Our Trip to the Abandoned Turnpike-5/13/08

On May 13, 2008, I finally got the chance to take my daughter Michaela and her friend Dorothy to the abandoned stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I learned a lot on this trip:
1.) It's a great idea to time your trip after 2 solid days of rain, but just be prepared for the bugs. So take your Cutter!
2.) If you plan to rent your bikes from either Fat Jimmy's in Breezewood, PA or C&O Bicycle in Hancock, MD, don't go on a Tuesday--they're both closed on Tuesdays.
3.) Take a wrench that fits the bolts on your bike in case your brake calipers stick and you have to remove a set.
4.) If you decide to eat at the less-than-spectacular breakfast bar at the Gateway in Breezewood while you're there, be prepared to bring a big wad of cash. They actually charged me full price for my 10-year-old's meal...$7.99 (that does not include the $1.69 for a small glass of orange juice or the $1.89 for a 16-oz. glass of milk)!!! And they didn't bring out any fresh breakfast food (they were expecting a bus, and they wanted lunch, so they were clearing out the breakfast food an hour early).
5.) Having parents that live 15 minutes away is a real plus.
6.) One spotlight for 3 people is adequate. Or if all three of you have a good, bright headlight on your bike or helmet, that's good, too. But if you're going to have more than 3 in your party, bring another spotlight so that everyone can spread out and have plenty of space and still have light to see by.

My daughter is 10 1/2 years old and is a survivor of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. She was able to ride over 3 miles on a single-speed 20" bike in 70-degree strong sunshine without any difficulty or episodes of athletic asthma. Visit www.cdhsupport.org for more information.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Pennsylvania
• Turnpike
• Rays
• Hill
• Tunnel
• Breezewood
• Fulton
• Bedford
• County
• bike
• bicycle
• race
• Queen
• Cherubs
• CDH

[deputycleric]

Not only are you a great mom, this is a great video. Not to mention informative. Thanks!

I was just up there today...

[MAMsMom97]

@deputycleric That's so sweet! Thank you! I try to expose my daughter to a lot of experiences and take her to a lot of unusual places. I also have posted to my channel the trip to Centralia, PA we took a year & a half ago. Please check it out.

[cgkeddington]

how would i get to there from hancock md

[slt223]

@cgkeddington Pull out of your driveway, and take a left.

[MAMsMom97]

@slt223 That's the correct answer... more or less. LOL!

[MAMsMom97]

@cgkeddington I-70 to Breezewood, 30 East past the Ramada, up over the hill, pull off at the wide spot at Tannery Rd., put it in park, turn off your vehicle, get out, walk up the beaten path to the old Turnpike. You're there. Have fun. Easy.

[clintonearlwalker]

Nice vid, I had no idea there was an abandoned stretch of the PA turnpike. I've been to Breezewood and Hancock both. I might try to see if I can find it.

[PrestoWind]

My kind of woman

[tweeetme]

OHHHHH ! Thiers Orbizonia

[athomasait]

This is great! I've been thinking about going over there for a couple of years. Thanks for a great look the old turnpike!

[cgkeddington]

@MAMsMom97 yeah i fould out i went like 3 months ago and loved it