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Reply to Whites ferry closing

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Raven from Culpeper on 10/12/2021 8:34:23 AM:

Hello all, I am going to be going on the C and O from Cumberland to DC at the end of the month, most of the plans are pretty solid at this point but had some concerns about the Whites Ferry closing. Is there anything that I need to know about it? Is there a pedestrian bridge to cross in its place or maybe a detour that is safe to take? Thanks for the impute.

Willy from Alexandria,VA on 10/12/2021 9:32:56 AM:

Whites Ferry is still closed unfortunately.
No pedestrian or other bridge anywhere nearby.

Raven from Culpeper on 10/12/2021 10:44:28 AM:

Willy, what did you end up doing to get over the river?

Rivnuts from Homestead, PA on 10/12/2021 11:29:40 AM:

Bikerafting is your only option. :-)

Seriously, another poster to the forum stated that the Comfort Inn in Leesburg is offering their shuttle service from Point of Rocks if you were staying there overnight.

Willy from Alexandria,VA on 10/13/2021 6:47:10 PM:

Well... the closest to reasonable crossing is Brunswick.

You can google a more scenic but less traffic route from Brunswick to Purcelville,Va without having to be on Berlin turnpike the entire way.

Then you are on the Washington & Old Dominion trail on the way to Washington DC. This trail crosses thru Leesburg.

Having said this it will test your lowest gear going up the hill from the bridge at Brunswick. That part you will be jousting with traffic.

Still less frantic than trying to cross at Point of Rocks (Route 15 bridge).

Rivnuts from Homestead, PA on 10/26/2021 10:51:05 AM:

Irrespective of any ongoing efforts to politically regain the ferry service, there would be another obstacle for the ferry to return to operation. The ferry boat itself appears to be seriously damaged as it was apparently partially towed up the MD side approach ramp where it rests today with half the hull in the water and the half on the ramp. The hull appears badly buckled where the ramp enters the river. It is questionable if it could be easily repaired.

Bill in Houston from Houston on 10/26/2021 12:29:17 PM:

That'll buff right out.

Rivnuts from Homestead, PA on 11/18/2021 10:40:32 AM:

Bill:

I read the other day where the ferry is actually a combination of two barges so maybe that buckle in the middle I saw on the ramp was simple the joint between the two barges. If so, then indeed it may indeed "buff right out" and the ferry can be returned to service fairly quickly if a solution to the dispute can be found.

Jughead beauregard on 1/1/2022 10:56:34 AM:

Contrary to popular belief you don’t need to cross White’s Ferry to go from Cumberland to DC. As a matter of fact if you do cross the Potomac your going the wrong direction.

Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 1/1/2022 1:09:30 PM:

Indeed you don’t need to leave the C&O Towpath and cross the Potomac River on White’s Ferry to continue from Cumberland to DC. However, you may want to cross the river to visit or stay overnight in Leesburg or complete the trip to DC via the Washington and Old Dominion (WOD) Trail. In these cases, it is a good option which currently is not available.

Kirk R from Brunswick, MD on 1/6/2022 5:58:16 AM:

You can always cross the potomac at brunswick, take the mostly dirt roads in loudoun county to the w&od, and head in to DC. There's a bit of paved road and the bridge across the potomac isn't the greatest if you're uncomfortable around cars but it's certainly doable.

Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 1/6/2022 8:57:22 AM:

Kirk R:

Do you have or can you direct me to a Strava, Ridewithgps or Mapmyride route map of the route you describe from Brunswick through Loudon County to the WOD? I’ve ridden from the WOD in Purcellville to Harpers Ferry but not from/to Brunswick.

Willy from Alexandria,VA on 1/6/2022 9:25:55 AM:

Rivnuts, I used Google maps with the bicycle icon routing to plot the route between Brunswick and Purcleville.

I don't remember any "dirt roads" on my travels between Brunswick and Purcelville. All roads were paved. Some were not pristine, but they were paved.

I also spent a little time looking at the route on the Google map with zooming in and out to somewhat familiarize myself with the route before riding so that I am not all wound up thinking I'm going to miss a turn somewhere. I don't like staring at my phone while riding.

Enjoy the ride!

Rivnuts from Homestead, PA on 1/6/2022 4:27:47 PM:

Willy:

Thanks I'll look at the Google route. I was curious about the "dirt" roads in Loudon County albeit I don't know that I would travel them on my touring bike depending on their quality.

Kirk R from Brunswick, MD on 1/6/2022 6:41:26 PM:

I would personally spend most of my time on mountain rd, which is a low traffic, nicely paved, road. It does have a good long climb on it, which is a big contrast from the tow path. Here's a route I made for someone (on this site, I think) and have used: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35184094

There are a lot of gravel/dirt roads in loudoun county. It's one of the things that part of the county it known for (and there are efforts to keep them unpaved). You can zoom in to loudoun county on this state-wide map to see some of it. I have not verified that it's accurate (I live here so I just ride and see). https://vdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e4e9638690634fafae8bccb63abbee7c

Kirk R from Brunswick, MD on 1/6/2022 6:46:31 PM:

Oops, I just posted up a route from brunswick to the W&OD that is more gravel/dirt. I meant to post one that takes mountain rd (a little further west than the route I posted). I should have looked at it more closely. I'll look through my routes and see if I have one already made with mountain rd on it.

There can be some pretty washboard sections on the gravel/dirt roads including towards the end of purcellville rd from the route I mistakenly posted... I ride them on 32mm tires but do prefer the 50mm ones I've got on one of my bikes.

Kirk R from Brunswick, MD on 1/6/2022 6:53:49 PM:

Here's a route from brunswick to the w&od that is mostly paved: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38306515

You also have the option of staying on mountain rd into hillsboro and then taking 9 briefly before taking hillsboro rd into purcellville. There can be more traffic on hillsboro rd.

Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 1/6/2022 9:39:05 PM:

Thank you

Rivnuts from Homestead, PA on 1/11/2022 10:40:07 AM:

Below is a link to the latest AP article pertaining to the closure and status of Whites Ferry. Unfortunately, the article doesn't suggest any progress in the stalemate which is disappointing as we look forward to the 2022 touring season.

https://www.pilotonline.com/news/transportation/vp-nw-whites-ferry-20220109-migizui6bnbylcpgyjettpwn3e-story.html

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