Ohiopyle to Rockwood

30 miles today and I'm beat. I asked a few folks who had been touring before why it was so much harder doing this than cycling on the roads.  Cycling 60 miles on steep hills seemed easier.

The answer they had was a few things. First, the weight, 40 lbs on the rear wheels, was a huge difference. Rolling resistance, whatnot.

The grade is also deceptive. 1.5% is almost nothing, but its almost all 1.5% uphill - you stop pedaling, you quickly stop, especially with the added weight. Very few places you can coast. It's one big uphill.

  

I have 25 miles to the great continental divide, the highest point on the trail, and then its a 15 mile coast downhill to Cumberland.

The town I stopped in is Rockwood, PA.  There's a 'simple luxury' campsite called Husky Haven.  For $10 dollars, you get a nice piece of land under the trees overlooking the river and town, with a picnic table and firering at each site.  Firewood is included and stocked at each campsite in the price.

Across the river, the guest house has 4 very clean restrooms with showers, the basement has a computer with high speed internet, wifi, washer and dryer, a tiny shop for toiletries and essentials, a pool table, a ping pong table and a cell phone charging station.  And if you're concerned about leaving your phone there while it charges, well, there's security cameras too.  Sooo, at least you'll know who took your stuff. ;)