Monday, June 24, 2013

Cumberland, MD to Parsons, WV

Wow today was an interesting day to say the least. We woke up a half hour earlier, at 5:30 since we knew it was going to be a long day. My group left around 8 to begin the ride. The first half of the day was relatively flat. We passed by some windmills and entered West Virginia. 

Windmills in the background. 
Entering West Virginia. 

Along the way my friend Mark and I stopped in Walmart and were able to DM a $50 gift certificate. 

After lunch we rode up Mount Storm which was a huge climb. At the top the group I wa riding with stopped to go swimming in a lake and the water felt amazing. 
Then we headed onward down a windy downhill. We were moving pretty fast but it felt great because I was just drafting off of the people in front of me. 

We started getting a little lost but we eventually made it to the trail we were meant to take. It was all gravel but we rode down it any way and found an amazing waterfall and went swimming again. 
Jumping off the ledge. 

Then we travelled further down the trail but it became more and more narrow. A few trees had fallen over so we had to pick our bikes up and carry them over. Eventually the trail became so covered in trees that we were only walking and carrying our bikes. After walking for about 3 or 4 miles we made it out. Only about 10 of us made it through the trail while everyone else in the back of the pack tried taking the road and ended up getting picked up by the van. It turned it to be a very long day and very tiring but completely worth the adventure. Leaving the trail also felt great since we were finally on a paved trail and close to the host. We later found out that the trail had been used in the past but Hurricane Sandy caused a lot of trees to fall down. I was able to take some really pretty pictures along the way though. 

Trail before the fallen trees. 
Waterfall trickling along the trail. 
Fallen trees. 
More fallend trees. 
River along the paven trail. 

Almost to the host. 

Although the trail took a long time to get through and a bit frightening for the group in the lead, today was probably he best day of the trip so far. West Virginia is very scenic and has some really hospitable people as well. 










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