C&O Towpath...... Day one......

After much reading and planning, nothing really could have gotten me ready for the trip ahead. Now as far as supplies goes, I did good. Extra tube, clothes, food, tent, sleeping bag and stuff like that, I went without nothing. I brought some over the counter pain meds and bandages and such. So as supplies go, I was set.

My bike, it was polished up and ready to go also. Home-made rack on the back and plenty of room for the much needed junk. With a 6 a.m. wake up call we were off.

My first impression of the towpath was, yep it's a bike path. It was a primitive path at best. Rock, mud and a few holes here and there. Still worth traveling.

The first 64 miles went by fast, too fast really. There wasn't much to see in the beginning but it made for some good distance riding. The Paw Paw Tunnel was our first big site to see. It was a great piece of history to view. Rain set in and put our forward progress to a stop around 5 or 6 p.m., not that I didn't need a break, but it was way too soon to call it a night.

After getting a rainy bath in the Potomac River and rinsing off in the pouring rain, I did manage to get some dry clothes on and a cold (MRE) meal. Shortly after getting to bed a few judgment-impaired people from across the river decided it was time to shoot off a few rounds from their favorite firearm. Also they were singing and launching fireworks into the wee hours of the morning. So much for that needed rest.

No sleep, cold and damp, we started the second day early around 6:30am.....