Great journal! Your enthusiasm and love for the trail shines through all your writing. Thank you!!

I've rented the entire Parker House twice for large groups, great experience. Confluence is a great home base location for doing more than cycling, which is what my groups were.

Unless the weather reports change radically, I'm taking Amtrak from DC to Pittsburgh on Weds, biking to Confuence Thursday, to Cumberland Friday where I'll meet my wife and we'll spend the weekend at Deep Creek Lake.

You should have good color next week. I try to cycle the GAP in mid October. I have hosted my bike club's annual retreat in Confluence for the past 8 years. Next one will be at the Parker House.

Great photography! Thanks for the foliage preview - explains why I've had a tough time finding a room in Confluence for Thursday night next week. Parker House and River's Edge B&B and a few others were all booked up,

The foliage is either green or brown here in Maryland, forgot this was probably prime leaf peepage week out there!

Makes me want to go back! Thanks again for sharing your adventure with all of us!

We've stayed at the Parker House 3 times, twice renting the entire place for big groups. Ma Parker (I forget her real name) is very friendly and the house was great for big groups.

Makes me want to ride the GAP again. It was so hot and humid in August I feel like I missed complete sections of the trail. Reading your blog is like opening up all the new places I'd like to visit!

I can feel the excitement building in your writing and your eagerness to begin a new adventure. Wishing you a thoroughly wonderful time!

I am really enjoying the great descriptions of your ride, Tom. You obviously enjoy this trail. It makes me want to give it a try sometime.