Day 17: Midway, PA to Wheeling, WV

Distance: 42.0 mi, Climbed: 1,260 ft
Completed: 585.5 mi, 35,937 ft

Today’s 42 miles were spent mostly on two rail-to-trail routes—the Panhandle Trail in Pennsylvania and the Yankee Trail in West Virginia—with one big climb connecting the two.

In Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, Rich and I stopped at a trail rest area and met several people curious about our cross-country journey and our effort to raise awareness of epilepsy. One conversation stood out. Melissa shared that she had biked from Oregon to New York last year—in just a month. It was one of those unexpected connections that reminds you how many different stories are out on the road, and how lucky we are to cross paths, even briefly.

Crossing from Pennsylvania into West Virginia felt like a milestone—our fifth state. As we rolled into the Mountaineer State, “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver was on a constant loop in my head. Some moments just come with their own soundtrack.

The Yankee Trail followed the Ohio River, and the scenery shifted. The quiet farmland gave way to industrial plants lining the river—different, but just as much a part of the story of this region.

One of the things I’ve come to enjoy most are the small details along the trail. A sign noted that the first commercial coal mine opened in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1810—a reminder of how long people have been working, traveling, and building their lives in these same places.

Days like this aren’t just about the miles—they’re about the people you meet, the history you pass, and the feeling of moving steadily through it all.