Sunday - Dusty Day

We're off! From the Frostburg train depot, we departed at noon on the 16 consecutive mile downstream trek to Cumberland (where we had 2nd lunch at the Queen City Creamery). Although the temperature increased noticeably with the elevation change, it was still not too warm in Cumberland. The restaurant owner let us put our bikes in a locked fence area in the alley while we dined.

When we were leaving the restaurant, I noticed that a screw holding one side of the rear rack on Debbie's bike was missing, causing the fender to rub on the tire. A temporary fix was effected by use of a zip tie, and we were onto the C & O towards Old Town. Heather had ridden ahead and passed this location. The rest of us stopped there for a snack break before resuming. We located Heather reading her book 10 miles down the trail on lying on a grassy road embankment - she had not noticed Old Town and stopped only when she noticed a sign that said Paw Paw Tunnel 0.6 miles.

On the West Virginia side, a small group of bored teens asked us how far we had come. When we responded "Frostburg" they seemed suitably impressed and pointed out the Heritage House B & B for us. We stepped outside to Grandma's Country Kitchen next door, had dinner, and then I had time to work out a better (albeit still temporary solution to Debbie's bike problem.) Our bikes and panniers are covered with trail dust.

While I was pumping the bike tires next to the bike barn, a middle aged walked over and sat down. He and his wife had gone out biking on the trail before she became arthritic. He said he liked Oldtown - he and his family had moved up from Tampa years ago after someone had been chased into their living room and shot. Old Town seemed like a better option. I asked him if there was a school there, and he responded that there was. All grade levels are housed in one school, from which his son graduated in a class of eight.

Michelle tried to call Josh but reported there was no cell service even in the highest part of Paw Paw.