Tow Path

The start of the day was the start of our trail from Cumberland Maryland to Washington dc. We were on the Chesapeake and Ohio or C&O canal. It was built in the late 1800s which makes it a remarkable feat. It also makes it a very pleasant ride through Lush Forest with the Potomac nearby.

It was surprising to be on the trail in the summer and see very few people. The area is near some of the highest population in the us. Despite this we had hours sometimes without seeing anybody. Of course, perhaps most people ride the trail in the spring or fall when it’s not 85° with 100% humidity. Despite that minor barrier, we were able to enjoy the weather because riding is like having a swamp cooler as the air blows past your dripping wet clothes.

The engineering of this 19th century marvel includes a huge tunnel, it seems like a half a mile long, something like 80 locks to raise the boats up and down, and multiple aqueducts which are bridges for the water to run across creeks and gullies. This was completed with true manpower and horsepower. Presently it’s not used, but it makes for some beautiful riding as the trail runs along these grass covered hills bordering the canal.

We went hard today. We even got out of bed early enough to get on the trail by 8:00 a.m. or near that time. The first 30 miles went by with a missed turn-off to a resupply, but only about a mile out of the way. Otherwise, we can cover the ground quickly. After the resupply and lunch, we were able to finish by about 5:00, a total of 60 miles for the day.

We did so well with her riding that we were even able to take a break. I always think of the Potomac as this river that runs through Washington dc. I don’t think of it as a beautiful clear stream with mountains surrounding it. The water was quite warm but it was quite enjoyable.

For some reason Mike had it in his head that he wanted to ride 66 miles total today. When we arrived at the hotel he wasn’t quite there so he pedaled around the parking lot furiously for 15 minutes. When he finished I said that he should try to make it 666. He turned around and peddled for another few minutes. The crazy things we do for fun.

The boys have been quite impressive, with no whining and some really solid riding. They’ve been a joy to be with, and although at times they were a bit rough on each other, the camaraderie has been quite fun. I would ride with all of them again