TR: Pittsburgh to DC, Part 2: The C&O Towpath
Oct 7, 2014 9:02:29 GMT -5
Post by rpcv on Oct 7, 2014 9:02:29 GMT -5
This is the second half of the bike trip that we did from Pittsburgh to DC the first week of September. After lunch and a stop at the bike shop in Cumberland, Maryland, we continued on our way, 23 miles to the Town Creek Aqueduct campsite. My husband and I had ridden this section last year, when we did a 105-mile trip from Cumberland to Taylor's Landing, but that was in the spring. It was neat to see it in a different season this time.
After the smooth, rail trail surface of the GAP Trail, the Towpath seemed pretty rough and took a lot more concentration. It is full of roots, rocks and potholes. It wasn't anything our bikes couldn't handle, but we had gotten a little spoiled on the GAP trail.
Cumberland, Maryland from the first half mile (or last, depending on your perspective) of the C&O Towpath.
Town Creek Aqueduct campsite wound up being really spectacular. Sunset was especially pretty.
The next morning, we made it to the Paw Paw Tunnel right away. Unlike the tunnels on the GAP Trail, the Paw Paw Tunnel is not lit. The towpath through it is narrow, uneven and damp in places. The canal below the Towpath feels like it might be good habitat for giant creatures such as the Loch Ness Monster. We walked our bikes through the tunnel.
The east end of the Paw Paw Tunnel
The forecast called for rain that night, so we decided to bike to Hancock, Maryland, where we heard the bike shop allowed camping. It turns out that they have a bunk house behind the shop.
The bunk house behind the bike shop in Hancock, Maryland. It was clean, cheap, and had hot showers, so it was perfect. It did rain that night, which made it even better. It is always nice to not have to pack up a wet tent.
The rain made the next day hard. The towpath was went and soft. Anywhere there was mud required muscling the bike through it. We were covered in mud by the time we reached Taylor's landing where we spent the night at our friend's house. We did get to ride Big Slackwater, which is one of my favorite parts of the Towpath. The pavement was also a nice break from the mud.
Big Slackwater.
The following day, we rode from Taylor's Landing to a campsite in Montgomery County, Maryland near White's Ferry. It was a little strange to camp so close to home, but it set us up well for the following day's ride into DC.
Monocacy Aqueduct.
On the last day of our ride, we got up early and had breakfast in the dark so we could get through the Great Falls area of the Towpath early. Coming through there on a beautiful Saturday morning promised crowds of people that we wanted to avoid. We made it there around 10 a.m., ahead of the worst of it. We made it into Georgetown right around noon.
Great Falls
After a side trip to the White House and a trip up the National Mall, we made it back to our house in the middle of the afternoon. It was a great ride. Where else can you get almost 350 miles of no traffic. It was my first weeklong bike tour and I would definitely do it again.
More pictures here.
After the smooth, rail trail surface of the GAP Trail, the Towpath seemed pretty rough and took a lot more concentration. It is full of roots, rocks and potholes. It wasn't anything our bikes couldn't handle, but we had gotten a little spoiled on the GAP trail.
Cumberland, Maryland from the first half mile (or last, depending on your perspective) of the C&O Towpath.
Town Creek Aqueduct campsite wound up being really spectacular. Sunset was especially pretty.
The next morning, we made it to the Paw Paw Tunnel right away. Unlike the tunnels on the GAP Trail, the Paw Paw Tunnel is not lit. The towpath through it is narrow, uneven and damp in places. The canal below the Towpath feels like it might be good habitat for giant creatures such as the Loch Ness Monster. We walked our bikes through the tunnel.
The east end of the Paw Paw Tunnel
The forecast called for rain that night, so we decided to bike to Hancock, Maryland, where we heard the bike shop allowed camping. It turns out that they have a bunk house behind the shop.
The bunk house behind the bike shop in Hancock, Maryland. It was clean, cheap, and had hot showers, so it was perfect. It did rain that night, which made it even better. It is always nice to not have to pack up a wet tent.
The rain made the next day hard. The towpath was went and soft. Anywhere there was mud required muscling the bike through it. We were covered in mud by the time we reached Taylor's landing where we spent the night at our friend's house. We did get to ride Big Slackwater, which is one of my favorite parts of the Towpath. The pavement was also a nice break from the mud.
Big Slackwater.
The following day, we rode from Taylor's Landing to a campsite in Montgomery County, Maryland near White's Ferry. It was a little strange to camp so close to home, but it set us up well for the following day's ride into DC.
Monocacy Aqueduct.
On the last day of our ride, we got up early and had breakfast in the dark so we could get through the Great Falls area of the Towpath early. Coming through there on a beautiful Saturday morning promised crowds of people that we wanted to avoid. We made it there around 10 a.m., ahead of the worst of it. We made it into Georgetown right around noon.
Great Falls
After a side trip to the White House and a trip up the National Mall, we made it back to our house in the middle of the afternoon. It was a great ride. Where else can you get almost 350 miles of no traffic. It was my first weeklong bike tour and I would definitely do it again.
More pictures here.