out in nature
Rolling along the River : 184.5 Miles on the C & O Canal
By catie DeLuca
When my friend Anna asked me to join her and her daughter Avery on a 4-day , 184.5-mile bike ride on the C & O Canal , I jumped at the chance . What could be more fun than a long weekend cruising from Cumberland , Maryland , to Georgetown , Washington , D . C . on a fully supported , mid-summer bike trip ?
I ’ ve always loved the idea of a bikepacking trip , but the logistics of packing and carrying all my equipment were overwhelming . The San Mar Family and Community Services in Boonesboro , MD , has been organizing this ride for decades , Anna ensured . They were masters at moving people and bikes , feeding a crowd , and keeping riders happily rolling . This would be a worry-free opportunity to try out a bike trip , and it was all to benefit a great cause . It took little convincing ! With a few clicks of my mouse and the promise to fundraise $ 525 , I was all set to take on The Great Bicycle Tour with 134 others who had made the commitment !
Over the next few months , I planned training rides , tuned up my bike , and set up a fundraising page . Training was pretty straightforward — I needed to be able to ride 30-55 miles per day on flat , gravelly terrain . Since the C & O Canal is just a mile from my home , I could practice on the
course itself , as well as the miles of country roads and rolling hills in upper Montgomery County . By the time July arrived , I certainly wasn ’ t in the best shape of my life , but I was pretty sure I could get it done . I packed my bags , rolled up my sleeping bag , and checked over my bike ; everything was ready to go . n Day 1 : 44.5 miles Cumberland to Little Orleans
Anna and Avery picked me up at 5 a . m . Bleary eyed and working on only one cup of coffee , we loaded my bike into the car and headed to the San Mar campus in Boonsboro where we would pick up our maps and cue sheets , drop off our bikes and camping gear , and chat nervously over breakfast . The campus was buzzing with excitement as we loaded the buses for Cumberland and the start of this great adventure . On the bus , as we chatted with riders old and young , firsttimers and many-timers , locals
Avery is cruising easily on the first day of the 4-day bike adventure .
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