We did it! Thank you all for your donations to Doctors Without Borders. It felt good to be able to donate to an organization I believe in, staffed by my personal and professional heroes. Here's a quick recap of the trip:

My brother and I set out from Pittsburgh last Wednesday and rolled into Cumberland by Saturday. Big thanks to everyone here who chimed in with advice—it all paid off. The trail was in incredible shape. Seriously impressive. Shout-out to the volunteers clearing downed trees and fixing the washed-out sections after the recent rains. You made this ride possible.

Wildlife-wise, not much to report—just deer and the occasional possum (or opossum, depending on how correct you want to be). But that was expected. The real star of the show? The views. Absolutely stunning. I can only imagine how breathtaking it gets when the leaves start turning in the fall. And nothing beats the sight of the Continental Divide. We averaged 18 mph from there to Cumberland, which made the three-day buildup totally worth it.

Now, a quick cautionary tale about hydration: we bailed on our plan because of the rain. It felt refreshing, and we didn’t want to stop and drink just to get soaked. Rookie mistake. I ended up in the hospital overnight with an IV cocktail because I arrived in Cumberland light-headed and confused. Totally preventable. In training rides, I stick to one liter per hour—rain or shine—even if it means peeing more often than a toddler. (Thankfully, as a guy, any tree will do.)

West Newton was a peaceful stop, aside from the trains rattling by every hour overnight. Our B&B was right next to the trail, so it came with a soundtrack. The Outpost had everything we needed: a burger, a beer, a place to crash. Fox’s Pizza Den sealed the deal. And across the board—from Pittsburgh to Cumberland—the people were fantastic. Friendly, warm, and ready to chat.

A quick story that stuck with me: the woman running the B&B in West Newton saw a homeless man sheltering under a picnic table during the storm. She brought him water, food, even gave him cash. We offered him a few spare T-shirts, but he smiled and said she’d already given him what he needed. Hope he made it back to Wyano safe.

Ohiopyle was a highlight. The mix of trail riders and river people made it a lively spot for people-watching and conversation. We had a good laugh watching a young guy on an e-bike try to impress his date with a wheelie. (Spoiler: e-bikes don’t wheelie well.) The food at the Twisted Spoke was excellent, and the breakfast sandwiches at Ohiopyle Coffee Company were hands-down the best I’ve had—fresh, hot, and just what we needed.

We also owe a big thanks to the guy who shuttled us between Markleton and Rockwood. Great conversation, took care of the bikes, and reminded us why supporting the nonprofits maintaining these trails matters.

Myersdale had small-town charm. We walked off the ride to shake out the lactic acid but ended up grabbing dinner at Sheetz. No complaints—it hit the spot.

The views were amazing. The people were kind. And the whole ride was a much-needed escape. We disconnected, we pedaled, we lived a little. I’ll be back, probably every few months, especially once fall hits.

p.s. The unicorn is my daughter's. She hid it in my bag as a good luck charm, so I sent her the pictures along the way to show her she was with me in thought all along the way.

Hi, everyone!

Thank you so much for your donations so far. It means a lot to me. My brother and I have been getting ready by going on more and more (and longer and longer) bike rides. Just yesterday, 4th of July, I went on a 32-mile ride. That's the longest ride I've ever done.

The 150-mile adventure takes us from Pittsburgh, PA, to Cumberland, MD, over four days. So we'll have some time to rest and recover each day before the next leg. And each leg will be between 30 and 40 miles. Basically, each day will break a new record for me, and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

I'll be posting updates of the actual ride when we get started on the 16th. 

Thanks for coming along!

And thank you for supporting Doctors Without Borders!