Reached Indian Flats at about 6:30 pm. I’m beat. Odometer reads 601, 73 miles today. Tomorrow will be a short ride into DC. I saw a wild turkey today. I have yet to get a wildlife picture because I have the camera in the panniers behind me. I can’t get stopped and dig out the camera in time.

I think the folks that made the sleeping bag I bought were a little, shall we say, optimistic in the comfort/temperature ratings. I froze my ass off last night! It took me two cups of hot coco, a bowl of hot oatmeal, a campfire, and an hour of standing in the sun with every piece of clothing I had just to stop my teeth from chattering. So, I got a little later start then usual today and I am pooped tonight. It was almost noon before I took off my coat today.

Oh, the hike/bike campsite (North Mountain) was less then a mile further down the trail – oh well. The guide I was using as well as the park service map is off on the location of the site. They state that it is at milepost 110.0 but it is more like 109.6. I was coming down the trail so I found the McCoys Ferry site where the North Mountain site should have been.

Well, barring any major problems, I should be home tomorrow. I think I will take a long hot bath. A rabbit just ran through camp and a squirrel is running in the branches overhead.

I saw a little of the train wreck at Point of Rocks on my way through. From what I hear, 21 cars were derailed, but no one was injured. It happened about midway between where I camped the first night and where I am camping tonight.

From where I am camping tonight I can see one of the local power plants with it’s two tall smokestacks. They are all lit up so the planes don’t hit them. Kind of pretty in a “What in the hell are they doing in my sunset?” kind of way.

I guess I have not said much about the ride today. I am still trying to figure out how I feel I guess. On the one hand, I know I have several days left to get home and there is no hurry. On the other, I have seen this trail (especially the part I will cover tomorrow) and I am going home. What do I gain by taking my time? But hey, I bet that after a good nights sleep, I will feel like taking my time in the morning.

Hey! It’s after 8:00pm and someone forgot to turn the frogs on! I guess that they don’t like the moving waters of the Potomac, just the still water that collects in the canal channel. Well, it’s off to bag with me, it’s getting to dark to see.

Tags: C&O Canal

Return trip, Start Odometer 448, 8:15am. Ok, I will take a few minutes while dinner is cooking to talk about the day. Odometer reads 528 tonight so that’s 80 miles of riding today. That’s allot of miles on a gravel trail. A lot colder today, mid 60’s max, I would guess.

Yesterday, on the way in to Cumberland, I passed a guy riding out on an upright that looked like it had a hundred pounds of stuff on it. Well, today I passed him again (both heading towards Georgetown). We got a chance to talk for a while and it turns out that he is on his way from Indiana to New York to sell his LOAD OF BOOKS. He did indeed have a hundred pounds of stuff on the bike. We rode on for a while, then he stopped to chat with some folks doing construction work on the trail and I continued on.

Well, I am stopped for the night at McCoy’s Ferry. The trail guide I am using says that this should be a hike/bike camp site called North Mountain. But, I guess that has changed. Still, this is a nice drive in campground with 14 spaces and a great view. And, it’s completely empty. There is, however a $10.00 fee. I guess if you average it out, $10.00 for 5 or 6 nights of camping is ok (but free would have been even better:) Well, It’s off to bed with me, the sun is going down.

Tags: C&O Canal

I have some time this morning because I am letting things dry out before I go on in to Cumberland. I guess I have “riders remorse”, I am feeling like the ride is almost over. I know that I start riding back to Washington, and I have several days left, but its over the same roads that I have just come. Back to work, the commute, the same old grind. Maybe a hot shower and a good nights sleep will rejuvenate me for the return trip. Wow, page 9 already. I guess I will have to get more paper in Cumberland. I didn’t think that I would be writing this much.

You know, it sure is tempting to call the wife and arrange for her to pick me up somewhere further down the road. I hear there is some good riding from Cumberland northwards and I have 4 or 5 more days…

I just walked up to the trail and stood there listening. Try as I might, I could not hear a human sound. No motors, no banging or clanging, not even a passing airplane. Other then the details of the trail, there is no indication of anyone passing those place in years. I know that thousands of people have passed through this very place but, for now, I am alone. I don’t think I have felt this for years, probably the last time was when I was growing up in Montana.

Tags: C&O Canal

Well day 3 is done and I have managed to get a sunburn that will take a few days to heal. I am stopping for the night at Pigman’s Ferry (campsite). Despite its bad name, it is a nice little campsite. A few trees on the edge of a huge green field. ODO reads 426 tonight (stopped about 6:45) Another hot long day. can not hear any human sounds here. Strange after so long in the city. Wonder if I will be able to sleep?

Saw about 6 beaver looking things (with furry tails) in about a miles stretch. Must have been a convention I guess. WOW a couple just road by. Only the 4th and 5th people I have seen on bikes today. Not counting trips into towns, I have only seen about 10 people today. Its Monday I guess everyone is back at work. Stopped at Hancock, MD for snacks at around 9:30am. At 10:00 I stopped at the bike shop there. This is a new shop and the owner has great plans to build a bike shop/grill/lodge. I wish him the best. Some of the few folks I met on the trail turned out to be the parents of someone @ yellowbikes.

We sat and talked recumbents for a while. Nice couple from Vermont taking short rides on several trails. Scouting for a longer tour. Perhaps on ‘bents. I Made it to PawPaw tunnel at last. Ran into some mud on the approach to the tunnel and put my hand out to brace on the rock wall. Ended up cutting my finger open and bleeding all over.

You know, I thought I was imagining things, but this is the third night in a row that the frogs all turned on at 8:00pm sharp. I guess I wont be needing this watch any more. Oh, there at least one deer grazing in the field. Cool, I have neighbors. He sees me but he doesn’t seem to worried. Ok, it’s now the morning of day four – still writing about yesterday though. Going through PawPaw tunnel yesterday, I dropped my new bike light (hadn’t had a chance to mount it in the bike yet) and broke it. In the ensuing darkness, I ran against the side wall and scraped up my arm and managed to knock the computer off my bike (yes, I am a klutz). I didn’t even realize the computer had come off, I just happened to see it as I was looking for the light parts. Lucky.

Tags: C&O Canal