CAPTAINS- ACTIVITIES- WASHINGTON, DC 2005- 2006- 2008- CUMBERLAND 2007- HISTORY- MORE
The Mileposters tandem cyclists, based at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, ride trails out of Pittsburgh, PA, to destinations as far away as Washington, DC (three times). SCROLL DOWN for more pictures.

Articulated quad and tandem, Milepost 35, Yough Trail, September 7, 2008

November 2 and 3, 2008, Mileposters rode 33 miles, from Thompsonville to Champion, on the Montour Trail, raising support for the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind, a PALM mission: pictured below at Greer Tunnel and Trestle, and at McDonald Trestle. Riders stuffed and labeled envelopes for the appeal three days before the ride started.




Junior captain qualifying ride, with new rider, Yough Trail, August 16, 2008

Officials of the Allegheny Trail Alliance have been working hard with local government and private interests to finish the last nine miles of the Great Allegheny Passage, from the marina in McKeesport to the Point in Pittsburgh. In a breathtaking move, the Union Railroad donated the Riverton Bridge over the Monongahela River from Duquesne to McKeesport, surrendering the daily rail traffic on the route, and in less than five months, the rails were removed and the bridge was decked and fenced for bicycles and a new ramp was built on the McKeesport side, opening October 4. The Mileposters made their first ride across the bridge on October 19, starting from Boston. [Second picture takes longer to load.]

Riverton Bridge approach from the Duquesne side of the Monongahela, October 4, 2008


Riverton Bridge, from the Duquesne-McKeesport Bridge, in twilight, October 4, 2008


Our second 20-inch tandem, St. Thomas, October 19, 2008


May 24 and 25 we did a two-day, 42-mile camping trip to raise money for kitchen repairs at St. Thomas, as well as to practice for Washington, DC--photo in the individual camping area at Cedar Creek County Park, Milepost 37, Yough Trail (Great Allegheny Passage); the ride went from Milepost 27 to Milepost 58.


Lingering summer, Youghiogheny River Trail, Boston trailhead, October 21, 2007


Arrival of fall, Cedar Creek campground, October 28; experimental warmer uniform


First ride over Hot Metal Bridge, Pittsburgh, January 2008

We ride tandems, triplets (straight and articulated) plus an articulated quad and quint. The first ride with the articulated quint was in May 2006.

First ride, articulated quint, Sarver, PA, May 29, 2006


Articulated quint and stokers, Dravo Landing, Yough River Trail, October 21, 2006


Pumping water


Articulated quad at Smithton Beach, Yough Trail


Big Savage Tunnel, Allegheny Highlands Trail, August 11, 2007

Familiarity with the Connellsville/Uniontown area helped us discover the operation of an original Baltimore & Ohio Budd RDC (Rail Diesel Car) car on the Fayette Central Railroad (former Baltimore & Ohio track). The point where our rider is standing in the photo below will be occupied by the Sheepskin Trail (rail-with-trail) some day.

B&O Budd RDC-1 at Dunbar, PA, on Sheepskin Trail R-O-W, August 4, 2007

The Sheepskin Trail currently runs only from Bowest Junction on the Youghiogheny River Trail to Dunbar. It will continue beside the track to Smithfield, and without track to the West Virginia state line, joining the Monongahela River Trail to Morgantown and Fairmont. Bowest Junction was a connecting point between the Western Maryland Railway (right-of-way for the Yough Trail from Connellsville to Cumberland) and the Baltimore & Ohio.

THREE WASHINGTON, DC RIDES COMPLETED


2008 DC practice ride, crossing the new through truss span over Second Avenue leading to the recently-opened bicycle side of the Hot Metal Bridge, April 4
MORE 2008 DC TRIP PICTURES


2006 DC practice ride, South Side Trail, by the Birmingham Bridge
MORE 2006 DC TRIP PICTURES


2005 DC practice ride, Yough Trail, Milepost 40
MORE 2005 DC TRIP PICTURES

2007 RIDE PITTSBURGH-CUMBERLAND


Training for the 2007 ride from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD started March 30 with a ride on the Arrrowhead Trail and the Montour Trail from McMurray, PA to Bethel Park (Logan Road). The longest training ride was 40 miles, and there were back-to-back 20-mile days.
MORE 2007 TRIP PICTURES

The group leader's favorite place is just beyond Connellsville,
along the Youghiogheny River Trail.


The pictures below were taken in Maryland, south of Paw Paw Tunnel,
and at Swain's Lock, on the C&O Canal.


Various kinds of wildlife are encountered along the trails;
the butterfly and baby rabbit below are on the Yough Trail.


CLICK HERE FOR A MOVIE of Mileposters in action, coming out of Enlow Tunnel on the Montour Trail. When you are finished, please use the 'Back' button in your browser to return to the Mileposters site. (You will need a high-speed [DSL or cable] connection plus video software on your computer in order to see this.)
CAPTAINS- ACTIVITIES- WASHINGTON, DC 2005- 2006- 2008- CUMBERLAND 2007- HISTORY- MORE
The Allegheny Trail Alliance Web site has maps and many links
to information on trails in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and West Virginia.
Messages: mjshields AT totalusa DOT net