Reply to C&O Ride Recap

Just finished riding the C&O Canal yesterday. I have a blog site with video recaps of each day.
candocanalbiker . blogspot . com
A few thoughts:
- If possible, be flexible with your dates and try to ride when the weather is good. I postponed a week to avoid rain and had 2 beautiful days of riding. Unfortunately, my last day was rainy, muddy and therefore miserable at times. But since it was my final day, it was still enjoyable.
- Hancock and Harper's Ferry are great stopping points.
- The hotels where I stayed were all biker friendly:
Cumberland-Fairfield Inn, Hancock-Super8, Harper's-Econolodge.
- When crossing to Harper's, you'll need to carry your bike up a spiral staircase. So try to have some easily detachable paniers. I made two trips, one with my stuff and another with my bike.
- Good places to stop for lunch: Bills Place in Little Orleans (mile 141) and Whites Ferry Grill (mile 35). Both are right on the trail.
- The WMRT from mile 136 to mile 114 is well worth it. A beautiful paved trail that goes through Hancock.
- Check your rack bolts, screws, and your gears, chain, and brakes each night. Clean and oil your chain each day. Lots of vibration and mud.
- Take lots of small easily accessible high carb snacks and eat every 30 minutes. This will make a huge difference.
- Bring a bright light for the PawPaw Tunnel.
- Enjoy the history. Lots of cool locks, houses, aqueducts, and scenery. Take photos and videos.
- The people you'll meet on the C&O are really nice folks!

I rode it right behind you, starting out of Cumberland the evening of Friday the 7th and finishing in Georgetown the morning of Monday the 10th.

Rained on me all night Friday and most of Saturday - trail was wet and muddy. That day gave me by far the seventy longest miles I've ridden. I knew a cold front was on the way to dry things out, though, so I kept going and had a nice little fire and strung up a clothesline at camp Saturday night and had a fantastic time. The C&O campsites are typically beautiful and peaceful, and terrific for even a night's getaway.

The campsite at Lock 68 is nothing short of gorgeous, and feels quite remote. I didn't see anybody else on the train Friday night, until midmorning Saturday. Aside from the rare train, the only sounds at Lock 68 were crickets, katydids, frogs, the occasional splash in the canal, and the steady rain.

Did the same trip as you in late July. Even stayed in the same hotels! Would use them all again. Especially pleased with the Fairfield in Cumberland. Came in off the trail covered with mud and was thrilled to find their bike wash station. Incredibly helpful and bike friendly...and super close to a restaurant that I really enjoyed....the Crabby Pig.

Awesome video blog!!!!

Thank you for sharing tjat!

Thank you for sharing that!