Tom and Chuck on the Glacier Express
High on a hill was a lonely goatherd… Those words from the Sound of Music echo in our heads as we pass through the Alps on our way to Geneva. It’s Tom and Chuck coming to you from our totally fabricated trip across Switzerland. Over the next week you can follow us on what we hope is a believable Tour der Alps.
Saturday was a casual day for us to celebrate the end of our tour. We rode the Capitol Crescent Trail from Bethesda into Georgetown. Chuck had found directions to milepost 0 of the C&O Canal Trail. We rode right to it. Interesting enough, we were maybe 200 feet from it in the end of ride photo we took on Friday night. It is hidden behind a boat house in the weeds on a small island.
We rode into D.C. and The Mall. It was a busy spot being Independence Weekend. We visited the typical tourist spots including the memorials and the White House. The most significant events of the day were flat tires. Chuck’s bike had two flats. That actually gave us an excuse to enjoy the shade in the hot 90s weather. I found myself cycling back to Georgetown to pick up some tubes for his tires and we were on our way.
It was definitively a different type of day than we have experienced over the last eight days. We were so accustomed to a more solitary life. That was definitely not the case yesterday. Life in Georgetown, Bethesda and Washington D.C. are a far cry from life in Meyersdale, Williamsport and Point of Rocks.
Good morning from Washington D.C. Yesterday was a long cycling day for us. We cycled about 52 miles under a variety of trail conditions. After leaving Lock house 28 at Point of Rocks, we passed through an area of decent trail conditions.
We encountered poor trail conditions with standing water, mud and debris on the trail just east of White’s Ferry. It definitely slowed us down. It was a lonely stretch of trail with few people until we approached Great Falls. The trail conditions became pretty nice as we entered the metropolitan D.C. area. Some of the memorable sights for the day included the Monocracy Aqueduct, White’s Ferry, and the Great Falls Tavern.
We wanted to end the ride symbolically at C&O Milepost 0. Brett was waiting in Georgetown and was unable to find it. We cycled into a very busy Friday afternoon crowd on the waterfront. We soon realized that we needed to find Brett. We cycled to the parking lot adjacent to the Watergate complex where we met him. It was a less emotional end of the journey than I had thought it would be.
Today we will be cycling into Georgetown and The Mall. We plan on looking for milepost 0 and getting that symbolic photo. I hope that you enjoy today’s video and photos.
Thursday was a leisurely cycling day. We cycled 10 miles into Harper’s Ferry. it was a challenge getting the bikes up the iron stairs to cross the railroad bridge to the town. We actually did it easier then we anticipated. We had lunch and an enjoyable afternoon in the historic town.
We next cycled about 6 miIes to Brunswick, a quaint town on the Towpath. We had dinner at Beans in the Belfrey, a coffeehouse in an old church with delicious food. The owner and staff were so cordial and filled our coolers with ice free of charge. We lingered enjoying the conversation and free Wi-Fi,
It was only another 6 miles to our overnight stop, a restored lock house on the canal and Towpath.
Tomorrow morning we make our 48 mile run into Bethesda where we will spend the night before heading into Georgetown. As is custom, here’s some photos and today’s video.
Location:Lock house 28 @ Point of Rocks
Good morning from the shores of the Potomac near the Antietam Battlefield in Maryland. Yesterday was a good but often bumpy ride from Fort Frederick. We were challenged by a 6 mile road detour though beautiful rolling farmland. Although beautiful it was tough on hybrid bikes loaded with 50 pounds of gear.
My pal Aaron who took us in last night cycled to Williamsport with us. We had a delightful lunch at Desert Rose Cafe. He turned and returned and we cycled on.
This morning we are off to Harper’s Ferry with Point of Rocks as our final destination of the day. We are approaching D.C.
Location:Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park,Sharpsburg,United States
Coasting downhill cheered us up as we crossed the Eastern Continental Divide and made the descent into Cumberland through the mountain pass known as The Narrows. Our days of climbing will be replaced with pretty flat Towpath cycling.
We crossed several significant landmarks today. We cycled through the Big Savage, Brush and Borden tunnels. We crossed the Mason-Dixon line to become southerners. The views today were breathtaking.
Enjoy the pics and the video. See you tomorrow.
End of GAP in Cumberland
Wednesday Morning Report
We just crossed the Eastern Continental Divide and cycled through the Big Savage Tunnel. It’s downhill from here.
Tom @ Big Savage Tunnel
This morning Chuck and I were interviewed on WAKR, an Akron, Ohio talk radio station by Ray Horner, the morning host. Ray asked Chuck and I some great questions. Give it a listen. We are now off heading upward and eastward to Cumberland.
Tom and Chuck’s WAKR Interview
Location:Meyers Ave,Meyersdale,United States
