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Reply to REI trip from Harper's Ferry to G-Town

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John from Owings on 5/21/2014 11:35:15 AM:

Anyone been on the REI trip along the C&O from Harper's Ferry to Georgetown, your thoughts and comments please. This would be my first overnight bike trip.

Anonymous on 5/22/2014 10:31:11 AM:

Friday the 16th we started our ride at Georgetown right after it stopped raining for 12 hours. The towpath was shocking very good. Wet and puddles but enjoyable. If the river would not have overflowed it's banks it would have all been good.

lenny on 5/24/2014 7:25:41 AM:

I can,t believe people spend good money to be lead around and fed on a bike trip. Have done this with many others many times over the years for half the money. I,d be happy to advise how we do it just ask.

John from Owings on 5/28/2014 8:21:55 AM:

Good morning Lenny, your advice would be welcomed, REI's trip is not cheap by any means.

lenny on 5/29/2014 4:38:54 AM:

I use this site to find hotels and the services I may need. I pack bike clothes and toiletries for 3 Days,3,bike shorts, shirts and socks.I wash 2 sets on the 2nd day. I bring a pair or shorts and flipflops for the evenings, I wear the next day shirt. We generally ride 60 to 74 miles per day doing the trip i 5 dsays Point Parp to the national Mall. 1, Pgh. to Ohiopyle.2, Ohiopyle to Cumberland. 3, Cumberland to Harpers Ferry,5 Harpers Ferry to DC. There are convenient stop about half way between each stop to have lunch.I usually do this for less than $600. If you have specific Question just ask. I do this annually with several friends.

Jbone from Cortland on 5/29/2014 11:23:15 AM:

Thanks for posting this. Its great info. Does it take less time to do the C&O than the GAP?

lenny on 5/29/2014 7:16:55 PM:

Gap 150 miles 2 days. C&O 185 3 days. First 2 days are very long, about 7 hrs in the saddle at 12 mph. Last 3 easy 60 or so a day

dbbcpa from Tampa on 6/1/2014 4:00:56 PM:

Lenny, I your comments you said it was five days, in you detail listing the days you skipped Day 4. Could you revisit this. I am thinking of doing this trip by myself unless I can get someone to come along. I hate to camp when it is hot, when does it begin to cool off at night up there, I am from Florida? Is there a rainy and a dry season? If I camp I will have to pull a one wheel trailer, is this doable? What speed do you guys ride at and on what type of bikes?

lenny on 6/2/2014 4:33:50 AM:

I didn't miss day 4 , I just lumped C&O together. From Cumberland day 3 to Hancock, lunch at Paw Paw. Hancock to Harpers Ferry day 4 lunch at Williamsport.Harpers Ferry to DC day 5, lunch at Whites Ferry.

lenny on 6/2/2014 4:39:59 AM:

I ride a Gary Fisher Utopia, it is a dual sport, somewhat like an aggressive Hybrid. My younger friends ride cross bikes. I average about 11 mph. Usually about 6 hrs. saddle time per day. The Gap I do in 2 days, 75 mile per day.

dbbcpa from Tampa on 6/2/2014 5:55:49 PM:

Thanks for the clarification Lenny. I am new to this site and hope to ride the whole trail in either August. I am hoping to catch a Pirates game and start the next day then catch a Nationals game after the ride. Has anyone else done this? Kind of mixing two things I enjoy, baseball and biking.

lenny on 6/2/2014 7:38:35 PM:

never thought of that sounds cool

Greg K from Chicago on 6/3/2014 10:24:08 AM:

Five days works okay since the GAP is in really good shape and you can squeeze 70+ mile days out of it. The C&O is a bit rougher and would have been more pleasant if it didn't rain *every* day. I mainly did it for the GAP, anyway, and that was fantastic. My trip mirrored Lenny (Ohiopyle, Cumberland, Hancock and Harpers Ferry) and I went in late October when the weather was cool and the leaves were turning. I stayed at various hostels and B&Bs along the way. There's a trail book that's sold for something like $10 from the GAP website that's pretty good at listing everything along the way.
I absolutely hate heat so if I can swing another trip this year it will be later in October or even early November just before Big Savage Tunnel closes for the year.

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