September 2020 – Biking 100

West Virginia #44 Mon River Trail South

September 21, 2020

We spent yesterday afternoon driving from Lewes, Delaware to Morgantown, WV. The Walmart where we spent the night was so quiet we slept till after 7 AM. We only had a short distance to drive to the Mon River Trail access parking area.

It was a small parking lot but we were able to just fit in without blocking the area for others.

We we were looking forward to getting on the trail to finish our West Virginia 100 miles. The Mon River Rail-Trail system was recently selected to Rails-to-Trails Hall of Fame so our expectations were high.

Monongahela River is one of the few rivers in America that flows north.

We only experienced a small portion of the trail which follows the Monongahela River. The trail surface was crushed stone and in excellent condition and the river was in sight the entire time. I think scenic and peaceful best describes our ride.

The Monongahela River is 130 miles long and is navigable via a series of locks and dams. Within the 10.5 miles from where we parked we were able to see 2 of the locks and dams.

Opekiska Lock and Dam – fences prevented us from getting too close.

We enjoyed the shade, the river views and the quiet beautiful forest. We even saw a couple deer.

Beautiful trail with views of the river.

We didn’t see anyone on the trail on our ride out but on our return there were many bikers and a few walkers. We met several people in the parking area and enjoyed sharing thoughts on finding free RV overnight parking. They are electric bikers and RVers.

A wonderfully relaxing day for us as we have completed our 100 miles in West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Over 300 miles in 11 days of riding. We are only about 4 hours from home so that’s where we are headed! What an adventure!!

Kudos to Lenny, he cleaned and lubed our chains and sprockets everyday. Picture taken at Greenbrier River Trail trailhead in Caldwell, WV.

Delaware #43 Georgetown-Lewes

September 20,2020

We were on our bikes about 8:30 AM for a brisk, windy Sunday morning ride. We only needed a few miles to complete our 100. At one point on the ride I felt as though if I stopped pedaling I would go backwards. We took the same trail as yesterday. We didn’t see the canal yesterday so that was our destination.

Flower gardens planted on what was once the rail bed.

Such a beautiful trail in the morning sunlight.

By the time we returned to the campground we had completed our Delaware 100 with some to spare. Great to be able to mark off another state.

We arrived in Morgantown,WV this evening and plan to ride the Mon River Trail tomorrow. It was recently voted a Hall of Fame Trail.

Delaware Georgetown-Lewes Trail and Junction & Breakwater Trail

September 19. 2020

We departed the T.S. Smith & Sons farm this morning around 9 AM. We had planned to ride a trail at Trap Pond State Park but since it was such a short trail we decided to pass and head for Lewes. We needed to empty our tanks and get more fresh water. Fortunately we found Tall Pines Campground which is practically right on Georgetown-Lewes trail.

We really can’t say enough nice things about this trail. The surface was asphalt and in perfect condition. Any area where there was a chance of going off the trail had fencing and berms. My only issue – both trails were very busy which is what we had expected for this area on a Saturday. Maybe 50% of riders and walkers wore a mask.

Tall pines along the Georgetown- Lewes Trail.

Homes along the trail were beautifully landscaped. Many had paths from their yards that lead to the trail.

Rails left by the railway. The trail is adjacent to the rails. Some areas where the old trail bed was above the bike path people had used the area to plant flower gardens.

Smelled them, saw them in their pasture but no cows crossed our trail. It would have been fun.

This trail joined seamlessly with the Junction-Breakwater Trail which is another excellent trail. It winds through Cape Henlopen State Park next to wetlands and farms. The trail ends in Rehoboth Beach. We had planned to ride on the roads through that area but traffic and other bikers would have made for a treacherous ride.

Junction & Breakwater Trail. Surface was crushed stone and in excellent condition.

It was almost 5 PM when we arrived back at the motorhome and getting quite cold. There had been a brisk wind all day and I was chilled. Coldest day of riding yet. We only have a few miles to finish our Maryland 100 and hope to be pedalling early in the morning to complete.

Delaware – Michael Castle Trail

September 18. 2020

The Michael Castle Trail follows the northern shore of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal from Delaware City to very near the Delaware/Maryland border.

There are 2 bridges in this picture. We were parked near the larger bridge and drove over it to head south.

The C&D Canal which links the Chesapeake Bay to the Delaware River is one of the world’s busiest. Much of the shipping from the Port of Baltimore goes through here.

For us it meant an interesting and scenic ride. We parked at a trailhead in St George’s and headed east into Delaware City.

Delaware City on canal and near Delaware River.

We enjoyed a short pedal through Delaware city. The aroma of fish and chips cooking made our mouths water.

This cemetary was along the trail near Delaware City.

This all black cemetary was rediscovered in 1990. It is the resting place of 5 of the more than 200,000 United States Colored Troops who served in the Union Army during the civil War.

Looks like the end of the trail but we found the route around Summit North Marina to continue our ride.

The route up around the Marina provided some nice strenuous hills and fun downhill runs. Gotta have some hills to keep it interesting.

Lenny found this lift bridge fascinating. It was down when we were headed west and raised on our return.

We are spending the night at another Harvest Hosts. This time a farm.

Harvest Hosts, T.S. Smith and Sons Farm Market.

Got pumpkins? Yes, all shapes and sizes.

We visited the market upon our arrival and stocked up on fresh bread, tomatoes, chicken pies and blueberry cobbler. We have a nice quie place to park beside their office for the night.

Delaware – Northern Delaware Greenway and Jack A. Markell Trail

September 17. 2020

Yesterday was a travel day. We left the campground in Woodbine, Maryland in the afternoon after spending the morning watching the tour, getting our bikes cleaned and getting the motorhome in order. We enjoyed seeing the Port of Baltimore and imagining what cargo comes and goes from there. We experienced the Fort McHenry Tunnel that travels under the Baltimore Harbor on I-95. Underwater in the motorhome – yikes!!

We spent last night in Elkton, Maryland at the Maryland Beer Company. They are part of Harvest Hosts and we were welcomed to stay on their property for the night. We enjoyed their Octoberfest craft beer and pizza in their taproom which has a large window looking into the brewery.

Spent quiet night at Maryland Brew Company.

We were only about 20 minutes from where we planned to park for access to the Nothern Delaware Greenway. Parking in Alapocas State Park was $8.00 for the day. There were only a few vehicles in this huge parking area.

The trail was described as being “filled with rolling curves and short drops”. I would described it as steep hills, twists and turns, long inclines and no flat areas. One person said it was no walk in the park. We agree. After saying all that, with what breath we have left, we enjoyed the challenge.

We were parked in about the middle of the trail. The western section ended in Wilmington along the Brandywine Creek. It was a beautiful area and the trail through the hills of Alapocos State Park was beautiful.

The eastern section was not as well traveled and ended in Bellevue State Park. The hills were not as steep but there were some very long incline – fun going down work on our return.

Not many pictures to show for our efforts. Honestly it was too difficult to stop on the uphills and I was desperate not to waste my momentum on the downhills.

We drove to New Castle for an evening ride on the Jack A. Markell Trail.

This trail runs from New Castle through the Peterson Wildlife Refuge to downtown Wilmington on the Christina River. What a fun evening ride.

View of 2,300 foot boardwalk over marsh of Peterson Wildlife Refuge.

Wilmington, Delaware from top of boardwalk

We really enjoyed the river walk area in downtown Wilmington. Many restaurants, miniature golf, a riverboat and many areas to sit and relax. I imagine before the pandemic this area would have been thriving. Restaurants were open – no waiting for tables and we were able to ride our bikes at will along the riverwalk.

Constitution Yards is a summer only beer garden on the riverwalk. Would have stopped for a beer if not for the 8 mile pedal back to motorhome.

Education Center overlooks Christina River and marsh.

We are 35 miles into our Delaware 100. There are not many long trails in Delaware so we will be experiencing many different trails and areas of the state. We are heading south tomorrow.

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath – Maryland #42

September 15. 2020

We finished our 100 miles in Maryland today on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath. The towpath follows the Potomac River between Georgetown in Washington, D.C. and Cumberland, Maryland. We used the trailhead in Points of Rocks to access the towpath.

Point of Rocks (Baltimore and Ohio) Railroad Station (c.1876) is one of the most photographed train stations in the nation.

We started at mile marker 48 and road south to mile marker 36. We were able to see 2 locks and the Monocacy Aqueduct. There are 74 locks along the 184.5 miles of the canal.

Monocacy aqueduct is the largest of 11 aqueducts on the C&O canal.

We biked across the top of the aqueduct. Surface was a bit sketchy.

During the Civil War the canal was a dividing line between the North and the South. Troops on both sides lobbed ammunitions across the water and crossed the river and canal to raid enemy camps.

The trail was mostly shaded and with temperatures in the 70’s it was a perfect day for a ride. At times the canal was full of water other times filled with vegetation. The towpath surface was crushed rock and in really great condition. The section of the towpath we had ridden 2 days ago was 2 single tracks with grass in between. This was a much easier pedal.

You can see from this picture that we were right on the edge of the Potomac and the canal at times.

There were campsites along the way and we saw many bikers the past couple days with packs on their bikes. It would be a challenge to complete the whole length of the towpath but there is so much to see.

Below the aqueduct the ride was much smoother. Took this route on our return.

Maryland is in the books – 100 and done! We are spending the night in a campground near Baltimore. Tomorrow we will be going to nothern Delaware to begin another 100 miles. More to come.

Picture for Lenny – he thought this vehicle on the tracks was just awesome. Repair shop on tracks/wheels.

Western Maryland Rail Trail – Big Pool

September 14, 2020

We got an early start this morning and we were on the trail by 10:30 AM. We were at the Big Pool trailhead which is the eastern end of the trail. About 10 miles down the trail we were in Hancock, which is the main trailhead. It was a bustling place with lots of bikers. We saw a guy with an Ohio State biking jersey on and commiserated about the lack of football this fall. We visited the local bike shop. They are right on the trail and were doing a brisk bike rental business.

We rode as far as the Round Top Cement Mill remnants which was a bit past where we turned around yesterday when riding the western end of the trail. We both felt that the western end of the trail was more picturesque.

Remnants of Round Top Cement Mill. Built in the 1830’s and was Hancock’s largest employer during the Civil War.

Mile markers were very visible. This was near the remnants of the Round Top Cement Mill.

We rode back to the motorhome, had some lunch and some rest time before heading out again. We wanted to see the Hancock Visitors Center which was about 9 miles away. The visitors center was closed because of that virus thing but we had a good time exploring on our own.

Hancock Visitors Center – Lost and Found

Out house at visitors center. Closed because of Covid….

We completed 47 miles today and are both still feeling strong. Hope to complete our Maryland 100 tomorrow on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath.

Western Maryland Rail Trail – Little Orleans, Maryland

September 13, 2020

We drove from Renick, WV to Cumberland, Maryland yesterday. Still have some miles to finish in WV and will catch those on our way headed home. Our trip north to Cumberland was on winding, sometimes steep and sometimes narrow roads. No freeways headed in this direction.

Today we road the Western Maryland Rail Trail starting at the western end at the Little Orleans trailhead. This was the nicest trailhead parking area we have seen in all our travels. There were nice big RV parking spaces. No squeezing between cars and parking half on the grass here. Hoping rest of Maryland is as accommodating.

The rail trail parallels the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath. The unpaved towpath runs 185 miles from Cumberland, Maryland to Georgetown in Washington, D.C. There are 9 connections to crossover between the towpath and the railtrail.

Crossover ramp from tow path to rail trail.

We rode a few miles on the towpath to connect a gap in the rail trail. The rail trail was asphalt and so nice to ride. It had been awhile since we’ve ridden on asphalt – what a welcome change.

We really enjoyed the asphalt trail surface.

We could see people canoeing on the Potomic River through the trees. After the leaves fall the views of the river should be beautiful.

Large rock outcroppings along the trail.

We road out 15 miles and when it began to rain we headed back. It wasn’t a downpour like we experienced in WV but we were wet! There were lots of wet bikers today.

Sideling Hill Creek Aqueduct – You can see the towpath trail below.

Tomorrow we finish the WMRT starting from the eastern end. We are spending the night in Hagerstown only about 20 minutes from the trailhead.

Renick, WV Greenbrier River Trail

September 11, 2020

We left Lewisburg for the trailhead in Renick. Through no fault of our own (??) we missed a turn and crossed the river. The narrow road became narrower and narrower until it was only one lane. After several miles we turned around, with much difficulty, and headed back across the river. Amazing, there was the trail!

It was our good fortune (God’s blessing) that we crossed paths with Glen and Twyla Diehl. They happen to have a campsite on a lot near their home and offered it to us for a minimal fee. We had water and electric and use of their dump station. They are an interesting couple and have traveled all over the US in their RV. Renick is a small town and I think they own most of it.

View from our hillside campsite – trail and river just beyond trees.

Remnants of Renick jail which was built in 1909. The bars are still standing.

After we were settled we headed north on the trail toward Beard which is the halfway point of the trail. The forest was beautiful, sometimes we could look right into it and other times it towered above us on cliffs over looking the trail.

About a mile from where we started there was a swinging wooden bridge. We would have loved walking over it but there were no trespassing signs. Also, when we stopped to take pictures we were swarmed with mosquitos.

Mile markers were freshly painted. Swinging bridge in background.

Interesting wooden swing bridge along trail.

Six miles from where we started was the Droop Mountain Tunnel. Our favorite part of the ride. Traveling through the tunnel heading north you begin to see the light at the other end within a few yards of entering. It’s very different when entering traveling south. There are a few seconds when you are pedaling in total darkness. It’s a very unsettling feeling.

Droop Mountain Tunnel built in 1900. Near Mile Marker 31.

Good view of large timbers at Droop Tunnel entrance.

The trail was not busy and we only saw 4 other bikers and a couple walkers. There are areas for camping and shelters along the way.

Water available near shelters and campsites.

Shelters along the trail. We could have used this yesterday in the downpour.

We traveled just north of Locust Creek to mile marker 38.

Bridge across Locust Creek that ran below trail bridge.

This was a great trail. There was plenty of varied scenery to keep it interesting. The trail surface was constantly changing too, so we had to keep our eyes on the road.

The Greenbrier River Trail is a Hall of Fame Trail. I have been looking forward to riding this trail since we began this journey. The trail is 77 miles long and we rode almost all of the southern half between Beard and Caldwell. We hope to ride the northern end from Cass to Marlinton in the future.

We have completed 82 West Virginia miles. Tomorrow we are going to Maryland to begin our 100 there. We plan to complete our WV 100 on our way home from Maryland.

Lenny loves getting pictures with Dino’s view of the trail.

Caldwell, WV – Greenbrier River Trail

September 10, 2020

We had a really quiet night at Walmart in Summersville. It was nice to have access to satellite and watch some of the Tour de France while having breakfast.

Planned our route to Caldwell so we could avoid those narrow country roads. It gave us the chance to see the New River Gorge Bridge. We stopped at the visitors center which was closed but we were able to visit the viewing areas using a dramatic wooden walkway.

Awesome wooden staircase to viewing areas.

The bridge reduced a 40-minute drive down narrow mountain roads to less then one minute.

New River Gorge Bridge completed in 1977. Beautiful views from walkway.

Lowest viewing area, 168 stair steps from top.

Route 64 heading into Lewisburg/Caldwell area had some very steep grades. Views of mountains were awesome.

We went right to the trailhead in Caldwell. Lenny had some repairs to do on his bike and we wanted to ride a few miles to check out trail conditions. Also to be certain Lenny’s new axle and tune-up corrected his shifting issues.

My favorite bike mechanic. Greenbrier River Trail trailhead in Caldwell.

While eating lunch at the trailhead a bear ran across the road. It ran thru a field, looked very confused and went into a corn field. That’s our bear sighting for this trip, no more needed.

There had been a landslide in this area, near mile marker 13, a few years ago. There is a steep uphill and downhill here – otherwise it’s a bit of a downhill slope from Cass to Caldwell.

The few miles we planned turned into 13 out to mile marker 16. Lenny’s repairs to his bike were successful. Heading back it started to rain and then pour. We have ridden in rain before but never to this extreme.