Today we woke up near Williamsport, MD and made our way over to the Potomac River and the C&O Canal. The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal ceased commercial operations in 1924, but has since been converted into a really nice mixed-use trail along the Potomac. We parked the truck, unloaded the bikes, slathered up with sunscreen and hit the trail.
My initial surprise came in the very first mile when we came across another touring cyclist carrying four pannier bags and full camping gear. This guy looked like he had been on the road for months. Here I am, still en route to begin my massive trek, and in the opening minutes of our time on the bikes we cross paths with someone whose very appearance reminds me that the only records I will be breaking on this journey are my own.
The section of the trail we rode was a mostly crushed gravel surface that followed the old tow path for the canal. It wound through the woods on the edge of the Potomac and offered beautiful forest shade, rocky cliffs riddled with stubborn trees, and occasionally beautiful river views. A few deer ran across the trail in front of us and we spotted a wild turkey too. We turned around in a small town called Four Locks about ten miles out and headed back towards the truck.
When we rolled back into Williamsport, we looked at the clock and decided to find lunch so we could hit the road. During a quick look around town, a local told us the cafe we were eying is "where everyone stops". She told us it had good sandwiches and was open and "she knew because she was from there". It was good enough for us, so we thanked her and pulled in to eat. The stranger's recommendation did not disappoint either of us.
We saw a handful of other touring cyclists on the ride, which I had not expected. Dad explained that the C&O was part of the larger Great American Rail-Trail and it was becoming a very popular East-West cycling route. The great thing about rail-trails is that they are usually very flat and tend to have nice surfaces. Next time I ride the C&O, I'm hoping to get to Harper's Ferry which I hear is quite a cool little town.
After lunch, we loaded back into the rental truck and hit the road. A few more hours and we pulled into Edison, New Jersey to our destination for the next two nights. We found a highly recommended pizza place right by the hotel and scarfed down a couple of slices. I was still hungry and convinced dad to join me at a nearby Korean BBQ restaurant. I was impressed that he tried everything I ordered. Adventure is on our menu!
Although we caught great weather today, the forecast for tomorrow looks grim. We will make a game-time decision in the morning as to whether we take our bikes into New York City. If we do, we will probably go via ferry and ride around Manhattan and Central Park before taking a ferry to Staten Island and riding back to Edison via the Goethals Bridge. If not, we will probably take a train into the city and explore around on foot or perhaps on ride-share bikes if the weather permits. Either way, I'm looking forward to some exploration of the Big Apple tomorrow.