Planning Ahead--Riding the Whole C&O Canal

[divingbiker]

Yesterday on our ride, Kalidurga and I were talking about riding the entire length of the C&O, from Cumberland to Georgetown. I think I'm going to do this next year sometime. I'll go alone if I have to, but it would be fun to have company. Anybody interested?

Here's what I'm thinking right now; this is a very tentative itinerary.

Day 0 Drive to Cumberland, stay at the Inn at Walnut Bottom or Holiday Inn
Day 1 Cumberland to Little Orleans 43.7 miles, stay at the Little Orleans Lodge
Day 2 Little Orleans to Williamsport 41.4 miles, stay at the Red Roof Inn
Day 3 Williamsport to Harpers Ferry 38.7 miles, stay at the Comfort Inn
Day 4 Harpers Ferry to Georgetown 60.7 miles, metro home and stay in my own bed
Day 5 Ride Amtrak train to Cumberland, drive car home

To shorten it by a day, we (I'm optimistic that someone will want to do this with me ) could ride 60 miles a day and stay the first night in Hancock and the second night in Harpers Ferry.

This web site has a lot of information about planning a trip. I'm thinking that either spring or fall would be a nice time to do this ride. Nothing's nailed down at all yet, of course.

Sooooo...anybody up for this adventure?

[Zen]

AHEM!

Any body knows I've mentioned wanting to do this before but being the cheapskate that I am, I want to camp. At least one night. Maybe I could do a section or two with you.
I have always wanted to do end-to-end, though.

The C&O Canal Association does a supported ride but I don't know details.

[divingbiker]

AHEM!

Any body knows I've mentioned wanting to do this before but being the cheapskate that I am, I want to camp. At least one night. Maybe I could do a section or two with you.
I have always wanted to do end-to-end, though.

The C&O Canal Association does a supported ride but I don't know details.

Well, I'm an old fart and a weenie and I like to have a shower every day and a comfy bed at night. I don't think it makes sense to haul a tent and sleeping bag and cooking gear gear along for just one night of camping, especially if it rains. Tam doesn't like to cook and clean up, so that's her objection to camping.

Soooo...I guess I'll keep an open mind about camping, but it wouldn't be my first choice. Definitely it would have to be a 60 mile/day 3-day trip if I'm going to be skanky the whole time.

[DebW]

I've been thinking about this trip too, and I'd camp all or most of the way. I've got the right bike, the racks, and front and rear panniers (actually 2 sets of front panniers, since my camping gear is only about 20 lb). There is a campsite about every 5 miles, right? Let me know as plans develop.

[divingbiker]

So, Deb, do you think that one set of rear panniers (Ortlieb Backrollers) and a handlebar bag would be enough to carry all the gear needed for camping? I assume the sleeping bag, pad, and tent could be strapped on the rear rack.

It really wouldn't take a lot of clothes, I guess, just shorts for each day, something to knock around camp and sleep in, and rain gear just in case.

I'm not really interested in getting a front rack and a second set of panniers, since I don't think I'll be doing self-supported tours. But I guess you never know...

It would be great if you could come on this trip, since you have so much experience outdoors!

[Kalidurga]

I'd definitely consider the weenie option (what the C&O Association calls the "muffin" option). But I'm not sure how the Georgetown end would work for me, since the closest Amtrak station to me is all the way down in Rockville, so I'd have to figure that out.

Did you look at the Little Orleans Lodge, Janice? Judging from it's location, I'd guess that it's somewhat "primitive".

And I highly recommend the Holiday Inn at Cumberland. That's where I stay for my annual western Md pilgrimage.

[DebW]

So, Deb, do you think that one set of rear panniers (Ortlieb Backrollers) and a handlebar bag would be enough to carry all the gear needed for camping? I assume the sleeping bag, pad, and tent could be strapped on the rear rack.

Definitely possible if you have a lightweight tent and sleeping bag and can deal with minimal clothing. General goals would be a tent of 3 lb or less, sleeping bag of 2 lb or less, pad of 1 lb or less, stove/pot/eating utensils 1 lb. Panier bags are about 3 lb/set. That's 10 lb, so if everything else (food, water, clothing, first aid, tools, etc) is 10-15 lb total, you'll be in the right ballpark. I've sewn my own tarps and hammocks and made alcohol stoves, so it's possible to do both cheap and lightweight.

[Zen]

From the Canal Association newsletter:

Bike Rides Scheduled
by Tom Perry
Again this year, we will offer Mini Bike Rides that provide opportunities
to experience bike camping on an introductory basis.
They are designed especially for first-timers but, of course, are
open to any of our other members as well. The first of these is set
for Saturday and Sunday, May 6-7, in the Williamsport area. On
each of these days we will take a leisurely ride.

Bike Rides Scheduled
by Tom Perry
Again this year, we will offer Mini Bike Rides that provide opportunities
to experience bike camping on an introductory basis.
They are designed especially for first-timers but, of course, are
open to any of our other members as well. The first of these is set
for Saturday and Sunday, May 6-7, in the Williamsport area. On
each of these days we will take a leisurely ride. On Saturday evening,
we will camp and be joined by Scott Gordon of the River
City Cycles, Inc., who will demonstrate basic bike maintenance.
The second introductory ride is set for Saturday and Sunday,
July 29-30. We will ride from Hancock to Little Orleans, a
distance of 17 miles. Participants will have a choice of camping
in a tent or staying at a B&B, and we will plan to visit Bill’s Grocery
on Saturday evening. Last October, the governor of Maryland
signed legislation providing for the extension of the Western
Maryland Rail Trail from Pearre to Little Orleans, through the
Indigo Tunnel. As part of our weekend experience, we will check
out progress on this project. On Sunday, we will return to Hancock.
A third Mini Bike Ride is planned for later in the year in
the Harpers Ferry area, and will be announced in a future issue of
Along the Towpath.

The annual 185-mile Through Bike Tour of the Canal is
more than six months away, but we are already announcing it so
that would-be participants can put it on their schedules. It is set
for October 4-9, finishing in Georgetown on Columbus Day
(observed). We accommodate both campers and B&B people,
and provide safety “sweeps” by the Bike Patrol volunteers. Breakfasts
and suppers are taken in very reasonably-priced eating places,
and lunch is whatever each rider chooses to take along for that
day. Participants must provide their own transportation to Cumberland
on Wed., October 4. However, we do engage a shuttle
service to take us back to get our vehicles at the conclusion of the
ride. There is a non-refundable $25 registration fee, and each
rider is required to sign a waiver form.
To register for these very popular rides, or to obtain more
information, please contact Tom Perry, 116 S. Conococheague
St., Williamsport, Md. 21795-1517; phone: 301-223-7010; or email:
leperry@starpower.net.

[Kalidurga]

Along the Towpath.
The annual 185-mile Through Bike Tour of the Canal is
more than six months away, but we are already announcing it so
that would-be participants can put it on their schedules. It is set
for October 4-9, finishing in Georgetown on Columbus Day
(observed). We accommodate both campers and B&B people,
and provide safety “sweeps” by the Bike Patrol volunteers. Breakfasts
and suppers are taken in very reasonably-priced eating places,
and lunch is whatever each rider chooses to take along for that
day. Participants must provide their own transportation to Cumberland
on Wed., October 4. However, we do engage a shuttle
service to take us back to get our vehicles at the conclusion of the
ride. There is a non-refundable $25 registration fee, and each
rider is required to sign a waiver form.
To register for these very popular rides, or to obtain more
information, please contact Tom Perry, 116 S. Conococheague
St., Williamsport, Md. 21795-1517; phone: 301-223-7010; or email:
leperry@starpower.net.

That's it. They called it the "(something...) & Muffins" ("Muffins" being those folks too "soft" to camp ) ride back when I used to volunteer for the association. Having the shuttle back to Cumberland is a great idea. Would you ladies be interested in joining them, or would you want to make it just a TE ride?

[Zen]

I'll probably send an email for more info. We can model a ride on theirs or go with them and take advantage of the shuttle.It might be advantageous to go with them for mechanical help, we'll see.

[divingbiker]

Would you ladies be interested in joining them, or would you want to make it just a TE ride?

Hmmm...depends on how big a group it is. According to the C&O Association calendar, this is the weekend they did the ride this year. So I'm guessing that the folks we saw on Saturday with the BOB trailers might have been the group doing it this year. As I recall, there weren't a whole lot of them, so that would be ok. And October is a nice time of year. And those who want to camp can, and those who want to stay in B&Bs can. So maybe that's an option.

I think it's definitely doable on our own (a friend has said she'd drive up with us and drive my car back home, solving the shuttle problem for 3 of us anyway (can haul 3 bikes on my car)).

Lots of time to think about this...

[withm]

I would be interested in this kind of ride - but does it require fat tires? I guess I'll have to buy a new bike!

Martha

[divingbiker]

I would be interested in this kind of ride - but does it require fat tires? I guess I'll have to buy a new bike!

Martha

Well, Martha, you couldn't do it on your road bike, but a hybrid or mountain bike would be fine. Great excuse to buy a new bike!

And the more I think about it, I think I'd rather just do a TE ride and not be part of the C&O Association ride. But I'm antisocial like that.

And I think it would be fun to take enough days to do it to soak up a little bit of Civil War history on a few side trips.

[withm]

Well I've been planning to buy a hybrid for a long time, but just haven't gotten around to it yet. I enjoy my road bike too much! Since I can only test ride bikes on weekends - it's a tough decision cause I'd rather just ride my own bike. Then when I'm done, well the thought of test riding then is out the window. This might be the incentive to finally do it.

I'd rather do a small group as well - not with hordes of other cyclists on the path.

[7rider]

Ooo....Can I join?? (or is the group getting too big?)
The hotel/B&B option sounds good to me! I'm such a muffin! I'm not much of a camper, but with the support and coaching of a more experienced group, I'd be game.
But, I do own a tent and a sleeping bag - although none quite meet those weight limits, but my tent is big enough to share, if y'all don't snore, so what I carry, you don't have to, and vice versa!
My mtb can't carry a regular rack, but I'm sure I could put one of those seat-post mounted jobbies on it.