Oh the C and O stands for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.

http://www.nps.gov/choh/

http://bikewashington.org/canal/

I ride a steal bike too! Maybe I should start wearing bike gloves. I try to ride it with 32 tires, but maybe they are not a true 32 because every time I see a size 35 tire I am amazed at how much larger they are than mine.

I don't know how comfortable I would be riding on any paths like the image you posted. I think my wheels would get banged up pretty bad.