Traverse City Adventure: Ohiopyle on a sunny summer afternoon

DAY 9 • SUNDAY 20 AUGUST • TRAVERSE CITY ADVENTURE

OHIOPYLE, PENNSYLVANIA - Located along the fast-flowing and popular Youghiogheny River, this small resort town was alive with thousands of people on a weekend outing when we rolled in at about 1:30 p.m. after a 30-mile pedal from Rockwood.  In the midst of Ohiopyle State Park, the town of barely 100 residents is a western Pennsylvania equivalent of Rehoboth Beach.  

Families romped in the rocky river, catching the fast-flowing current from upstream rocky outcroppings to more of the same downstream.  Kayakers and rafters pulled out of the river after several miles of navigating rapids. Motorcyclers and hikers and bicyclists mingled in the few streets of town, eating ice cream cones, drinking beers in the few pubs and restaurants, shining chrome, watching passing trains, and just plain enjoying being outside in the fullness of summer.

In the restaurants, harried staffs - depleted by the exodus of summer staff trying to get a little vacation time of their own before the start of school - rushed to keep up with the crowds.  The same of course happens in Rehoboth Beach each summer.

By Sunday evening, the town had quieted considerably, the daytrippers headed home to points north, south, east and west.  They lingered in the parks and along the river longer than they normally would have, but it’s one of the last free weekends of the summer and the beautiful weather in the mid 80s was to be savored to its fullest.

For us, in the morning we will load up and continue westward on the Great Allegheny Passage toward Pittsburgh.  We should make the three rivers city by Tuesday and we’re looking forward to visiting with Trish’s mom, Betty.