My DH and I were just sitting here watching the Steelers/Gaints game and noticed this great looking incline railway in Pittsburgh. That lead to Googling it, which lead to thinking of going to see it, which lead to thinking, "well, how about cycling from Pittsburgh to D.C. on the C&O Canal?"

I know that the Canal runs all the way into Pittsburgh now, right?

Has anyone ridden the whole length of it from? I see that it's just over 300 miles. We are thinking of maybe going in mid-May and taking 10 days or so, with time to sight-see in Pittsburgh and along the way. And, staying in B&Bs, hotels, etc. on the trip.

We used to live in the northern Shenandoah Valley and have cycled the Canal in the Paw Paw, WV area several times but the rest would be all new to us.

Here's the plan as it stands after just an hour of talking and researching:

--drive to D.C. Leave car in the lot of the Seminary I graduated from. They won't mind and it's safe.

--Ride to Metro, catch Amtrak at Union Station all the way into Pittsburgh.

--Spend 3 days or so around Pittsburgh, seeing the town, then heading out

--riding 40-60 miles a day from there

We would use our Hybrids.

This would be our first touring type ride. My DH has panniers on his bike already but I'll have to get some for mine.

Any tips, suggestions, ideas?

Thanks!