DC to Pittsburgh, Day 7 (78 miles)
Although we might like to, we can't stay in Ohiopyle forever, so we head out.

Pressing on from Ohiopyle.

Unfortunately for us, it's started to rain again and it's very cold for mid-May, about 45 degrees. Before long, we're soaked again and covered in mud.

It's still raining.

Pittsburgh 58, Washington DC 280.

Fortunately, that's nothing a garden hose and a few hours inside can't fix.

Hosing ourselves and our bikes off yet again.

We stopped for lunch at a diner in Connellsville for our usual meal; grilled cheese for me, and a fruit cup with cottage cheese for Tara.

Warming up at the Hometown Diner in Connellsville, PA.

By the time we had finished lunch, the rain had stopped and it warmed up to a comfortable 65 degrees. It's amazing what a difference good weather makes in enjoying the ride.

Finally, the sun returns.

The bike doesn't look too bad after a week of abuse.

The trail's character changes after leaving Ohiopyle -- instead of a sense of endless wilderness, we begin to feel that we're on the outskirts of civilization, passing through many small towns that are part of the greater Pittsburgh region.

The trail runs through many tiny towns like this near Pittsburgh.

Regardless, the trail is still very pretty out here with plenty of green and wildflowers blooming alongside.

A muddy waterfall near West Newton, PA.

We reached our intended camp site for the evening, Dravo's Landing, just before 5pm. While snacking on Clif bars and reading our map, I realize that we're only 8 miles from the trailhead at McKeesport and only about 20 miles from downtown Pittsburgh.

With a gleam in my eye, I call my friend Ben who lives in Pittsburgh and tell that him we're going to try to make it in tonight. We have about 2 and a half hours of daylight remaining in which to go the final 20 miles; I think we can do it.

We race out of the campsite, increasing our pace to over 16mph -- not an easy feat with a loaded bike on dirt roads. We zoom by a lot of beautiful scenery, reaching the end of the trail in McKeesport before 6pm.

McKeesport was quite a shock. Within a few miles you go from a beautiful trees and countryside into what looks like a post-apocalyptic city. Abandoned and decaying buildings, torn up roads, and glass littered streets abound. No time to stop, though, as we have to navigate unfamiliar streets to get ourselves to Pittsburgh.

The Great Allegheny Passage is eventually supposed to connect up all the way from downtown Washington DC to downtown Pittsburgh, but there's currently a gap of about 16 miles between Pittsburgh and McKeesport. The official detour involves biking on the highway, so I thought I'd be clever and map out our own route. Well, it turns out my route wasn't so good, taking us up and down the crazy steep hills near Pittsburgh, giving us one of the most challenging rides we've ever done, then dumping us onto the highway anyway when we missed the end of the South Side trail.

Out of the woods, into the industrial zone.

For anyone contemplating this trip before the final section of trail is finished, I recommend that you take the Steel Valley trail from McKeesport to Clairton, then follow the Montour Trail west to Library, PA. In Library, you can take the trolley, known locally as "the T", straight downtown. That would be much better than dealing with the mess of biking on busy highways on the direct route.

Downtown Pittsburgh.

We finally made it downtown around 7:45pm, where Ben was patiently waiting for us. It felt great to finally get into the city, especially after the number of miles we put in today.

My friend Ben and I near Station Square in Pittsburgh.

We made it!

Riding the T to Ben's house.

We took the T to Ben's place in the Mt. Lebanon neighborhood, then went out for a celebratory dinner at PF Chang's.

Celebratory dinner. No, all that food isn't just for me.

We're completely exhausted, but it was totally worth it.