OTET to GAP Connector 2024 (Cincinnati to DC tour Part 2)
Vložit
- čas přidán 28. 06. 2024
- During my Cincinnati - Washington DC tour, I wanted to try and connect two great regional trails: the Ohio-to-Erie (OTET) with its 326 miles and the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) & Chesapeake & Ohio Towpath (C&O) with its combined 334 miles. My planning took into account about 120 miles and around 8000' of climbing. It involved road riding, but there were trails - towpath trail going south from Massillon OH to Zoar OH, and then picking up the Connotton Creek trail from Bowerstown to Jewett OH. Then once crossing at Steubenville, picking up the Panhandle Trail in WV which flows into PA.
In actuality, Steubenville closed the only bridge that wasn't pedestrian-restricted with no plans to open. The only option available was the Wellsburg bridge to the south. So, what you'll see is the re-routed trip taking me through the hills, heat, and humidity that enabled this year's cycling connection between these two gems of trail systems.
Lots of rolling hills on this section but you are doing well. Some down trees, looks like a storm got ahead of you. I have to keep in mind that church cafe to stop there, looking forward to my ride.I like early starts when birds are singing and everything is fresh and beautiful. Can't beat the views! Short video clips are a good way to share a lot of trail. Good riding!
If you make it to Bolivar, definitely stop at Tim's Café (the church café). Really, really good. And keep riding, my friend - good to see you on CZcams.
Ah the route I've been saying I'll be riding. Been saying that for several years...lol. This year for sure.
Good to see you rode it.
Yeah, Wellsburg is the new Ohio River crossing since the closing of Steubenville Market Street Bridge 😢 They made a big deal over that bridge opening.
The Wellsburg bridge is nice - great cycling infrastructure on the bridge. On the WV side there's the Pioneer trail which runs south to Wheeling so opposite direction of connection to the GAP. The panhandle trail goes just shy of Steubenville which is why it was a great option. From the bridge, I rode along Rt. 2 into Wellsburg, and then east towards Rockdale, and connected with the panhandle in Colliers. On the Ohio side, there's really nothing. You'll have to make a generally point WNW to hit the Connotton creek trail north of Cadiz OH. Full route at ridewithgps.com/routes/46371730
Wow, I'm so glad I found you because I will be cycling the same area this fall and was planning on taking the Market Street Bridge.... Now I'm working on a different route from Cadiz, OH to the Panhandle Trail crossing the Ohio River at Wellsburg Bridge instead. Thank you! Looking at the GPX file you shared, it looks like you were partly on SR 151 from Hopedale to Smithfield. Was it heavily trafficked? Many trucks? Are the passing drivers in that area polite giving you a wide girth? I am contemplating on traveling through Hopedale east to Bloomingdale, then taking County Rd 22 or County Rd 24 south to just east of Smithfield instead. Besides your opinion on the traffic and obviously the HILLS you mentioned in the video, do you have any other comments regarding this specific segment from Cadiz to Wellsburg?
From the Microtel, I headed east along Unionvale (ridewithgps.com/trips/192812509). Yeah, I think I mentioned the hills once or twice :-) but I tackled this section in two ways - one, I went out early which means people still weren't out and about, and two - any grade above 6% I decided to walk it. That worked for me until I hit the river. Right around mile 19 you'll turn onto Salt Run. It's dirt and gravel on the downhill and really remote. You'll feel like you're the only person around for miles, and then you start passing some residences closer you get to the river. You'll accompany coal trucks along the river on 7E but they all gave me plenty of room and it was only a 1 mile stretch.
@@AdventuresWithPaul This is very helpful and is easing my anxiety about my first USA bike packing trip. I always try and travel on separate bike paths...like in the Netherlands!
Netherlands is on my planned list of destinations, probably 2026. Hopefully I can get some insider knowledge before I go. or if you want to cycle around with my wife and I, that would be cool, too.
That’s a lot of time in the saddle with still a long ways to go. How’s your butt? Just did the GAP/C&O and I could barely sit down on my seat by the time I got to DC!
Combining a Brooks leather saddle and using chamois cream really helps the long days in the saddle. First thru-ride in 2015 I had a Terry seat and I felt the same way you did when I reached DC. Glad you were able to ride the GAP/C&O - were you there last week during the heat wave?
@@AdventuresWithPaul no, thank goodness. I rode May 29-June 3, weather was ideal!
Curious... did you plan/reserve the motel stops ahead of time?
I only had three hotels booked. I booked same day when I was re-routing due to Steubenville bridge closure and finding a new route and looking for A/C at the end of the day's ride. It's not like me to be that loose in the planning but this trip required it :-)
Hey Hozier who makes your helmet EH!!
Welcome to Specialized, eh?
Good deal EH' Thanks
Leaving Cadiz, the GPX file doesn't show your route. Did you take North Main St to Old Hopedale Road to the town of Hopedale?
Try zooming in on ridewithgps.com/trips/192812509. It shows I took Unionvale Rd. And let me know how your ride goes :-)
@@AdventuresWithPaul Thank you for a different link but it's not set as public. Haha, I guess you consider me the general public. 😜
Maybe you can try and resend when you get time.
Ah, yes - good call. I see it but then I'm not general public 😃. I un-privated the ride from Cadiz OH to Coraopolis so you can see exactly what I rode. ridewithgps.com/trips/192812509.
Do you have the GPX file of the route?
Sure do. This is the route I planned, along with points of interest on the map. I'm a planner so I go into the ride with this laid-out. ridewithgps.com/routes/46371730. Problem is, when a heat wave hits it changes the plan. I adjusted to hotels instead of the planned camping spots. It sure was nice having A/C in the hotel room at night instead of sweating on a camping mat.
@@AdventuresWithPaul Thanks for the route. I do the same thing, I like camping but not when it is sweltering hot.