Aaaannnd They're Off!

We elected to traverse the trail in spite of the mud. It was rough going for many miles. You couldn't enjoy the scenery around you because you had concentrate on keeping the bike upright and your butt off the ground. We made the full length of the C&O save the closed portions and construction detours.

We spent most if yesterday in D.C. then checked into a hotel and took a full rest day today, our first in 2 weeks and 700 miles.

 

Not too close I'm afraid.

 

Cumberland, Md and the start of the C&O Tow Path.

Lunch from the Potomac River Grill in Hancock, MD. I have 2 hamburgers a year and this was both of them!


The dam on the Potomac River, it's not far from D.C. now!


A rare dry part of the C&O


Are we having fun yet?

 

Crossing the Eastern Continental Divide

Next, passing through the Great Savage Tunnel.

Next, crossing the Mason-Dixon Line.

 

Washing our bikes in Shepherdstown West Virginia after many muddy miles. The sad thing is they were muddy again in a few hours.

 

After 62 miles of sun and traffic from Rockville, MD. we found this little oasis to take a break in Butler, MD. It was after 4pm when we stopped so we didn't bother to try to go in because they closed at 4. We were just about to leave when the owner greeted us. He said the closest campground was still 20+ miles away, but we were welcome to camp here for free. He turned on the water for the outside 'after dark shower' and made sure the Wi-Fi was up and running. So now we have a warm shower, wi-fi, an ice chest to cool the cheese we just bought and electric to recharge the gps, cell phones and bike lights. There is also a hose to wash the C&O mud from our bikes. Life is good!

 

Soooo....at 2:13 I'm sitting on a trailside bench in Frenchtown, NJ. while my wife is a 1/2 half mile behind me tending to a gentleman having a heart attack.

We came across him on the trail having a rough time of it. He handed me his keys and said his car was parked about a half mile down the trail with his heart medication and a belly pouch in the backseat. My wife and I raced to the car retrieve the medicine . I sent her back with the medicine while I started and move his car closer.

She came back and said he wanted her to bring the car to him so she left her bike with me took him his car.

By the time she got back he was noticeably worse. So rather than taking any more chances with his life she called 911. She had no idea where she is so she couldn't tell 911 her location. 911 says stay on the line and we'll triangulate your location. My wife, being the person she is, sang the 911 operator a song while the operator got her location. Her location was established and they sent a police unit and a medical unit.

In the end the guy was safely off to the hospital and we were were not too far behind schedule.

Well done my love, well done!

 

Good thing for him you met him on your travels.
Kudo's to the Mrs. and you.

So, what song she sing the 911 operator??

 

Right place, right time...divine intervention. Nice job Ralphie Boy n co...

 

Awesome Ralphie Boy and Mrs Ralphie Boy, the patient was lucky to have two caring people in his time of need!! Great job!

 

Crossing the line in Mt. Hope.




If my railroad memory serves me correctly this is an old switchman's house.

The lovely town of Clinton, NJ.

The old mill in Clinton.

 

Last day on the road with 80 miles to the finish line and it decided to rain. Soooo....tea time in Wallkill, NY where the road sign says: Prison Area Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers...fat chance!

 

We pulled into our final destanation, Chatham Center, NY, last night at about 8:15pm after an 85.3 mile day that included single track cycling through the woods, quiet country roads and crossing the Hudson over the Kingston -Rihncliff Bridge.

Wow, it's going to take a couple of days to get out of travel mode and process the information gained over the last 23 days on the road.

The Hudson River from the peak of the Kingston - Rihncliff Bridge.

In a few days I'll post a slideshow and finial trip report.

 

I didn't realize it was 23 days on the road. Thanks for sharing your journey and I especially will be looking forward to the slideshow as we have never been in that area.