What more do I need/need to do?

[divingbiker]

If you're staying at the Red Roof Inn in Williamsport, they've got a washing machine (call and double check to be sure), so you'd only need to take 3 shorts and jerseys and could have a clean outfit every day. Washing shorts every evening is iffy, since they might not dry and I wouldn't want to drag wet clothes along with me.

I'd take along a rain jacket, just in case. If you work in DC, I can meet you to loan you my spare rain jacket if you'd like.

Take only one outfit to wear in the evening. You won't wear those clothes long enough for them to get dirty.

Bring along food for lunches and snacks.

I'd bring two tubes.

It's helpful to have a map of the C&O so you know what you're looking at.

Have fun!

[Kris]

I wash clothes most evenings when I travel (not just biking), and it really cuts down on what you have to haul. Here are my techniques for getting almost everything dry by morning: 1. Don't put off doing the laundry until bedtime. Do it while the sun's still up if possible. 2. Wring it out the regular way, then roll it in a towel and wring it again. The towel absorbs a lot of dampness. 3. Hang it directly in front of the air conditioner or heater, and put the fan on. This usually involves moving a chair. 4. Check it before you go to bed, and put the wettest parts where they're more likely to dry. 5. Use the hairdryer in the morning, if something's still damp.
There are two things that might not dry by morning if it's damp, and one of them is bike shorts. So bring an extra pair, just in case. (The other is blue jeans.)
I love Fels Naptha soap for travel. It comes in a bar, so there's no mess, and it does a great job. I use it at home for stains.

[tc1]

bring sunscreen anyway. I have no knowledge of where you are going, and am too lazy to look it up right now. But if you are on the edge of the water, the sun will bounce off the water and up right back at ya.

And bring some kind of flipflops or similar flimsy sandals. With that much riding you might want to give your feet a break at rest stops, and you will want to rip off your bike shoes when you finish for the day.

[Selkie]

We're infested with ticks? How did I miss that?

Count your blessings. They are all over--at least in my neighborhood (N. Arlington). This summer, I've had to "detach" several of them from my body. The dogs now get K9 Advantix every three weeks instead of once a month.

[FlyingScot]

I just bought a package of those "Space Bags" to try. You know what I mean, those storage bags that you hook your vacuum hose and suck the air out. There is a "travel" version of this bag that does not require a vacuum. You just roll it toward the end where there's a one way valve that lets the air out. I am doing a 50 mile charity ride tomorrow and it's supposed to rain so I packed a change of clothes in it and it compressed really flat. Since they will be storing our duffles outside (in the rain) I will be glad to have dry clothes to change into. I'm thinking this might work really well in your panniers both to keep your clothing dry but also to allow you more room for things like bug spray and a rain jacket!!

[owlice]

Thank you all!! I really appreciate the advice, WILL bring bug repellent, and Flying Scot, why I didn't think about the vacuum packing bags for this trip, I don't know -- I just used a couple to pack the car for my spawn's college dropoff! That's a great idea (and doh on me!); thanks!

Re: bike shoes, I don't have clips, just regular ol' pedals, so whatever shoes I wear are good for general use, too. (And my saddle is a horror! I'll switch it out some day, but not before this ride.)

sfa and divingbiker, it came to me last night that I have rain ponchos packed away with camping gear. I'll tuck one of those in someplace.

The rear trunk I ordered has been shipped; once I have that, I'll know exactly how much space I'll have. I'm thinking that after I've gotten someplace and showered, the shirt I'll wear that evening will be the shirt I bike in the next day. I'll take old underwear and throw it out along the way (just so I can say, "Drat! I left my underwear in [name of town here]" at parties), and check into where I'm staying midpoint. A washer and dryer would certainly come in handy about then!

There's no getting around having to wash out a bra each night, though, so if anyone reads a report of a wide slow woman flying a boobie-holder flag as she travels down the towpath, that'll be me trying to ensure the thing dries. Heck, if there's a tailwind, I'll use it like a sail to propel me forward!

[ny biker]

There's no getting around having to wash out a bra each night, though, so if anyone reads a report of a wide slow woman flying a boobie-holder flag as she travels down the towpath, that'll be me trying to ensure the thing dries. Heck, if there's a tailwind, I'll use it like a sail to propel me forward!

Well please take pictures of that!!

I have nothing to add to everything that's been said here, except have a great trip!!!

[Zen]

Take a shower cap to put over your seat. You'll be leaving the bike outside at Little Orleans.

[Tuckervill]

I haven't been happy with Space Bags used for traveling. They work fine in the closet, but if you put them in the back of the car with a couple of bikes and luggage and gear, they seem to forget their purpose in life.

Karen

[Cataboo]

I use these drybags for kayak camping:
http://www.sonomaoutfitters.com/ista...id=PDS1633!249

There's a bunch of different sizes, you stuff your stuff in, fold down the top, and then undo the vent at the bottom to squeeze out all the air.

They work pretty well & are waterproof.

(I have no idea how they compare to spacebags)

[Eden]

I use these drybags for kayak camping:
http://www.sonomaoutfitters.com/ista...id=PDS1633!249

There's a bunch of different sizes, you stuff your stuff in, fold down the top, and then undo the vent at the bottom to squeeze out all the air.

They work pretty well & are waterproof.

(I have no idea how they compare to spacebags)

I've been using some less fancy ones for commuting (Sea to Summit bags) as I bring my camera back and forth to work with me and absolutely do not want it getting wet. They've held up very nicely for 2 years now. I picked these ones because they are light compared to most dry bags and less expensive.

[owlice]

The new list; this is what I plan to take (stuff I still don't have in red):

* Bug Repellent
* Repair stuff

Extra Tubes (3)
Patch Kit
Tire Pump
CO2 cartridges and dispenser
Tire Wrenches
Multi-use Bike Tool
Chain Lube
Duct tape
Latex gloves
Paper towels (cut a partial roll in half, pull out the cardboard center, compress)

* Bike gear

Bell
Headlights and rear blinky
Bike Lock
Helmet
Shower Cap <-- I would not have thought of this; thank you, Zen!
Thick Rubber Bands (for brakes when off the bike)

*First Aid Kit

Band-aids in various sizes
Bactine wipes
Regular handwipes
Neosporin
Gauze pads
Pain meds (aspirin and ibuprofen)
Benadryl
Latex gloves (so I don't need to go through my saddle bag to get the other pair)
Tweezers
Chamois butter
Cortisone cream (this almost rates as a toiletry, given my heat rash issues!)
Mylar blanket

* Two Water Bottles
* Pocket Knife
* Matches
* Clothes and toiletries

Bike Shorts (3 pair)
Socks (4 pair)
Tee-shirts (4)
Shoes (1 pair)
Bras (2)
Underwear (4)
Khakis (1 pair)
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Deodorant <--- probably the most important thing on the list
Face stuff (Oil of Olay)
Small bottle of shampoo, small bottle of conditioner
Hairbrush

* Food

Power Bars (7 large, 7 small)
Trail mix (2 kinds, one with chocolate, one without)
Powder for water flavoring, in case I need it

* ID, Credit, Cash, Medical Insurance Card
* Wet Towelettes
* Trash Bags
* Cell Phone and Cell Charger
* iPod Touch, Charger, and Earbuds
* Camera
* Small Journal and Pen
* Notebook with maps, info, hotel reservation confirmations
* Book on C&O Canal

I looked at the camping gear and found one poncho, but it's a kid's size. I have a windbreaker that I lent to my kid; if I find that, I'll take that, too. divingbiker, I appreciate your offer of a loaner, but suspect you are of more reasonable size than I am!

I was in REI for a while yesterday; they are having a sale. I looked at jackets there, but they do not have anything in my size, which was okay, because they also didn't have anything in my price range!

Thank you all for the advice and good wishes! I really appreciate it. Preparing for this ride has helped make a difficult summer much, much better; thank you.

An aside... Years ago when personal computers first came on the market and I was getting one as an early graduation present, my mother remarked that they were like Barbie dolls: it's not enough to have just Barbie. You need the outfits, the Malibu beach house, Ken, clothes for Ken, the convertible...

So it is with bikes. You get the bike, and then need the floor pump, the minipump, the bell, the saddle bag and repair stuff, the rear rack and panniers, the cyclocomputer, the back blinky, the biking shorts and gloves and shirts... and so on. I've spent more on stuff for my bike this summer than I spent on my bike, and that's even if I leave out the recent maintenance bill!

[Tri Girl]

owlice- nothing else to add, but HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!! I can't wait to hear all about it when you get back! Please take lots of pics and share when you get home. I hope to live vicariously through your adventure. It sounds like so much fun!