C&O- Day 2
Another gorgeous Spring day was just getting underway as Will and I horsed our bikes down four flights of stairs from his apartment to the street. From there we headed off two blocks, past the Capitol, though some parking lots and down to the Mall. All the way to the Washington Monument it was clear sailing. We picked up a bike path at the Potomac and headed over to Georgetown. Then it was a bit of a climb up the hill to a bakery/coffee shop for a breakfast sandwich and a cupa.
Will suggested we take the Capital Crescent paved trail, which runs next to the C&O for a couple miles, and maybe get on the C&O if it looked ok. So after breakfast we got on the Capital Crescent and took off. A few miles in there was a connection to the C&O and we moved over to it. Will had read that the C&O was passable up to Great Falls, about 20 miles up stream, so we set that as our goal.
Although the trail was pretty muddy in places, it was mostly ok. We encountered some branches and sticks on the trail, but this part of the trail was free of flood damage. We did encounter one downed tree requiring us to lift our bikes over and through all the branches and trunk. The water was still quite high in the Potomac, submerging trees and bushes in its muddy flow.
We got to Great Falls around 11:30 and sat on the porch of the Great Falls Tavern and ate a snack. Then we went over and walked out on the NPS path to look at the falls, which were quite impressive. Especially if you think of it in terms of trying to get a canal boat down through that water. The canal would have been the only way to move such a craft. Finished with our brief sightseeing, we got back on the towpath and headed for home.
All and all a great trip. Of the 42 miles we did today, nearly 30 miles was along the C&O. We also saw a dozen or more old (1820’s) canal locks and buildings. And we tossed in a pleasant side trip to Great Falls, to boot. Will and I split a giant roast beef sandwich in Georgetown on the way back. And we’re back to his apartment by 2PM.
Tomorrow it is supposed to rain, so we may go to one of the Smithsonian Museums.
Until tomorrow, Happy Trails…
Did you get to climb on the Billy Goat Trail at Great Falls? Man oh man, the lemonade you and Will have made out of the C&O lemons!
The Billy Goat Trail was closed for construction. Unfortunately the Great Falls Tavern/Visitors Center was, too. They had surrounded it partially with water proof barriers. The equivalent of sand bags, in anticipation of flooding. Fortunately there was no sign the water ever got that high.