Day 6, Sat: Little Orleans, MD to Williamsport, MD - 42 miles

We started our day on top of the mountain (1680 ft) with a very elegant and elaborate breakfast, 46 degree weather, and a flat tire.  Harold was able to take care of the flat AND have time to eat breakfast.

We gather much trail information from other bikers and the B&B owners where we stay.  Although, it was another long day, we were blessed to learn of a bike trail that ran parallel to the towpath trail for 21 miles.  This other trail was 8 feet wide, asphalt, and pure luxury.

Half way down this trail there was a very big downed tree branch which completely blocked the trail.  Two guys were struggling to pull it off of the trail, then we came along.  It took 3 guys with all of their strength to get it off of the trail.  It also took one women to assist by cleaning the leftover debris off of the trail.

No snakes today, but our excitement was almost getting knocked over by running deer.  We heard a loud rustling of noise in the woods beside us and then suddenly two big deer ran in front of us within a few feet.  It was a close miss.

Part of the trail along the Potomac.



 

 

The C&O Canal was watered from a series of feeder dams built on the Potomac River.  Dam #5 is located just upstream from Williamsport, MD.  Originally constructed in the early to mid-1830's of stone with wood cribbing, the dam was replaced with a masonry structure in 1860.  This was fortunate, perhaps, since in 1861 Stonewall Jackson and his troops attempted unsuccessfully to destroy the dam with cannon fire.

 

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Maryland became a border between the Confederacy and the Union.  The Confederacy knew that the canal and the railroad were important Union supply lines.  Stonewall Jackson's Brigade made several attempts to destroy Dam 5 and cripple the canal.  On December 7, 1861 Confederate artillery "commenced throwing shells and shot at the dam and houses on the Maryland shore."  Jackson's troops then tried digging a ditch to undermine the dam; Union troops fended off the attempt.  On December 17 Jackson attacked again, and again Union troops prevailed.  After minor dam repairs, boat traffic resumed on the canal.

 

Janet spotted some pawpaw trees on the trail.  She knew what they were due to being exposed to them, as a young child, by her grandfather.  A pawpaw is a little-known native of the eastern United States. The fruit has yellow-green skin and soft, orange-yellow flesh and a delicious, sweet flavor.  A pawpaw tastes like a cross between a banana and a mango with a custard like consistency.  It has multiple seeds about the size of a date pit. 

They were shared at Sunday breakfast by the B&B owner to the guests, who like Harold, had never heard of them or been exposed to them.

 

100 miles to D.C.

Our Williamsport greeter.

William's Port lay on the edge of the Maryland frontier in 1787 when founded by Revolutionary War hero Otho Holland Williams.  In 1790 this river town nearly became the capital of the United States when President George Washington personally visited before selecting the current site of Washington, D.C., 100 miles East. 

 

In 1832 Williamsport changed as the C&O Canal reached the town.   This town became a major place of transfer for goods transported by canal boats. 

 

The Candlelight Inn B&B, our Williamsport lodging.