Quote Originally Posted by owlice View Post
When riding the C&O Canal towpath, watch for the closest mile marker as soon as you get on it instead of looking at the canal as you ride to see what birds, insects, mammals, etc. are in it. Look at the scenery AFTER you know exactly which mile marker is closest to where you left the car.

Swains Lock is at mile 16.6 on the towpath, not "just below mile marker 20," as you thought because mile marker 20 was the first mile marker you noticed. There's a good reason why it seemed longer than a mile from the car to mile marker 20!
Even better, stop by one of the visitor's centers along the C&O and pick up a map &/or one of the little green guide books that includes the mileage of every campsite, culvert, aqueduct, bridge, boat ramp, etc, etc, etc. Then you can look at the scenery and still be able to figure out your mileage.

And then get yourself some Rock'n'Roll lube.