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Bicycling the C&O Canal in 2004
In early November of 2004 Tim Parsons and I decided to extend our bicycling season by driving 13 hours south to Little Orleans, Maryland in order to access to the 185 mile C&O Canal towpath. After a night at a comfortable B&B we set off heading southeast toward Washington DC on the towpath which parallels the Potomac River. In this view from an adjacent rail trail the river, the towpath and the empty canal bed can be seen.
The path changes direction as it it follows the river but the surface remains very much the same. Here is Tim on the path on our second day of travel between Williamsport and Harpers Ferry.
The third day which covered 60 miles brought us into Georgetown. Along the way we stopped at the Great Falls Tavern Visitors center where a section of the Canal has been re-flooded so its original appearance can be seen. That night was spent with Tim’s friends Joe and Shakun in Georgetown.
On the fourth day we explored the Rock Creek Park trail which extends north from downtown DC. After a night at the Int’l Hostel we made our way by bike, subway and bus to BWI airport and cycled south east to Annapolis for a two night stay with Tim’s friends Jane & Fred.
With Fred as a guide we explored Annapolis on foot the following day. Here is a small taste of the waterfront.
On Veteran’s day we biked the Crescent trail to the National mall which can be explored easily by bicycle. Here’s Howie at the Lincoln Memorial and Tim in front of the reflecting pool. Our bikes took us all the way around the Tidal Basin through the FDR memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. We finished the day with portraits in front of the Capitol. Here’s Howie and there’s Tim.
Our last two nights were spent at the Hostel. The last and only rainy day was spent visiting museums on and near the mall.