Day 8 - Pivoting on the Final Day: Harpers Ferry to DC

The Weather vs. The Plan Over breakfast this morning, the weather report delivered some grim news. Rain and showers were locked in for most of the day, with clearing expected only by the afternoon. It wasn't exactly the triumphant final ride we had envisioned for our last stretch from Harpers Ferry to D.C.

The Logistics Puzzle To make things trickier, the last day of a tour is always a mad scramble of homeward-bound logistics:

• Keith, Mike, and Doug: Loading up the SUV for a nine-hour haul back to Indianapolis.

• Chris: Returning his rental bike to Arlington.

• Me: Boxing up my bike to ship it back to California via UPS.

In a perfect world, we would have ridden the final 62 miles into Washington, D.C., and handled all of this in the late afternoon. Instead, Keith hatched a brilliant audible. He dropped Frank, Chris, and me off in D.C. with our bikes and bags, then doubled back to Harpers Ferry to scoop up Mike, Doug, and the remaining gear. This gave the Indy crew a massive head start on their long drive home.

Playing Tourist The plan worked like a charm. After we piled into the SUV and landed at Frank’s house in D.C., we divided and conquered. Chris took an Uber to return his rental, I wrestled my bike into its shipping box, and once the dust settled, the three of us met up on the National Mall. We spent the rest of the day exploring the National Gallery of Art and Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.  A perfect end to an unforgettable trip.

Happy Biking,

Brian

Day 7 - Mist, Muskets, and Muddy Rivers: A Day on the Potomac

Woke up this morning to a gray sky and wet pavement. The odds of a good ride didn't look promising. However, a quick check of the weather forecast claimed a 100% chance of clouds all day but a 0% chance of rain. With that sliver of hope, we decided it was a good day to ride anyway.

By 8:00 AM, we were out the door and into the damp morning. The air was so thick with suspended water droplets that just moving forward felt like riding through a cloud. Temperatures hovered in the low 50s, but with a solid windbreaker on, it was cool, crisp, and completely rideable.

A Step Back in Time

Our first stop was about 12 miles down the road at a pre-Revolutionary stone fort. Thanks to the preservation efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) back in the 1930s, the impressive structure still stands proud today. We were treated to an incredibly thorough history lesson, capped off with a marching demonstration, a flag-raising ceremony, and the loud crack of a musket firing.

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Navigating the Obstacle Course

Leaving the fort, we returned to the rain-drenched bike path. For the most part, it was manageable, but it quickly turned into a bit of an obstacle course. We spent the next few miles dodging massive puddles and navigating around trees that had fallen across the trail—forcing us to either lift the bikes over them, clear branches out of the way, or find a path around. We figured a storm must have rolled through the night before.

The Rider's Mindset: Despite the gloomy weather and unpredictable trail conditions, it felt incredible just to be out on the road. It’s funny to think that just 24 hours earlier, we were seriously considering canceling the entire trip.

The Raging Potomac

As we followed the Potomac River toward Washington, D.C., we couldn't help but notice how swollen and angry the water had become. In several areas, it was actively overflowing its banks. The water had turned a thick, muddy brown, reminiscent of the Mississippi. Dams that had showcased only a gentle, peaceful flow just a week ago were now roaring torrents, with massive sheets of water rushing over the top and creating turbulent, churning rapids on the downstream side.

Destination: Harpers Ferry

We finally rolled into Harpers Ferry with just enough time to wash the heavy road grime off our bikes and shoes before jumping into the shower themselves. Clean, warm, and ready for dinner, we're reflecting on a wild but rewarding day.

Here's hoping that tomorrow's ride is at least as memorable as today's adventure!

Today's Photos

Happy Biking

Brian

Day 6 - Facing the Rain

Sometimes I’m asked, "What do you do if it's raining?" Well, today we had to face that question head-on. The rain drummed against the windows all night, and when we woke up, the temperature was hovering in the mid-40s. Not exactly ideal cycling conditions. We headed out to a local diner for breakfast, and over coffee and eggs, we weighed our options.

With only three riding days remaining and a grim weather forecast, our first consideration was to just pack it all in, drive back to DC, and end the tour early. The second option was to simply take it day by day: ride when we could, and on the days the weather turned too harsh, drive to the next town and find a local diversion.

Frank, however, was studying the hourly forecast. He figured he could squeeze in about 30 miles if he hit the trail by 10:00 AM, provided someone could pick him up further down the line. It was going to be wet and chilly, but he was determined to try. Doug, brave soul, agreed to join him for the endeavor. The rest of the riders—myself included—decided to stay warm and drive ahead to our next stop, Hancock, where I would then drive back to retrieve our two warriors.

The Verdict

Frank and Doug rolled into the pickup point at Old Town by 2:30 PM. To our relief, they reported that the rain hadn't been too bad and, despite the chill, they had survived with smiles on their faces.

Right now, we’re warming up at a cozy B&B in Hancock, pondering tomorrow's outlook. Currently, the forecast calls for an overcast day with a low chance of rain. Temperatures should start in the low 50s and reach the mid-60s by the end of the ride—a massive upgrade from today.

If the forecast holds, we’ll be back on the bike paths by 8:00 AM.

Happy Biking,

Brian

Day 5 - Heading Back to DC: Outrunning the Storm

Today, we began our journey back toward DC, retracing our steps through some familiar territory. It’s a bit of a remix tour—sometimes staying in the same motels as before, and sometimes mixing it up.

We knew we were racing the clock today. According to the Epic Ride Weather App (check out the chart below), the sky was preparing to open up. In the upper right quadrant, you can see the likelihood of rain dramatically spiking right around 12:30 PM.

Our mission was simple: ride as far as we could before the deluge, then execute a precision sag-wagon extraction to our destination for the night: Frostburg (a town we enjoyed staying in just a couple of days ago).

The Logistics: A Multi-Stage Shuttle Run

With five riders and Frank behind the wheel of our SUV, we had a bit of a logistical puzzle to solve. The SUV can only comfortably carry the driver plus three passengers. To get everyone to Frostburg dry, we calculated a two-stage pickup plan:

• Mile 25: Keith and Mike loaded their bikes and hopped into the SUV. Frank drove them all the way to the hotel in Frostburg.

• Mile 45 (Rockwood): Meanwhile, the remaining three of us (Doug, Chris, and me) pushed on to Rockwood.

To our immense relief, the plan worked flawlessly. Right at the 45-mile mark, just as the first showers were starting to come down, Frank pulled up after dropping off the first group, right on cue to scoop us up.

Beautiful Miles & Diesel Trains

Up until the point we bailed, the riding was absolutely spectacular. Even though it was overcast, temperatures hovered comfortingly in the low 60s. With the gear we wore, it was prime cycling weather. The route treated us to incredible scenery, including several historic tunnels and sweeping bridges.

📸 Want to see the views? Scroll down to the bottom of this post and click on "Today's Photos" to gallery-hop through our morning ride.

The adventure didn't end when we reached the hotel, either. Shortly after we arrived, a scenic train pulled up packed with tourists. I managed to snap some great shots of the beautifully restored diesel locomotives, which you can also find waiting for you in today's photo album!

Today's Photos

Happy Biking

Brian

Day 4 - Pivot, Pedals, and History: Making the Most of an Iffy Day

We've been tracking the weather forecast during the trip, and it is starting to turn against us. As you can see in the graphic below, the day started off rainy and cool. As a workaround, we used the SUV to transport the riders, bikes, and bags to today's destination. We moved all six riders and their gear in two separate SUV trips.

The drive from Frostburg to Connellsville took about three hours per round trip. The first group of riders arrived in Connellsville around 10:00 AM just as the rain stopped. They decided to hop on their bikes and put some miles in. Fortunately, the rain stayed away, allowing them to ride 25 miles toward Pittsburgh, grab lunch, and return. It turned out to be a great ride for an otherwise iffy day!

Frank and I were in the second group. Keith arrived to pick us up at noon. Along the way, we stopped for lunch at a roadside diner. We then visited Fort Necessity National Battlefield—the historic site where George Washington was involved in the start of the French and Indian War while serving the British.

We are hoping for better weather and a bit of good fortune tomorrow!

Today's Photos

Brian

Day 3 - The Light at the End of the Paw Paw

Today was a big milestone on our journey: a seventy-five-mile trek where we began trading the old stone structures of the C&O Canal Trail for the mountain views of the GAP Trail. Instead of tracking the slow-moving barge canal, our route shifted to follow the historic Western Maryland Railway as we pushed westward.

With rain clouds gathering in the forecast, we pedaled out early, praying to stay dry. Ultimately, today was all about the tunnels. The crown jewel was the famous Paw Paw Tunnel, an incredible feat of engineering that channels the C&O canal through more than 3,000 feet of solid rock. Because of the notoriously uneven boardwalk, we had to dismount and hoof it on foot. Even with our headlights cutting through the damp darkness, the "light at the end of the tunnel" was nothing more than a tiny speck when we started.

To manage our gear, we've been playing leapfrog with an SUV loaded with our luggage and lunch supplies. After exiting Paw Paw, I volunteered to take a shift behind the wheel and drove the support vehicle to our lunch rendezvous 17 miles down the trail.

Post-lunch, the riders faced another train tunnel. Thankfully, this one featured a much smoother surface and plenty of light, meaning we could stay in the saddle and cruise right through.

The final 15-mile stretch test our legs with a relentless but gentle grade of a few percent. By the time we reached Frostburg, the trail saved the best for last: one final, brutally steep climb up into town before we finally rolled up to our cozy B&B.

Today's Photos

Brian

Day 2 - Canopy Shallows & Canal Lock Wonders

From Harpers Ferry to Hancock (67 Miles)

We kicked off the day in Harpers Ferry, standing right at the dramatic confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. It was bound to be another scorcher, but looking up at a brilliant blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds, we couldn't wait to hit the trail.

We picked up the C&O (Chesapeake and Ohio) Canal Towpath right where we left off yesterday. The riding conditions were perfect: firm, hard-packed crushed gravel under the tires. With a lush canopy of trees meeting overhead to form a natural tunnel, the experience was hard to beat. While regional temperatures were predicted to skyrocket past 95°F today, tucked away inside our green cocoon, the brutal heat stayed mostly at bay.

Engineering Marvels of the 1800s

As we pedaled, we followed a familiar rhythm: the wide Potomac River on our left and the historic canal ruins on our right. It’s incredible how well-preserved the canal is—nearly all the stone structures of the old canal locks remain perfectly in place.

Today, we also started noticing dams spanking the Potomac, originally constructed to divert river water to feed the canal system. Just like yesterday, we crossed several aqueducts (or viaducts), which are essentially water bridges designed to carry the canal seamlessly over obstacles below.

Trail Highlight: We encountered a spectacular, combined aqueduct-and-lock structure. This brilliant piece of 19th-century engineering allowed the canal to bridge a feeder river while simultaneously lowering canal boats to a lower elevation. A truly ingenious system to see up close!

It makes you appreciate the history. The C&O was decades in the making before construction finally began in 1828. In fact, all the way back in 1785, George Washington himself founded a company to build skirting canals around the Potomac’s most treacherous rapids to open up trade between the East Coast and the emerging Western territories.

Racing the Thermometer to Williamsport

By the time we rolled into Williamsport at the 42-mile mark, the heat was catching up to us. We pulled into a lovely, shaded park for a quick lunch, but we couldn't linger long—we needed to keep moving to beat the soaring afternoon temperatures.

One of the coolest sections of the afternoon featured a concrete boardwalk that extended right out over the water. Standing out there, I was struck by just how massive and wide the Potomac had become.

The Finish Line: Ice Cream & A Hard-Earned Rest

Our final destination for the day was Hancock, marking a grand total of 67 miles in the saddle. By the end, the oppressive heat was absolutely zapping our energy.

Naturally, our very first stop in town wasn't our lodging—it was the ice cream shop directly across the street from it! Nothing has ever tasted so good. Mildly recovered and properly cooled down, we checked into our B&B for the evening, where we’ve luckily snagged the entire second floor exclusively for our group.

Time to rest up, escape the heat, and get ready for whatever the trail throws at us tomorrow!

Today's Photos

Happy Biking

Brian

Day 1 - Washington D.C. to Harpers Ferry

Day 1: Washington D.C. to Harpers Ferry

The first day of any tour is always a bit of a panic. Today, we met at Frank’s home in the middle of Embassy Row in Washington, D.C. It’s a beautiful, hilly area located just outside the city center—away from the Capitol, the White House, and the monuments more widely associated with the capital city.

Just a block or so away, we jumped onto a hard-packed bike trail that wound its way down to the Potomac River and the start of the C&O Canal Trail, which will be our home for the next two days. The smooth asphalt and hard-packed crushed granite were a pleasure to ride on. Heading in the opposite direction, we watched a steady stream of morning commuters biking into D.C. to start their work week.

As we rolled along, I was surprised by how well-preserved the abandoned canal actually is. We passed many of the old stone canal locks with their historic structures still standing, and in some cases, the original wooden gates were still holding back water.

We worked our way up the Potomac as the canal ran right alongside it. The view of the river was incredibly impressive. It was much wider than I had envisioned from the stories in my childhood history books about George Washington throwing a silver dollar across it! We discovered that many of the canal viaducts were still standing (with at least one having been rebuilt in 2011), and we even found an intact lockkeeper's home. Click (here) to learn more about the C&O Canal.

By their very nature, canal trails generally do not have significant climbs, and today's ride was no exception. My biking buddies back home must be laughing at how flat it was—we only climbed a total of 768 feet over a distance of 66 miles! It made for a smooth, fast day, and we pulled into the Quality Inn in Harper's Ferry right around 3:00 PM.

Day 1 Stats:

• Route: Washington, D.C. to Harpers Ferry, WV

• Distance: 66 miles

• Elevation Gain: 768 feet

• End Time: 3:00 PM

For those of you following along at home, the entire collection of 8 days of ride routes is located in at the following RideWithGPS ths link.

Today's Photos

Happy Biking

Brian