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Solo female touring GAP, C&O Canal, Gettysburg, Antietam, etc in mid-late September 2010
Enviado por cindalee em sex, 2010-06-18 21:58
I am planning a solo tour in mid-late September 2010. While nothing is set in stone yet, my idea is to fly from San Francisco to Pittsburgh around 9/9/10 and return to SF from Washington on 9/26.
I haven't planned a day-to-day itinerary but basically I want to cycle around Pittsburgh for a day before starting the GAP.
I want to do the entire GAP and C&O Canal trails but definitely want to cycle to Gettysburg and Antietam - I would also love to see Chambersburg as this is where I was born (only lived there 3 months before moving to western PA - Connellsville area until I was 8 years old). We camped every weekend during the summer at Shawnee State Park and it would be fun to see it again but may not have time for everything.
As a solo traveler, I am hesitant to camp for several reasons - the added weight of the gear and the additional work of setting up/breaking camp and possibly even cooking meals after riding all day. Plus I wonder about the safety of camping solo - having never done this. However the cost of staying in hotels or B&B's every night definitely exceeds my budget so I am looking for host families for several nights along the way, usually only one night - but I imagine in a couple of places it might be two nights - like Gettysburg, Harper's Ferry, maybe Pittsburgh too.
I'll be riding a Raleigh Mountain bike that I recently put Continental Contact tires on (read several reviews by people who used these tires on the C&O trail and loved them). In many respects I consider myself a novice cyclist, since I just started riding a year ago. But this year I set a personal fitness challenge of doing a century ride and I am proud to say that I DID IT - on 6/5/10, I rode 101.4 miles on the mountain bike, with 3,758 feet of climb and road temps for 55 miles of 92-98 degrees.
You can see pics from this ride via this FB link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=175451&id=529776271&l=413a7ed8d9. I will be 61 years old in 2 weeks and still carrying 60 pounds of unwanted body weight (I have already discarded almost 100 pounds and 17 inches in my waist). By September I should be down another 20-30 pounds.
I look forward to advice from you experienced 'tourers' and help in finding host sites during my ride. For more info about me, look me up on FB - Cinda Weisgerber or send me an email: cinda@discardpounds.com
Cinda
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Dream becoming a reality
My flights are booked - WOOHOO! Now planning the itinerary so I can arrange hosts accordingly. Also took advice from many who have emailed me that it is safe for a woman traveling solo to camp - so am gearing up for some of that too. I will take my first overnight shakedown trip in 2 weeks. Very excited.
Still open to advice and suggestions from experienced tour riders.
Planning is part of the fun - and generating lots of excitement with my friends. My mom and some other family members think I am totally crazy - but I say it is a great crazy to be. Glad my older sister has totally embraced my adventure.
Cinda
We would be glad to host
Hi Cinda. I live right outside of Harrisburg, about 45 miles from gettysburg. I am planning a trip to California from here. We would love for you to stay with us and tell us about your experiences. I live with my finacee Jessica, and our daughter Hailey. We have internet, a bed, food, laundry, and great times to offer if you would like to stay with us.. My phone number is 717-648-8195 if you would like to contact me. A little about us. My name is Brian Salada, I am 22 years old. My finacee is a court reporter and for the time being, I am a stay at home dad. We live in a modest townhouse in a very nice community. We have a little dog named romeo who absolutely loves women! If this interests you please feel free to call. Hope to hear from you soon!!
Brian
response to offer of hospitality
Brian,
Just got a message from Kevin (site admin) that the response I sent you previously went to them in admin and not to you. So sorry - you probably wondered what happened to me. So here is my original response:
Hey Brian,
Am surprised that I missed seeing this response from you until this morning. I appreciate hearing from you.
While I would enjoy meeting you, your fiancee and daughter (I am a real family gal), I think you are just too far away from my cycling routes. I looked at your provide on warmshowers and you live in Camp Hill which is far off the trails I will be riding. I appreciate your offer though.
Wish you the best and stay in touch - are you doing a cycling tour in CA - when, with whom, where?
Cinda
bike traveling
howo caowgoanga Cinda.....I wish I could be riding along with you.....is yhe best thing to do in your age....and I planning to do the same thing in your age.....so don't stop for anything.....and if you are some days for more riding don't forget CA and Baja,we have ciclists houses in those places.
see you some day in the road
Gerardo Medina
Riverside CA
Pittsburgh to DC
Cinda,
I'm not an expert on the route but I've done DC to Pittsburgh before and jusst finished Cumberland to Pittsburgh a couple weeks ago. My first concern is how you plan to get from Pittsburgh to the start of the trail, about 10 miles out. We rode that stretch this time, despite the advice of literally everybody we asked. Now we know: that's a nasty piece of road and I'd avoid it if at all possible. The actual GAP trail begins around McKeesport. So, I hope you can get a ride out, maybe even take a cab -- by yourself, it might be possible. Definitely worth not riding that stretch (Carson St).
A few random bits: Camping really is the easiest way to do the trail since there are campgrounds available at many useful stopping places, especially along the C&O. On the GAP, campsites aren't as numerous, but it's possible to get nice day-distances and camp.
Places where I would not camp are Rockwood (Hostel on Main), Hancock (Bicycle Bunkhouse) and Harpers Ferry (The Town's Inn). I'd plan the trip so as to take advantage of these great services.
The hostel in Rockwood is relatively new; it's a few doors away from another establishment owned by the same people -- a place to get pizza, sandwitches, desserts. We went to a pub further in the village to eat. The hostel has good laundry facilities, a bit minimal on kitchen.
The Bicycle Bunkhouse in Hancock is terrific because it's so cheap. You need your own sleeping pad and bag, which you place on their bunks in a screened-in shed kind of place. There are showers and hoses for cleaning up your bike. Good restaurants nearby.
In Harpers Ferry, I never did succeed in contacting the regular hostel, which is quite a ways off the trail up in the hills somewhere. However, right in the middle of the historic village of HP there is a place called "The Town's Inn" which (at least in part) is a hostel-type room with many bunks, each with a cool curtain you can pull shut for privacy. This is a town with no other lodging options, so it's especially wonderful that this low-cost one is there. Don't miss it.
As am aside, I'd definitely avoid camping at the park in Ohiopyle. We did that first time through and it was not much fun. the campgrounds turned out to be at the top of a rough trail of maybe 20% steepness. After a day of riding when we were expecting and needing to rest, this trudge was a cruel twist. And, then, at the campsite there is no access to any supplies or services without going back down. They *really* should develop some biker campsites near the trail. The hostel that used to be in Ohiopyle is apparently defunct.
Hope some of this helps,
Andrejs
Ithaca, NY