Day 5, Fri: Cumberland, MD to Little Orleans, MD - 45 miles

Today we began a very different biking adventure as we started our ride on the C&O Canal Towpath trail.  Long before the invention of the railroad, canals were the best means of transporting goods over long inland distances, with mule or horse drawn boats passing through a series of lift locks.  A towpath is where mules would walk as they pulled boats along the canal.  Canal laborers dug out the ditch that paralleled the Potomac River with picks, shovels, and gun powder.  The remnants of many locks and lock houses still remain today.  Seventy-four lift locks adjusted the water levels for the 605 foot difference in elevation.
 
Today the water in the canal is algae covered in some areas, lily pad covered in some areas, and dried up in other areas.

This biking trail is unlike anything that we have ridden.  It is truly an adventure.  We felt like pioneers.  We might be bouncing and shaking all the way to D.C.  Our eyes must intensely watch the path with each turn of the wheel for hazards.  The path is like a farm equipment path at its best and 12” wide at its worst.  BUT, it is very do-able and we are glad and proud that we are doing it.  The area is quite remote, VERY remote.  We used some of our emergency food supplies for lunch today.

Obstacle #1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Canal path

 

Obstacle #2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The canal

 

Lock house & lock

 

 

Another lock house & lock

 

 

 



Yes, it is safe to drink.  It is iodine treated.  Thirsty bikers in a remote area cannot be choosy.



 

 

Today we went through the Paw Paw Tunnel, the longest tunnel on our trip and one of the world's longest canal tunnels at 3,118 feet and unlighted.  This tunnel goes through a mountain.  There is very interesting video on-line regarding the building of this tunnel.

The completed tunnel was only wide enough for one boat to go through at a time.  When a boat arrived at a tunnel entrance, a boy would be sent to place a lantern at the other end to signal to oncoming boats that the tunnel was already occupied.

Although, we could see the opening at the other end, it was totally pitch black within.  We walked our bikes very slowly, with lights shining on the narrow path.  It was barely wide enough to walk our bikes through.  There was a guard rail to protect us from falling into the canal.  We had to carefully step over large and small puddles on the wavy path.  

 

Before entering

 

 

Safely on the other side

 

Potomac River

 

Janet almost ran over this snake.  Janet claims that her snake was much more intimidating and frightening than  Harold’s snake.

Finally arrived at Little Orleans.  Bill's Place is the ONLY place in town.  We were finally able to get food and have a refreshing cold soda.

 Every inch of the entire ceiling is covered in signed dollar bills where people leave their mark.

 

Last night it was the Holiday Inn, tonight our lodging is at Town Hill Hotel B&B.   It is located on top of a mountain 6 miles up from Bill’s Place.  Fortunately, they offer shuttle service up and down the mountain.  They picked us up at Bill's Place and hauled us, our bicycles, and our luggage up to the mountain top.