Public Bike Lockers, Who is John Savage? S24O/2

Sat 6/07 21m

Started with a hotel breakfast in Cumberland, glommed some apples for later in the day. Took a picture of these excellent public parking bike lockers in Cumberland.

Usually, in DC or on Long Island, I see bike lockers that are "owned" by an individual via long-term annual lease - so the leasee rides their bike to the Metro station, puts their bike, helmet, shoes, bike jacket in the locker and puts on their work shoes and jacket and boards the train to work. But this is a first come, first serve self-serve bike locker, which I imagine supports shopping in the local business district.

You wheel up on your bike, put your bike, helmet, panniers etc in the box and lock it. With your bike confidently secured you go to a restaurant for a meal, go to several stores in the shopping district, maybe see a movie etc - the notion of leaving your bike exposed is gone and you can shop the area rather than just the store you're locked in front of. This is most awesome.

Went to the train station, got an action shot of bikes as the train pulled in.

Rode the train up Savage Mountain to Frostburg, PA. Why is it called Savage Mountain, why is the town called Mount Savage, why is it called the Savage Tunnel? It's all named after John Savage, and although the details vary the gist of the consistent story goes like this:

John Savage led a surveying team in 1730 that was trapped in the mountains in the snow. Food had run out and the party was starving. John Savage went snow blind and was sick. Either he volunteered or the men took a vote, but there was an agreement that on the next day the party would eat John Savage's flesh for the survival of the group. Fortunately, good fortune prevailed and (depending on the version) a rescue party found them the next day. The mountain, the creek, the town, and everything in the area took the name of John Savage.

Riding uphill from Frostburg, encountered Bob, Jonas, Else, and Julie who I'd ridden with on Thursday in Pittsburgh; a very pleasant surprise. At the Savage Tunnel vista, encountered trail advocate and expert Larry Brock. Friends wherever I go.

The ride uphill from Frostburg to the Continental Divide was unhurried and pleasant enough. The downhill from Deal to Meyersdale was even nicer, and we continued two miles past Meyersdale to see the Salisbury Viaduct. It's really an impressive sight and such a treat to ride across the span.