Hosted Travelogs and Stories from the Road - Bike Forums Great Allegheny Passage / C&O Canal Tour 2009

Does anyone have a small weather radio they can bring along? Might be a good idea to check weather before we cross the mountain.

I don't but concidering that most of my friends are sailors I will check on that.

I have no qualms about sharing a room with guys, but I'd rather not impose upon them (and perhaps their sensibilities). I've slept with The Historian before (er, that should be "shared a campsite"). We all snore.

I may join you for dinner, though -- unless my daughter has other plans for me.

Looks like I will be one of the roomies. Don't worry about my sensibilities. I spent years on ships. I will bet you and Historian have nothing over two 1948 generators and an engine the size of a surburban

I plan on camping almost all of the trip and it just dawned on me that I don't have a way to recharge the camera.

Any of you staying in a hotel here and there for the trip willing to charge the camera for me?

I plan on camping almost all of the trip and it just dawned on me that I don't have a way to recharge the camera.

Any of you staying in a hotel here and there for the trip willing to charge the camera for me?

If you don't mind hanging out for a couple of hours, there's often a place to recharge in each town. Take a long lunch break somewhere.

I plan on camping almost all of the trip and it just dawned on me that I don't have a way to recharge the camera.

Any of you staying in a hotel here and there for the trip willing to charge the camera for me?

I have a motel room in Hancock, but that's not until the fifth night. I bet you can find an outlet at RiverEdge or Husky Haven campground.

Brian

Does anyone have a small weather radio they can bring along? Might be a good idea to check weather before we cross the mountain.

No weather radio, but I just did a 10 day forecast at weather.com and it looks like, just perhaps, this rainy monsoon weather will depart the area for a week.

Brian

I have a motel room in Hancock, but that's not until the fifth night. I bet you can find an outlet at RiverEdge or Husky Haven campground.

Brian

I've charged at River's Edge before. There's an outlet in the game room, IIRC.

Also, at Hancock I plan on staying in the C & O Cycles bunkhouse. I believe there's an outlet there.

No weather radio, but I just did a 10 day forecast at weather.com and it looks like, just perhaps, this rainy monsoon weather will depart the area for a week.

Brian

Accuweather says the same thing. Are you reading this, Spinnaker? :)

Jeff and I are fighting over who will get possession of the power inverter. He claims it's his by default - it resides in the Suburban. Gee am I ever sorry I gave it to him as a gift.

Seriously, I gotta get over that "What's mine is mine, and what's his is mine, too" mentality...

Yough Shore Inn, River's Edge CG (didn't I see an outlet in the bathroom, too?), train station/VC in Ohiopyle, there's probably one at the Y in Cumberland you can use, plus the various restaurants you might stop at. I'm sure you won't have a problem finding an outlet.

I don't remember seeing one at the bunkhouse in Hancock and ended up charging my phone at the laundromat - where was it?

Judy

I'm experimenting with some gear and, if it gets here on time, will bring a flexible solar panel for charging things such as mobile phones and camera batteries, so we might not need to be tethered to an electrical outlet.

I'm experimenting with some gear and, if it gets here on time, will bring a flexible solar panel for charging things

That's great, please do bring it. That means I'm leaving the pedal powered Surly home and bringing my battery powered moped instead :)

...I'm leaving the pedal powered Surly home and bringing my battery powered moped instead :)

Great, then I'll bring my tow hitch too to make sure we don't get separated during the "charging" process... which could take all day, right? :innocent:

I don't but concidering that most of my friends are sailors I will check on that.

Then they will probably have it on their VHF handheld. I have one and would not want to drag it along.

I plan on camping almost all of the trip and it just dawned on me that I don't have a way to recharge the camera.

Any of you staying in a hotel here and there for the trip willing to charge the camera for me?

I plan on channeling the collective chi of the group to keep mine charged, that and plugging my phone in when I hit a hotel, I should be fine for the week. :)

Seriously, due to the unfortunate and recent departure of Sonatgeek from our group, I have a room in Hancock with a spare bed. You are welcome to room with me. The room is pretty cheap. I think something like $60 or $30 each.

Accuweather says the same thing. Are you reading this, Spinnaker? :)

Check weather.com for Cumberland.

Plus accuwaether had a similar forecast just a few days ago.

I plan on channeling the collective chi of the group to keep mine charged, that and plugging my phone in when I hit a hotel, I should be fine for the week. :)

Seriously, due to the unfortunate and recent departure of Sonatgeek from our group, I have a room in Hancock with a spare bed. You are welcome to room with me. The room is pretty cheap. I think something like $60 or $30 each.

Okay you sold me I am in.

I know the vhf has it but I think one of the wives has a weather radio that is the crank style from discovery store or something. I called and left a message.


Maybe the charging question was a noob one. Just that every time in the past, camping or traveling via bike I left everything but the phone and kept that off to conserve. Never had to consider the battery thing. Always traveled really light. as in REALLY light

Just finished packing (except some bathrrom stuff), everything fit in the panniers except the tent.

Final weights are:

4.5 lbs of food -that should be zero after the first day :-)

22 lbs of camping gear & clothes & bicycle tools/parts

I could have saved some weight by leaving some clothes, but I'm not sure what we'll face.

1 lb for camera/gps

And another 8 lbs for the panniers themselves.

So I'll be pedaling with an extra 35 lbs compared to by normal day trip rides. Should be interesting. Can't wait to get going.

Oh, Spinnaker, I just picked up some good tasting Vermont beer to bring along. Hopefully your tastebuds haven't been killed off by that Iron City stuff :-)

Brian

I was only going to use my rear panniers (it's only a week) but I opted to use my front panniers as carry ons and so will have them on my front (albeit half empty). But other than that, I am almost fully packed! :D

Just finished packing (except some bathrrom stuff), everything fit in the panniers except the tent.

Final weights are:

4.5 lbs of food -that should be zero after the first day :-)

22 lbs of camping gear & clothes & bicycle tools/parts

I could have saved some weight by leaving some clothes, but I'm not sure what we'll face.

1 lb for camera/gps
:beer::beer::beer:8 lbs for the panniers themselves.

So I'll be pedaling with an extra 35 lbs compared to by normal day trip rides. Should be interesting. Can't wait to get going.

Oh, Spinnaker, I just picked up some good tasting Vermont beer to bring along. Hopefully your tastebuds haven't been killed off by that Iron City stuff :-)

Brian


Wow you weigh stuff??? :)

I will have some good PA beer. We will see which one wins! :) I do not drink Iron City. :beer: Rats another forum I was on had a barfing smiley. :)

I was only going to use my rear panniers (it's only a week) but I opted to use my front panniers as carry ons and so will have them on my front (albeit half empty). But other than that, I am almost fully packed! :D

How small is your sleeping bag? How are you going to get it in front panniers? Or are you bringing fronts in addition to rears?

I will have some good PA beer. We will see which one wins! :)

Should I bring a six pack of Yuengling Monday morning for a pick me up?

Sorry, fronts in addition to the rears.

BTW I have a Big Agnes sleeping bag and mattress system and they both scrunch very small (you'll be impressed). I really don't need the fronts except to use as carry ons. I used them last summer for a longer tour and probably didn't need them, even though I had a larger sleeping bag and full Thermarest.

Just finished packing (except some bathrrom stuff), everything fit in the panniers except the tent.

Final weights are:

4.5 lbs of food -that should be zero after the first day :-)

22 lbs of camping gear & clothes & bicycle tools/parts

I could have saved some weight by leaving some clothes, but I'm not sure what we'll face.

1 lb for camera/gps

And another 8 lbs for the panniers themselves.

So I'll be pedaling with an extra 35 lbs compared to by normal day trip rides. Should be interesting. Can't wait to get going.

Oh, Spinnaker, I just picked up some good tasting Vermont beer to bring along. Hopefully your tastebuds haven't been killed off by that Iron City stuff :-)

Brian

You are bringing a GPS for a trail ride? Just how directionally challenged are you? :)

BTW, is anyone else bringing a stove and cooking stuff?

Spinnaker will be pleased to know there's an excellent overpriced Italian eatery just over the bridge in Boston. :)

Check weather.com for Cumberland.

Plus accuwaether had a similar forecast just a few days ago.

Accuweather is still predicting only one day of rain when we are on the Towpath. I'm debating keeping on my kevlar Bontrager triple-reinforced commuting tires. I did the trip twice last year on them and they were fine on the towpath, even the day following a rain. I'd hate to switch to cross tires for two and a half days of riding out of 16 days total. If this is a poor decision on my part, please tell me.

Then again, the cross tires fold. I could always bring them and change if conditions warrant.

I'm bringing a GPS because I like to track my rides. I'm also still in the learning phase about how to post my routes on my sites. Tracking the routes with a GPS also forces map services to recognize a bike path versus a road. One of my big gripes is that Google Maps follows only roads and particularly knows nothing about bike paths.

Should I bring a six pack of Yuengling Monday morning for a pick me up?

Ah, Yuengling and bike trails, two great things that belong together:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3322/3474914215_4da4d64c24_b.jpg

Trailside bar in Birdsboro, PA.

Wow you weigh stuff??? :)


Yup, my backpacking years has rubbed off on my cycling experience. Weight everything and then start tossing stuff. Though on the bike I feel like I can add some things that I wouldn't bring backpacking.

Major weights:

Tent - 2 lbs
Sleeping bag - 18 oz.
Pad - 1 lb
Camp chair - 1lb

food - 4 lbs

Clothes - 5 lbs

I could cut down on some clothes and food and camp chair. Also leave behind a few fun things like the GPS, stove/pot, but I think my weight is low enough.

Brian

You are bringing a GPS for a trail ride? Just how directionally challenged are you? :)

BTW, is anyone else bringing a stove and cooking stuff?

Spinnaker will be pleased to know there's an excellent overpriced Italian eatery just over the bridge in Boston. :)

GPS, yup. I have a file of waypoints from the GAP and C&O sites that are points of interest I will load onto the GPS. Easy to find them. Also, it will make finding my car in DC easy.

I'll have my MSR canister stove and kettle.

Brian

I tried a GPS once but it eats through batteries and I found that the tree cover over the C&O blocked my satellite reception a good part of the time. I think there is a way in Google Maps to deselect "follow roads" and then you use the satellite view to follow a path.

I'll have a canister stove with me.

Planning on making a beer can ultralite jet stove this evening or tomorrow. Got the cans all emptied and cleaned... waiting to go.




BTW, is anyone else bringing a stove and cooking stuff?

Planning on making a beer can ultralite jet stove this evening or tomorrow. Got the cans all emptied and cleaned... waiting to go.

I collect gear (just ask The Historian). Would you be willing to drink another couple for the sake of selling a stove?

Judy

Planning on making a beer can ultralite jet stove this evening or tomorrow. Got the cans all emptied and cleaned... waiting to go.

I've built 3 different Pepsi can (alcohol) stoves to varying designs. I like them when I'm backpacking. Nice, quiet operation. In fact, the only time I use the canister stove is when I'm canoe camping. And I haven't used my MSR Wisperlite stove in about 12 years. I can bring along my old (33 years) Svea stove, first backpacking stove I ever brought.

Brian

Accuweather is still predicting only one day of rain when we are on the Towpath. I'm debating keeping on my kevlar Bontrager triple-reinforced commuting tires. I did the trip twice last year on them and they were fine on the towpath, even the day following a rain. I'd hate to switch to cross tires for two and a half days of riding out of 16 days total. If this is a poor decision on my part, please tell me.

Then again, the cross tires fold. I could always bring them and change if conditions warrant.

I don't think you are going to find the cross tires to be any detriment for the rest of the days. I used Ritchey SuperMax 35mm for the whole ride with no complaints (and these work fine for road riding too). I think wider is going to be more comfortable (the tow path is a bit bumpy) but 32-35 is wide enough. I'd tend to pick one tire or the other rather than bring two sets. How well do the commuting tires work in mud?


Planning on making a beer can ultralite jet stove this evening or tomorrow. Got the cans all emptied and cleaned... waiting to go.
Note that you can purchase random amounts of Coleman fuel and alcohol at the Outfitters in Harper's ferry (across the bridge and up the hill!). They have some canisters too (not sure which ones).

I collect gear (just ask The Historian). Would you be willing to drink another couple for the sake of selling a stove?

Judy

I had to open my mouth:lol:

I just made one and found a couple flaws. They started stamping some of the cans on the bottom with numbers lightly. now the al doesn't puddle up for me to get the heat to get the jet part working. I am going to figure this out tomorrow afternoon as I finish packing up.

I don't mind making the stove. it is just that i have found that heineken cans work the best... darn it.

How about I drink a few on the tour now and then and I make a couple stoves out there. Stoves will be free of charge. Well, minus if you wish to throw in on the beer run.

Okay this thing is going to work... Right after I figure out how to fix this stamp leak problem... off to google-land now.

I've built 3 different Pepsi can (alcohol) stoves to varying designs. I like them when I'm backpacking. Nice, quiet operation. In fact, the only time I use the canister stove is when I'm canoe camping. And I haven't used my MSR Wisperlite stove in about 12 years. I can bring along my old (33 years) Svea stove, first backpacking stove I ever brought.

Brian

yeah I have found that the penny stove works the best for me. I lived in alaska for a while and with it giving more of a heating jet action the water would heat faster in the cold weather.

I gave up in the government issued dragonlite years ago. that in the whisper international were great, but there is just too much stuff that goes along with dragging it around.

Alcohol stoves have proved well for me. I haven't taken it on a water trip as of yet though. Another project that is underway and almost finished is a greenland kayak skin-on-frame what will see some camping with luck this fall. I hope to use Alcohol stove for that trip also.

I tried a GPS once but it eats through batteries and I found that the tree cover over the C&O blocked my satellite reception a good part of the time. I think there is a way in Google Maps to deselect "follow roads" and then you use the satellite view to follow a path.

Good point. It's a good way to burn out your cellphone battery as well, so keep the phones off as you enter the dead zones (Connellsville - Meyersdale (60 miles) and Oldtown - Williamsport (70 miles) )

No love on the weather radio.

Sorry Spin, I tried

Looking forward to meeting you all Saturday at mile 31 on the Montour trail; at this point called "Arrowhead Trail". This meeting point is just after you get on the asphalt surfaced trail and just past the Rt. 19 underpass. I will have hot dogs & pepsi + water for all. I will be in a large parking lot immediately adjacent to the trail. This spot also has a porta-potti. Best wishes and know the weather Saturday is great for touring.

poo sticks!

I just realized I didn't get a campsite for Harpers ferry yet. I accidently confirmed a camp site in northern pa for that day instead.

This is what happens when you don't keep your paperwork in order.

E. Coli happens I suppose.

will have to work this one out in the morning

poo sticks!

I just realized I didn't get a campsite for Harpers ferry yet. I accidently confirmed a camp site in northern pa for that day instead.

This is what happens when you don't keep your paperwork in order.

E. Coli happens I suppose.

will have to work this one out in the morning

I'm going to stay at the free hiker/biker site. I'm sure you'll fit in. :)

I'm going to stay at the free hiker/biker site. I'm sure you'll fit in. :)

Speaking of which, VT_Speed_TR is downstairs sleeping on my sofa. We head south at an ungodly hour to meet ALHanson in DC.

Meanwhile, a little bird told me TwoDeadPoets is flying towards Pittsburgh as I type.

Leaving in an hour.

^^^

Good luck, good weather, and have fun!

Speedo

The journey has begun. Historian and company began their trip yesterday under bright sunny skies, first flat occured at the 6 mile mark and prompted the first rest stop at the caboose in Imperial,PA.
:thumb:

Joined up with the group in the campground in Connellsville today and rode to Rockwood, beautiful weather and the riders broke up into about 4 different groups. They were all great company and I had a great time, special thanks to Judy for topping off my water bottles for my trip back, not sure if I could have made it without that.

The Historian just checked in. He's about 35 miles out of Cumberland right now, and having some minor knee issues. He had to SAG the last 6 miles into Rockwood yesterday. Neil's going to try to watch his cadence and quit mashing too big a gear, just spin easy and see how it goes. He's got a nice easy day today, though, other than the headwind, since it's going to be mostly a long 2% downgrade to Cumberland.

The group is safe and sound in Cumberland for the night.

I believe I saw part of the crew pedaling out from the YMCA in Cumberland this morning, in the rain (for 12 hours now!) and around 60 degrees. Feel sorry for them everyone.

Thanks Matt for the shuttle up to the car yesterday. Everyone is settled into a motel tonight, we had a group meeting and the group will probably end up on the road for most of tomorrow. It's the Western Maryland Rail Trail to Big Pool, then various roads, and back on to the C&O at Antietam Creek. I'm shuttling a couple of riders directly to Harpers Ferry before I turn around and head for home. Most of the group will cross into Harpers Ferry for indoor accommodations, a couple (and The Historian) may camp on the C&O.

Today did not go well for the guys. The weather wasn't cooperating, the towpath was extremely muddy, and the cold soaking rain was unpleasant to say the least. I was busy checking up on riders all day, the first riders having started around 7:30 am, the last completing around 6 pm. The first couple of riders elected to ride the 60+ miles without a break because they started shivering when they stopped. Without exception, all of us were soaked -- and I was driving. We're thankful that there were no major mishaps, everyone tucked into bed and asleep (except me). I'm headed there in a few...

Judy