https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BEjqRfKff/ Excited for a full day of cycling, I jumped onto the Great Allegheny Passage midmorning, greeted by a lush green tunnel of forest. The ground was soft and soggy, water dripping from everything, a stark contrast to the wide vistas of my home. At times the dense greenery felt a bit claustrophobic, but it was beautiful in its own unique way. Pedaling hard through the miles, I passed charming trailside towns bustling with cafes and kayak rentals, evidence of the GAP Trail's substantial economic impact (generating over $120 million annually for local communities). I stopped at one of the trailside restaurants for a large lunch to refill much needed calories, enjoying the lively atmosphere. It's wonderful to see so many people enjoying the outdoors, although it definitely makes for crowded trails! I rode past the area near Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpiece, hidden just beyond sight from the trail. Built in 1935, this iconic house famously integrates into the landscape by extending directly over a waterfall. Late afternoon presented an unexpected challenge when a mudslide closed several miles of the trail forcing me onto a steep detour through the Appalachian mountains. As I climbed, the road became lined with front yards cluttered with rusted cars, old appliances, and protective dogs barking warnings. It felt like something straight from a movie, complete with imaginary dueling banjos echoing in my head. The thought brought a brief chuckle as I anticipated playing my banjo again once I return home. Thankfully, all the dogs stayed in their yards, and I was greatly relieved when I rejoined the trail without incident. After 90 challenging miles, I crossed the Eastern Continental Divide at 2,392 feet, the high point that separates watersheds flowing to the Atlantic from those heading to the Gulf of Mexico. Shortly afterward, I passed through the impressive Savage Mountain Tunnel, originally built for the Western Maryland Railway in 1911. At over 3,000 feet long, this tunnel is a historic engineering marvel now repurposed for cyclists along the GAP Trail. Not long after, I passed a memorial marking the Mason Dixon Line, a somber reminder of our country’s difficult and troubling past. A brief thunderstorm left a refreshing drizzle behind as I started descending toward Cumberland, paralleling a tourist train track. Darkness fell, and my bright bike light proved essential for dodging the many downed trees from the storm. I rolled into Cumberland around 10 pm, tired but grateful, only to find my Airbnb was in a rough part of town surrounded by boarded-up houses. The area felt sketchy enough that I briefly considered finding alternate accommodations. Ultimately, reminding myself that things always seem worse on rainy nights, I decided to stay and settled in for some much needed rest. I'll find out in the morning if the neighborhood is as unsettling as it seemed. If you’d like to support Veterans Expeditions and their work helping veterans heal through the outdoors, visit www.OneMileFundraiser.com. Thanks again for following along. The end is ao close now, but there’s still some trail ahead. And as always, keep on pedaling.