Two great days

The drive down was great. Overcast the whole way. Very pleasant to drive.we made a quick stop at Angola then at lunch Arb At Arby's in Erie. We turned East before Pittsburgh and ran into some serious mountains in the Laural Highlands. We learned not to trust the GPS. as we got closer to the campsite it sent us down to dirt roads with grades of about 35 degrees. On the one, a guy had to turn the car around for us to get us back up the hill. We finally got to the campsite and set up for the night. We cooked a great porkchop dinner and went to bed early. This morning Mary Ellen drove me to the Hot Teal Bridge where I started. We saw a flock of wild turkeys on the way to Pittsburgh. The day was overcast when I started. It was great because it wasn't too hot. Met a guy named Paul who rode over the bridge with me and helped me find the way. Everything was pages until mcKeesport, then stonedust. Sometimes almost Sandy. And it goes gradually up hill the whole way! It's not bad enough to make the ride difficult. It's just annoying because it looks like the trail will never end. I stopped in Boston and West Newton today. The path is line the whole way with historical markers.it's The area has such an interesting industrial history. And the path is shaded most of the way. On the left is the river and on the right the exposed stones of the mountains the railways blasted away. Met a lot of nice people, some of whom helped me with directions to the motel, which of course on a bust road. Tomorrow I went to leave early so I don't hit too much traffic when I head back into town. Man, I should sleep well tonight. It was 60 miles today. Tomorrow I will ride the 17 miles to ohiopyle where I will meet Mary Ellen and will will visit Frank Lloyd Wright's falling water before I continue to rockwood. I will sleep well tonight.
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Everything's packed. (I think!)

So, I'm packed. It's going to be a lot of weight to drag along. I always try to pack the minimum, but still end up with too much. This would not be a ride for my bike buddy, Sandy. She's not keen on self-contained rides. But I'm looking at reasonably flat paths and no cars to contend with. The weather forecast is predicting a couple of storms during the week, but I see mostly heat and sunshine. I'm glad most of the trail is in shaded, rural areas. I've heard only good things about the trail. I want to make sure I put more air in my tires and I've got to remember to fill my water bottle. I have to be on the road at 7 to get to Mary Ellen's at 9 so we can be on the road shortly thereafter. This has been on my bucket list for awhile. I can soon cross this off and add something else. It will be a big change from the one-mile rides to work everyday. I've got to remember to find lots of photo ops and I have my trail book along to see what sightseeing adventures I can find. Harpers Ferry will be a definite stop. That might be something Mary Ellen would like to see, too. OK. I've got to get ready for bed. Cross your fingers that I don't meet a bear in one of the old RR tunnels. RIP, Lori. I will be thinking of you.

Everything's packed. (I think!)

So, I'm packed. It's going to be a lot of weight to drag along. I always try to pack the minimum, but still end up with too much. This would not be a ride for my bike buddy, Sandy. She's not keen on self-contained rides. But I'm looking at reasonably flat paths and no cars to contend with. The weather forecast is predicting a couple of storms during the week, but I see mostly heat and sunshine. I'm glad most of the trail is in shaded, rural areas. I've heard only good things about the trail. I want to make sure I put more air in my tires and I've got to remember to fill my water bottle. I have to be on the road at 7 to get to Mary Ellen's at 9 so we can be on the road shortly thereafter. This has been on my bucket list for awhile. I can soon cross this off and add something else. It will be a big change from the one-mile rides to work everyday. I've got to remember to find lots of photo ops and I have my trail book along to see what sightseeing adventures I can find. Harpers Ferry will be a definite stop. That might be something Mary Ellen would like to see, too. OK. I've got to get ready for bed. Cross your fingers that I don't meet a bear in one of the old RR tunnels. RIP, Lori. I will be thinking of you.

I'm doing the GAP!!!!!

So, it's finally going to be realized! I've been talking about riding the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal from Pittsburgh to DC for years. It's going to happen on Saturday. Mary Ellen is going to be camping in the area so I get to ride along to the Hot Metal Bridge in Pittsburgh where she's going to let me out on Sunday and I'm going to head to Connellsville for my first overnight. Monday we're going to meet up in Ohiopyle and visit Falling Water, the Frank Lloyd Wright house. There will be 6 overnights for me in 4 different states. You just know I'm going to be stopping a hundred times along the way for pictures, museums and other things I want to admire. My longest day will be about 65 miles, my shortest about 35. Since the GAP is an old railroad bed and the C&O Canal Trail uses the old towpath, it will all be off-road. I won't have to worry about the 18-wheelers on the A10 in Texas. It's car-free! I'll ride over to Mary Ellen's early Saturday and then we'll make the 5.5 hour drive. The weather is supposed to be hot with occasional thunderstorms. I'll have to remember to keep the water bottles full! Most of the time I will be posting from my phone, but I think I have it figured out now. Let's hope so!

Harnish and I are hanging

Harnish came over for supper because she volunteered to drive me to the airport at 3 a.m. We had grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. We've been catching up on all the news while I finished the last bits of packing and cleaned up the kitchen. I think I'm good to go. If I don't have it now, I won't need it. Jutta mailed yesterday and said to make sure I bring a flashlight. Checked in online this morning but have to get my boarding passes at the airport. And wouldn't you know it, it started snowing and blowing like crazy this afternoon. I just want to get to JFK on time to make my overseas connection. No more snow tonight, please. I'm getting excited. I have to make sure I don't fall asleep at the airports and miss any connections. If I sleep on the flight to Dubai, I figure I can beat the jet lag. And I've got to remember to take my malaria pills. And turn my mobile data off. And use airplane mode in the plane. And I'll probably thing of a million other things. I hope I get a little sleep tonight.

Suitcases are packed.

I spent the morning spraying my clothing with insect repellent so that bugs won't bite through. One suitcase is full of kids' books which they needed at the orphanage and the other is half as heavy and filled with my clothes. I skyped with Jutta today. She says the hotel is fine and is 7 km from the orphanage. Peter and Dorothy, the couple who run the orphanage will pick us up at the hotel everyday and drive us back to the orphanage. I was wondering if we could walk or bike there but Jutta said we are not to go out by ourselves. She also said no shorts, which is fine, and pants made out of light, airy material. And, of course, I should only drink bottled water. I've gotten orders for other mementoes now. Let's see how many wishes I can fulfill. I'm really getting psyched. Harnish will stay overnight Tuesday and drive me to the airport at 3:30 a.m. Oh Lordy, it's going to be a long trip. I will have to make sure I don't fall asleep in any airports and miss a flight. I am excited to see what Kenya and the people are like. This will be a great experience.

On to Kenya

I'm off to a new adventure next week. When I was in Germany this summer, my friend Jutta Wies asked me told me she was going to visit her foster child at the Josephine Wambui Orphanage & Rehabilitation Centre in Embu, Kenya and asked if I wanted to come along. How could I say no to this opportunity? Jutta has already arrived. I leave early next Wednesday and my friend Harnish will drive me to the airport at an ungodly hour. It will take me more than 24 hours to get there because I'm flying with Emirates and have to land in Dubai. It is going to be tiring but worth it. I have lots of reading for the plane and plan to sleep as much as possible. At the orphanage I'll be teaching English and making repairs, painting and any other handiwork that has to be done. I hope I can make time to climb up Mt. Kenya at least part way. I will have 3 weeks to fit in everything. I want to take lots of pictures and gather lots of impressions. And I want to find a souvenir shot glass for Leslie. I promise to do my best on that one. I will be online occasionally and blog as often as possible. I'm not a big friend of desert climates so I'm hoping I will adjust quickly to the climate. Wish me luck.