We were warned about the detour at Paw Paw tunnel and for good reason. It was a 15% steep grade up a dirt and gravel road. We had to push Steveās bike up but we made it!
Our search for a market and restaurant that was open in Paw Paw was not fruitful. Fun fact: paw-paw is an edible fruit that tastes like a cross between a banana and papaya. Wikipedia even says it has a nickname of āhipster bananaā . Check out our videos of the Paw-Paw tunnel.
Our guide sheet showed food in the next town called āOldtownā but the one cafe there was closed on Mondays. Itās in an old high school building that closed in ~2000. An upholsterer named Tom came out to chat with us and tell us all about his service in the Army cavalry in Panama. He is born and raised in nearby Cumberland. Two More bike touring guys showed up and the cafe owners husband dropped by and opened up the store for some snacks.
On our way to our destination of Cumberland we were joined for a few miles by a young lady named Nicole who gave us local tips and we encouraged her to keep up her new hobby of cycling.
Since Steve has been to Cumberland once before and paid for shower and camping permissions at the YMCA, we decided to do that again.
We heeded Vickiās dinner recommendation and went to Baltimore street grill downtown. The Crab cake sandwiches were tasty. Tomorrow we start the next trail called the Great Allegheny Passage or āGAPā.
Today we rode 49 miles from ā15 Mile Creekā to Cumberland
Cool video from a previous day. My upload finally worked.
“Hipster Banana” is your new code name!