They took off their work gloves and sat on the benches they had carried out of the tunnel to the edge of the trail, enjoying the view.
"Cumberland lies behind the gap there," one said to grunts of affirmation. "And behind that is West Virginia. You can see three states from here."
These half dozen men in a spring ritual had just opened both ends of the 3,300-foot Big Savage Tunnel, one of the wonders of the Great Allegheny Passage that runs uninterrupted from Duquesne, PA, just outside of Pittsburgh, to Cumberland, MD, where it connects to the C&O Canal Towpath and takes you all the way to Georgetown.
The tunnel is closed each December with an ingenious system of aluminum doors to protect the portals from freezing, a precaution. As one trail builder often says, "We don't have another $12 million to do it again."
A cool wind blew through the mountain. Turkey vultures rode thermals across the Mason-Dixon Line.
"When the train (Western Maryland Scenic Railroad) steams up to Frostburg," says one. "You can watch its smoke the whole way up the valley." Nods all around.
"Ride your bike all the way to D.C.," says another, marveling.
They all know that. But they can't get over it.
...and in a matter of minutes: Kurt Detwiler of Frostburg, first rider through in 2010.
copyright 2010 by J. O'Brien, all rights reserved
