With the “shopping season” here I encourage everyone to shop at locally owned businesses. It’s important for our local economy and work force.
There are lots of good reasons but here is a good article to start.
C&O Canal Towpath Brunswick to Harpers Ferry
As I was riding along the C&O Canal Towpath I thought to myself “This is a ride that everyone needs to do”
The C&O Canal Towpath is a ride through history running 184.5 miles from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, DC and is a National Historic Park. The towpath surface is general crushed stone or clay and relatively flat with an approximate change in elevation of 660 feet along the full length. The towpath generally has the elevation changes at one of the many locks along the way. With the way the towpath is set up it is possible to enjoy the canal as a day trips or multi-day trips if you choose. There are numerous campsites along the route that offer space to pitch a tent, have a fire pit and or grill with a hand operated well and port a pot. These amenities make a great way to start seeing the joys of touring by bicycle. If you prefer not to camp with a little bit of planning you can “credit card” tour by staying in hotels and or B&B’s along the way. The amount of easy access to the towpath makes it easy for people who want to enjoy the canal for the day and it provides those on longer adventures easier to get food and lodging. While the towpath is very close to civilization when you are enjoying the park you feel much more with nature.
Easton to Oxford to St. Michaels
Maryland’s Eastern Shore offers many things to do and one of them is great bicycle riding! My wife and I have always loved St. Michaels but have never taken advantage of the great bike riding that the area offers. Amanda has ridden her fitness bike from the St. Michaels yacht club and out towards Tilghman Island but we have never ridden the area together. Over Labor Day weekend we headed over to the shore to ride the Oxford St. Michaels loop via Easton, which would make for approximately a 30 mile ride.
For this ride we decided to park at one of the shopping centers along Easton Parkway (Route 33). Looking back on it when we do this ride again I would probably park at the St. Michaels Elementary School or make a weekend of it staying in St. Michaels to enjoy another ride the area offers and take in all the activities St. Michaels offers.
Some Summer Rides
Just uploaded some photos from our ride from Easton to Oxford to St. Michaels that we did on Labor Day weekend. Also posted pictures from our ride on the C&O Canal Towpath from Brunswick to five miles north of Harpers Ferry. A full ride report will follow shortly.
Riding with the wife…
My wife got a new Trek 5.2 Project One Madone and she loves it. We’ve been getting out a fair amount together for her to ride. It is her first real road bike and road biking experience she has had. I convinced her to set aside her fitness bike and give the road bike a shot.
Her adapting to a road bike has been a learning experience for me, realizing that what I take for granted while I ride she needs help with. As we ride together more, I’ll share more of what I have learned trying to help her become a better rider.
One thing that we have learned is that she loves her Gore Power III Lady cycling shorts.