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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
