Friday May 30
Travelogue | Notes...
Average Speed: 10.0 mph
Max Speed: 35.5 mph
Total Riding Time: 6:42:40
Trip Mileage: 67.41
Total Mileage to Date: 445
Wake Up Time: 8:00am
Leave Time: 9:30am
Wrote 9:00pm...
Packed my stuff and said my goodbyes. I took the railroad trail I had checked out yesterday and saw Alice returning from her bike ride. We stopped and said our goodbyes and exchanged addresses. Continued riding on the trail through Connellsville and on to Dawson. Unfortunately, just before Dawson the trail turned into an unpaved mess of gravel and strewn rocks... making it difficult to ride a loaded touring bike.
Got off the trail and asked a group of kids on bikes where I could go for lunch. They directed me into town where I had a fish sandwich and soda for only $2.63! Got some directions and took Route 201 north to Route 51 north. Route 51 would take me north into Pittsburgh, but after crossing a bridge it veered left up a hill and the road became narrow, very congested as it was around rush hour and without a shoulder or sidewalk of any kind.
This is also the area where people were nasty for the first time. Went through Clairton and Glassport. Couldn't find any motel rooms or a campground. An old man tried to help me in Glassport, but to no avail. Finally got directions at a bridal shop of all places to go out by Allegheny Airport where I found a Hampton Inn for $80.00-ouch. I had no choice as it was getting dark and late. This is the first time I was getting worried that I may not find a place to stay for the night.
Tomorrow I will get as far away as possible from Pittsburgh. I hate this area. It is ugly and the people are miserable. Passed through some real ugly "blue collar" towns today. Smokestacks everywhere. Everything looked dirty and dreary. Now that I've seen Fallingwater I want to see Ohio.
BICYCLE TREK