What day cannot be great, when it starts with a breakfast like this?  Camera shy, Michael and Jan, have done an exquisite job on an over one hundred year old structure and are the perfect hosts; this B & B is worth coming back to (just not on a bike).

The day was just as gorgeous as the breakfast was delicious.  Sunny yet cool with a wonderful breeze blowing through the treetops; perfect for anything outside.  We left the river, but occasionally crossed a pretty creek.Biked over bridges, of which there were many; The Bollman Bridge the most notable.

There was only eight miles to the “Eastern Continental Divide” at 2392 feet,where we caught up with Richard and Alma (from New Jersey), whom we’d met at the B & B.  Our wonderful ride down traversed through several tunnels; Big Savage Tunnel being the longest at almost 3,300 feet long; views on the other side……stupendous.  Crossed the Mason Dixon line into Maryland and continued our downward ride with beautiful vistas and towns, this is of Mt. Savage.  Another railroad reference. we rode the Helmstetter’s “Horseshoe” Curve, now a bit too overgrown to see, but interesting  story.  Thirty minutes later we came to the end of the Alleghaney Passage and tomorrow we begin the C & O Canal.  Cumberland is a pretty town; embracing the railroad heritage and bikers that travel through.

Way too early to check in (excuse for the day) we stopped for lunch at an ice cream shop!!  A pastrami sandwich with grilled onions disappeared before a camera could be found.  The peanut butter homemade ice cream shake lasted maybe a minute longer.

It was a wonderful short (33 miles), mostly downhill ride, or in Jerry terms……a day off.

A couple blocks away, we found a wonderful local restaurant and a delicious dinner.For dessert, a glorious sky,  restful night and promise of tomorrow.