Planning Ahead--Riding the Whole C&O Canal

[divingbiker]

OK, ladies, it's a new year and that means it's time for me to start planning vacations. (This may seem a bit anal, but I do love planning vacations and I love working out all the details.)

I've been thinking a bit more about this C&O trip, and looking again at the lodging options, and I think the itinerary I laid out in the first post seems like a reasonable one:

Day 0 Drive to Cumberland, stay at the 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 our own beds

(Day 4 is a long one, but the only option between Harpers Ferry and DC is Leesburg, which would make Day 4 25 miles and Day 5 35 miles. I'm open to that if 60 miles is too long a day. Or any other suggestions anyone has.)

Logistically, I think the best way might be to enlist a couple of shuttle drivers who will bring our cars back after taking us to Cumberland. That way, we don't face that long drive or train ride to retrieve cars at the end.

I can fit 3-4 riders and bikes in my car, plus the shuttle driver (my neighbor has volunteered for this duty.) I have racks for 3 bikes, 4 if I use my old trunk rack instead of my nice hitch rack. If DebW comes, she could leave her bike in the suitcase until we get to Cumberland so it would easily fit in the back of my car (a station wagon.)

If we have more than 4 people who want to do this, we'd have to round up a second shuttle driver (Regina, would Tom be willing?)

I think we could gather several folks at my place or Regina's, then head up 270 and pick up Tam (maybe Zen could be there also), then head up to Cumberland and get this party started. At the end of the trip, we could metro to my house and I could drive people back to their starting points.

Whew.

As far as timing, I think the consensus was that fall was better than spring, allergy- and weather-wise. So I'd say we should shoot for a Friday-Tuesday:

September 19-23
September 26-30
October 3-7
October 10-14 (this would take advantage of a holiday, for us working folks)
October 17-21

(The last day, we'd have to get an early start so we could be on the Metro before 4, since bikes aren't allowed during rush hour. Alternatively, we could plan the trip for Wednesday-Sunday, since there's no restriction on the metro on weekends.)

The later into the fall we get, the harder it will be to get reservations, due to the fall foliage crowd. Also, I'm seriously considering doing a bike tour in Hawaii in November with Womantours, so earlier would be better for me, but I could work with any of these dates.

OK, I know that this is way too much information, but I wanted to get us started thinking about it again. When are you all comfortable about nailing down a date, so that we can check out motel availability?

Happy New Year, everyone!

[susan.wells]

I did this route last year (self-supported) as part of the Great Allegheny Passage. We began in Boston, PA. My girlfirend & I did it over a 5 day period averaging about 60-65 miles per day. For the C&O canal portion, we stayed in Cumberland (Holiday Inn), Hancock (Super 8?), and Harper's Ferry (Historic Hilltop House Hotel). It was a great ride. Enjoy!

[7rider]

I'd vote against Columbus Day weekend, as that's usually the Seagull Century weekend. I'd also vote for the WED-SUN option, as that seems to mess up only one work week (for some of us, at any rate) and allows us some recovery time on Sunday (perhaps) before diving back into reality.

I think I can recruit Tom to serve as shuttle driver. My Escape, with the roof rack on, can also carry four bikes and four riders (plus Tom or other shuttle driver).

Of course, Janice...if you and I are doing this the civilized way, you realize we'll have to be riding at the front of this train, less we get bowled over by the sheer...um....potent naturalness?...of those behind us!!!

[divingbiker]

Of course, Janice...if you and I are doing this the civilized way, you realize we'll have to be riding at the front of this train, less we get bowled over by the sheer...um....potent naturalness?...of those behind us!!!

I think DebW pointed out that we need to check the wind direction before deciding whether to ride ahead of or behind the campers.

Did you get out and ride today? What a gorgeous day...I just did a quick trip to the bank, but it was beautiful!

[HillSlugger]

Regina,

If I got the calendar correct, this year the Seagull Century is the weekend before Columbus Day weekend. I'm not sure what they were thinking.

[Zen]

I like the Columbus Day/Leesburg option. sixty some miles is a long ride for me.

I might could enlist some help from the Frederick Pedalers with shuttling to Cumberland or with equipment.

[Velobambina]

Hmmmm. This sounds like fun.

Are those hotels pet friendly? If so, I probably could convince my husband to come along or we could take the girls to an excellent dog "resort" in Ortanna, PA (reasonable distance from Cumberland and one of the only places I'd trust w/my girls). My husband might be able to help with shuttle duties.

I'm up for the shorter (Leesburg) ride, as well. Why not both?

[Zen]

And while you're in Ortanna you can eat (all you can eat) at Hickory Bridge.
Gggglllllllaaaaahhhhhggggg.....

[divingbiker]

OK, so it looks like this is where we are right now:

Day 0 Drive to Cumberland, stay at the 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 Leesburg, 25.2 miles, stay at the Best Western
Day 5 Leesburg to Georgetown 35.5 miles, metro home and stay our own beds

Since we're talking 6 days now, should we start on a Sunday and end on a Friday, or start on a Monday and end on a Saturday, so we have the weekend to get back to our normal routines? Or start on Tuesday, October 7 (just a couple of days after the Seagull) and end on Sunday, October 12, with Columbus Day as our recovery day?

Velobambina, I don't know about the dog-friendliness of the hotels, but you can check it out. They're all on the list at the bottom of this page.

[7rider]

Okay...
I'm getting major security willies here.
Can we make the final decisions about where and when off line - via PM or (better, due to that persistent "reply all" problem) email?
Let's agree - Fall 5 day C&O Ride - some to camp, some to hotel it.
Perhaps, we can all meet (con call in our out of state friends and those who can't make it) and discuss logistics.
I know...I"m being paranoid.
Thoughts?

[divingbiker]

Okay...
I'm getting major security willies here.
Can we make the final decisions about where and when off line - via PM or (better, due to that persistent "reply all" problem) email?
Let's agree - Fall 5 day C&O Ride - some to camp, some to hotel it.
Perhaps, we can all meet (con call in our out of state friends and those who can't make it) and discuss logistics.
I know...I"m being paranoid.
Thoughts?

I'm not sure how that will work, but maybe you can take the lead in making it happen.

[Zen]

I have started a group for planning and discussion purposes.
PM me your email addy and I will evite you to join.