Crew pushing their bikes up to the canal path.
by Mike Malinchock
I'm new at this blogging thing, be patient. Yes, my first bicycle touring adventure and I choose to go across country? Well as I'm sure you will read, these trips are all about support. Having a good crew and strong network at home is your secret weapon. Traving with two of my sons, Evan and Cole for 60 straight days is an opportunity not to be missed. I've lived by this advice the last 4 days (advice given to me by another son, Wes, who is at home but has done this before: On a bike trip, always take an opportunity that presents itself, you can't be sure when you will get that chance again. I think he was talking about pooping in toilets, but I've applied it to other things).
So, now that the big, lofty intro is out of the way, what about my take on Day 4. Before we left on the trip, we did an overnight ride to Greensboro. I remember being excited about a long stretch on a greenway trail, only to find it was probably the worst ride of the trip (due to large cracks, uppy/downy bumps, holes, pedestrians). This turned out to be the same misaligned expectation experience with the C&O Canal. After anxiously anticipating getting out of Maryland traffic, to a safe and flat and straight and smooth and shaded trail - the canal path turned out to be a challenge. Although it is much safer, it is slower with many variations of dirt and gravel. The puddle divots that have emerged over the years create a bit of a slalom course that you need to pay attention to (otherwise you are picking your tent and panniers out of the canal). This made me really tired, really quickly. I also had limited opportunities to enjoy the scenic Potomac.
One very cool scene, however, was our lunch stop. We ate in Schoolhouse Kitchen - Old Town, MD at what is the only restaurant. The reason I said "in" is because this place is literally their high school and their cafeteria is their kitchen. So we all sat around cafeteria tables while one very sweet lady took each of out 12 orders then went back behind the cinder block walls to cook it, then serve and then clean our tables.
Schoolhuse Kitchen
As we approached the end of the canal path in Cumberland, COVID impacted us for really the first time on our trip so far (our Chainsuck moment of the day). Evan had led a small advance shelter search party but called to say that all our options in town were closed down and unavailable. Our two options were to go backward several miles or press-on another 17 miles. Ok Mike, leader decision time, what are you going to do? So, I basically punted and said we don't like either option, keep trying. A few minutes later Evan called with the phenomenal news that a Fire Dept, 3 miles beyond Cumberland was willing to put us up. This seemed so cool to me, for so many reasons. Evan pulls a rabbit out of the hat, we make a small amount of progress towards the next day, no cost, safe place to sleep and I get to see a fire truck. Later, as I am standing there in the Fire House's driveway, shooting a real fire department hose down my shorts, I realized the summer adventure goes well beyond a long bike ride.
I'll end with a big thanks to Karl Murphy, who was picked up in Cumberland to head back to Chapel Hill - only after his girlfriend Amy fed 12 very hungry scouts a truck-load (literally) of pasta and salad. Thanks Karl for leading us through our first 4 days. We are expecting you and others to join back up soon.