July 10, 2024 – Coons and Gass

    I left Pittsburgh, crossed the Youghiogheny River and ended up in a ghetto suburb of Pittsburgh. I was just like a deer in headlights. I made my way to the Montour Trailhead, and luckily I didn't get robbed, shot, stabbed, jumped, or run over by any cars. I made it to the trailhead and rode about 10-11 miles on the trail to Boggs Run campsite. It is a very nice site, but camper beware: there is a family of raccoons that live in the woods behind the campsite. They are persistent, bold, and unabashed. They won't stop until they get what they are looking for: food! Earlier last evening, I stopped at an Aldi and bought a loaf of bread as well as other goodies. At the campsite, I had all my food tucked into my pannier bag and zipped up. I called it a night, zipped up into my sleeping bag, and went to sleep. I was startled awake by a scuffling right next to my head. It was a full-grown coon. I shined a light at it, yelled at it, but it didn't flee. It just stood his ground and made its way to my food supply. I picked up my hatchet and was on the verge of killing it, and he finally scurried back to the wood line. I took my food bag and put it on top of the 7'6” campsite sign, thinking that he wouldn't be able to get to it. I was wrong. In the morning when I woke up, the critter was on top of the sign with his head in my food bag. When he saw me, he scurried down the sign and ran back to the wood line for safety. He ate all but five slices of bread from the loaf.. The moral of the story...watch out for coons. They will stop at nothing to get to your food. I talked with another cyclist on the trail today about what happened. He told me that he has heard of coons shimmying down a rope to get to a food bag For instance, some hikers secure their food bag from wildlife by tying it to a rope, throwing it over a limb, and tying it off to a tree. Raccoons are very crafty and versatile creatures. Watch out; especially at the Boggs Run campsite in Western Pennsylvania.

    Anyways, I woke up this morning around 6:00am and got to pedaling by 7:00am. I was super sleepy for some reason. I got off the Montour Trail and made it into the small town of McDonald for breakfast at a gas station...two sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits and an energy drink for about $16. Good Lord that's a lot of money. Inflation is killing people's budgets I bet. I'm spending more on this trip than I anticipated. I talked briefly with an Indian clerk named Vani. She was very kind, and let me charge my gadgets for a while. Thank you and God bless you Vani!

    From McDonald I got onto the Panhandle Trail and made my way to Weirton. From Weirton, I've made my way to Wellsburgh by riding on a busy highway (WV SR 2). The road was unsafe so I began walking down the train tracks that was right by the road. I also walked my bike on the side of the road. I was able to ride on the shoulder when it was wide enough, but there was no shoulder for the most part. I finally made it to Wellsburgh. I didn't get all that far today. I still would be riding, but the wind is crucial right now and there is a drizzling rain. So, I am charging my gadgets under the awning of the large Romanesque, pillared Judicial Center in town. It's brand new, and looks like construction was finished last year in 2023.

    Wellsburgh is one of the first river towns Lewis passed through on his journey down the Ohio River. This town was the home of the longest living member of the Corp of Discovery...Patrick Gass. There is a bronze bust of Mr. Gass in the park across the street from the Judicial Center. That is all for now. See you down the road of life.