Round 9 - Going the distance

 

We knew it was going to be terribly hot so I got up just before 6 and loaded up the bikes and filled the water bottles.

David made us strawberry lemonade basil smoothies and off we went.

Our plan was to do 15 miles. That's our farthest at one go so far but Megan did so well with the Harpers Ferry leg that we were feeling ok with the decision.

Right off the bat we met the unexpected.

The detour that we left last time was completely cleared up and there was a new bridge to ride over. 

The trail that we last time found a little crowded was completely empty.

There were even downed trees in our path.

We were happy and flexible and the weather wasn't too hot yet so we breezed along for a few miles.

Kiernan told me I was going fast and I was pleased with myself thinking that I was getting into better shape and finally not having a horribly sore butt.

We have been talking about doing a sprint triathlon in the fall and I want Kiernan to use my 'new' bike because its so much lighter and faster.

My great idea was that at a certain mile marker we would all switch bikes so that he could try mine out.

Megan had only ridden hers and I had ridden everyone's, remember that previously I had been using Megan's bike on all the recent rides.

So we stopped for a snack and a drink and a look at the river, at an Antietam creek campground, and switched bikes.

Also Megan disappeared from the gnats down into the river.

The next few miles were a revelation.

Megan's bike is slow and heavy and the seat is soooo bad.

She did not want to trade back.

I cannot blame her one bit.

She had been gamely keeping up with us and not complaining a bit, but once she was on mine I simply could not keep up. I couldn't do it using my maximum effort as she blithely sailed away from me into the distance.

Not only that but my rear was so sore after a few mile that I had to stop and get off and stretch.

Her bike sucks!

Kiernan eventually came back to ride with me. He distracted me with tales of chess games and the history of chess.

I stopped a great deal to take pictures and just get off the bike.

We even went to try a cave or two.

There are caves all over this section of the path.

Fortunately we had helmets and lights already on our persons.

I also stopped to take pictures of paw paws.

Just as we were nearing the 15 mile point I got a text from David that there was no parking in that section and that he was another mile up the road at Taylors Landing.

My poor knee, my poor butt!

The worlds longest mile ensued.

It was, by this point, very hot.

Next time we go back to 10 miles. 

Once we have paid off a few things Megan is getting a new bike.

Good gracious!

Round 7 - Picking up the pace

I got a bike!

Megan might join us for some rides so I need to stop using hers. 

It’s a hybrid bike which is not the most suited for the c&o but it should be fine. 

This ride picked up at the Monocacy Aqueduct and finished 13 miles later 

Megan tried her hand at the C&O by riding back and forth across the aqueduct a few times. 

She and David drove off to Brunswick while Kiernan and I rode off until my poor butt hurt and we had to take a break. 

We did a few on and off stints and saw some great nature. He told me lots about the current state of competitive chess. He’s very into chess these days. He also told me about how to build a golf course in the video game Terreria. We went to a driving range last week and are all into the idea of golf. 

13 miles later we made it to Brunswick and food and David and Megan. 

We are at the excellent Beans in the Belfry and heard some lovely live music. 

 

 

Round 8 - This Time with Megan

 We rode from Brunswick up through Harper’s Ferry and almost to Antitum creek.

It was a beautiful day  

Originally we were only going to do 5 miles so that Megan could test her legs out on a longer ride. However we were unsure about the parking situation there so we picked a 10 mile ride. 

We did take a break for a snack in Harper’s Ferry itself. I was starting to recover from a respiratory thing and Kiernan was just coming down with it. 

10 miles was plenty. 

They both did great and we rode through some of the most beautiful sceanery we’ve seen so far. 

Also some of the most remarkable trail encounters. We passed a ton of people because Harper’s Ferry is a popular hiking destination. We rode on the Appalachian  trail for a bit. We rode beside a train at the same speed as the train for a long loud time. 

We passed a man down on the trail getting first aide from his friends for a bee sting to the knee. We hit a trail detour and a scout troop. We passed a pair of runners moving at a great clip who were out for a 20 mile morning run by the river. Finally we found David who had run a 5Kand loaded into the car.