountain I didn’t want to go much farther to find a free site. So $15 here and stopped at the Rockwood express and bought a pack of bacon for $3.89. Thats $19 dollars for 3 days so im still ahead on my budget.

I cooked a big meal tonight I made bacon egg and cheese quesadillas. My block of cheese was getting slimy from the heat so it needed used. Tomorrow should be resupply day if I make it to Connellsville. There’s a big Martin’s there and they have a free camping area behind the store for bikers and hikers. I still have about 3 meals left so I don’t need too much. I hard boiled the last 4 of my eggs tonight. I boiled a pot of water for coffee and I cooked the eggs in it first to save fuel.