Riding Day 61 - August 14th, 2019
Start: Salem, OH
End: Pittsburgh, PA
Miles: 83.8
Feet climbing per mile: 54
Record of today’s ride: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/38594463
I started the day with a swim in the hotel pool. Like yesterday, I had the entire pool to myself.
The climbing began as soon as I left the hotel. I considered this reintroduction of climbing to be the start of my preparation for what is to come in Pennsylvania, especially an 85-mile day with 105 feet of climbing per mile. But the real adventure began with the discovery of the closure of the Fleming Park Bridge, which required a lot of backtracking, turning what was to be a 69-mile day into an 84-mile day. I didn’t see any notice of the closure until I was close to the bridge, whereas a notice of the closing would have been helpful five miles before that, at the entrance to Coraopolis Bridge that led to Neville Island.
The route I chose after being denied use of the Fleming Park Bridge involved substantial traffic, including on some curvy hills. Usually I find that roads parallel to, and near, a river are relatively flat, but not in Pittsburgh. So the day ended with a lot of climbing.
My hosts for tonight and tomorrow are Beth Corning and her husband Marc Nieson. Beth offered to host me after Holly Cavrell told her I would be riding through town. I enjoyed getting to know Beth and Marc while eating the delicious dinner Beth made.
I look forward to spending a rest day here tomorrow, the first true rest day (i.e., with a night in the same place as the night before) I’ve had since I was in Chetek July 24-28.
End: Pittsburgh, PA
Miles: 83.8
Feet climbing per mile: 54
Record of today’s ride: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/38594463
I started the day with a swim in the hotel pool. Like yesterday, I had the entire pool to myself.
The climbing began as soon as I left the hotel. I considered this reintroduction of climbing to be the start of my preparation for what is to come in Pennsylvania, especially an 85-mile day with 105 feet of climbing per mile. But the real adventure began with the discovery of the closure of the Fleming Park Bridge, which required a lot of backtracking, turning what was to be a 69-mile day into an 84-mile day. I didn’t see any notice of the closure until I was close to the bridge, whereas a notice of the closing would have been helpful five miles before that, at the entrance to Coraopolis Bridge that led to Neville Island.
The route I chose after being denied use of the Fleming Park Bridge involved substantial traffic, including on some curvy hills. Usually I find that roads parallel to, and near, a river are relatively flat, but not in Pittsburgh. So the day ended with a lot of climbing.
My hosts for tonight and tomorrow are Beth Corning and her husband Marc Nieson. Beth offered to host me after Holly Cavrell told her I would be riding through town. I enjoyed getting to know Beth and Marc while eating the delicious dinner Beth made.
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| Marc Nieson and Beth Corning |
I look forward to spending a rest day here tomorrow, the first true rest day (i.e., with a night in the same place as the night before) I’ve had since I was in Chetek July 24-28.
Three weeks of steady travel... How about that?
ReplyDeleteWhat three weeks do you have in mind? The entire trip was three months. Is that what you meant?
DeleteNow I see! you were referring to the interval from July 28th to August 14th.
Delete