We rode the C and O canal from DC To Cumberland on Thursday and Friday. The plan was DC to PGH but after 4 hours riding in the rain on Friday followed by 100% chance of thundershows and rain Saturday we called off the last 70 miles.
Anyhow, I travelled to DC for work again and brought my bike and my buddies. The rest met up on Thursday morning at 7:00am at the Westin in Arlington.
We rode down to the Key Bridge and hit the c&o. Silky smooth trails out of Washington
All smooth to great falls, md where we took a break to check out the falls.
The trails got a little rougher on the way out to Whites Ferry, where there is an actual ferry that takes cars across the potomac.
A little power snack from the general store. This is the first stop on the trail for food.
Then after this little stop we headed to Harpers Ferry at Mile 60 or so. The trail got significantly rougher on the way. We really lost speed and got beat up. It went from a 4 foot wide gravel path to double track with holes and roots.
Along the way you get to ride over some cool aquaducts and bridges.
You have to drag your bike up a staircase and over a bridge to harpers ferry.
Just be forewarned, the waters were not free in the retaurant, and each refill of water was $0.50. But there is a bike shop that sells water and has a recycling bin so that is cool.
We still had 40 miles to go in to our already 70 miles that day since we had started outside DC.
We took at a break along the way. I was eating Clif Blox and pretzels to keep up my sodium. I had two water bottles and a camelback, in the 90 degree heat though I was going through it quickly.
Not a bad spot for a break here…
Then at mile 80 something you hit this detour, which was actually a nice welcome break from the rough trail.
After that the trail gets a little rough for the next mile or so.
But with some cool views.
Finally hit mile marker 100, and our end for the first night.
We stayed at the Red Roof in the town of Williamsport, MD. It was nice and clean, ate at the waffle house for dinner and breakfast. I slept like a log that night. This day was a long day, 12 hours from when we left DC we pulled in to the hotel.
Next morning, started off with two pair of bike shorts on for extra padding and about half a cup of chamois butta’
The next day we hit a cool damn
And some more cool trails
You have to keep your eyes peeled for turtles
But then the trail changes to this, for pretty much the rest of the day. Actually the trail is like this for most of the ride, double track with trees on both sides… which makes time seem to stop.
We hit C and O Bicycles to borrow a shock pump for my buddies mountain bike. Also to buy chamois butter, oh how you need chamois butter on this trip. Also in the park across from C and O canal bicycles there is a water fountain where we refueled.
After that we jumped on the Western Maryland Rail Trail for about 13 miles, we should have jumped on it earlier! Smooth like butta’
Back on the C and O we pulled in to a place called Bill’s restaurant. Bills was cheap and good. No pics, sorry….
After Bills the trail is flanked by a stagnant swampy pool of mosquito infested water, so whenever you stop, mosquito bites.
You reach the paw paw tunnel at mile 155.
It is really dark in that tunnel, if you have a headlamp bring it out…
We got out of the tunnel and it was raining, it rained for the rest of the ride 30 more miles in to Cumberland. The rain really slowed us down. The trail got muddy, had big long puddles, and generally crushed my spirit.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Cumberland and ate in down town Cumberland. Good food at a good price. But after riding for 3.5 hours in the rain, I just wanted to take a shower, and oh that shit was nice. We had a 100% chance of rain and thunderstorms for the next day so we called the trip done. So we only rode the whole c and o in two days and missed the third and last day to PGH.
It was a fun time, the days were long though!
I rode my Bianchi Castro Valley and carried my clothes/food in a pair of ortlieb panniers.
Hi, great to hear about your trip. I’m thinking of doing the GAP from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, or at least using it to learn about overnight camping on the bike.
Which Ortliebs do you have? Did you have any heel clearance issues with them? I’m thinking hard about getting a pair for my Bianchi San Jose but I’ve heard conflicting things about clearance. Your Castro Valley should be pretty much the same frame. Thanks for any ideas!
Hello Sakielnorn –
The GAP from PGH to Cumberland is much much much smoother than the c and o so it should be more fun. And there is a really great place to catch lunch in Ohiopyle called the firefly grill.
But I had no heel interference issues on the bianchi with the ortlieb backroller classics.
They can be seen here: Ortlieb’s Site
The good thing about the ortliebs is that they are incredibly adjustable and totally waterproof. I have used these panniers on my other cross bike with really short chain stays with no problems, that says a lot.
If you are in PGH, they have them at the REI and Pro Bikes I think.
-Joe
Thanks for your advice – I just bought a pair of Backroller Classics and hope to be using them soon on the trail!