DropBarFan

Some great videos! I guess some of the bridges & causeways going to the Keys have a lot of traffic but OTOH most of the motorists seem to be 1/2-way considerate. I've ridden a Dahon folder in the Miami area, even crossed a bridge that turned out to be an interstate. Haven't seen many bike tourists in South Florida but plenty of riders in general, motorists are used to having bikes around. One time a few years ago I saw a big pack of bike tourists on some special organized trip--they all had matching USA-type jerseys but no panniers. Maybe they were heading up to Maine or Wash State on an organized tour. Like your videos of Skyline & BRP...like Florida ideal places to include fenders. 2 years ago I vacationed near Miami in the summer & was amazed at the near-daily torrential downpours. Somehow most of the pedestrians & bikers find a place to seek shelter. Even with the warm temps one could get chilly after being soaked by those rains.

Also on your BRP video you note how light the traffic was...I rode from Buena Vista to Otter Creek a couple of weeks after the peak fall leaf time...weather was still warm but crowds had left. So few cars it was amazing, sometimes 15 minutes between a car passing. Didn't see even one other bike the whole weekend, kinda strange since it's supposed to be popular with bike tourists...I'm sure you remember seeing all the road signs to take care of cyclists. A fair number of moto tourists though.

iforgotmename

Good times on the GAPCO ENJOY!
Sorry for the shameless self promotion but I had a great time here.

Philly Tandem

Several free campsites on the GAP, although most (all) are west of connellsville:

1. Connelsville just built some nice lean-to shelters right on the edge of town. A bit too urban for my tastes, but they are there. Photo at https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/p...v=2&size=large

2. West of Connelsville is Roundbottom Campground. A big campground, right on the river. Photos of it at the bottom of my page at https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/p...id=179549&v=6k

3. Cedar Creek Park has a beautiful, brand-new looking campsite for trail users. Even a nice stone shelter with fireplace looking directly out on the river.

4. Dravo campground, as you mentioned.

esperoquesi

Interesting info here. I grew up in Lovettsville VA which is directly across the River (2miles) from Brunswick Md. I live in Richmond now but my first tour was a three day ride from Here to Lovettsville. A friend of mine and I are planning either to take the train to DC and cycle to Lovettsville or just do the whole ride if work will let us....as another poster said I would have thought that growing up in the Pac-NW would have been some pretty spectacular scenery but I guess anytime you go somewhere you haven't been before it can be amazing as well....One thing is for sure anytime I go out west and see how starved for water everything is it never fails to amaze me how much of a rainforest environment Virginia kinda is. When in Cost Rica once the hostel owner commented how the bugs had been waiting for some white kids like us to show up. I quickly pointed out I was from Virginia....and that the mosquitos were nothing new for me (although the jumping posionous snakes were). Thanks for posting so I can begin my research and get out to the C&O this year!

Boondock

you guys are awesome... thanks so much for the recon of whats coming up for me. And thanks briwasson for the pics on the CGOAB journal. I will probably stay in those shelters in the next week or 2.

ks1g

If you have not yet passed Sharpsburg (Antietam), I recommend a side trip to see the battlefield and especially an ice cream stop at Nutters's in downtown Sharpsburg. The auto road through the north and central parts of the battelfield and some of the paths around Stone (Burnside's) Bridge and the heights west of there are bikeable (a few steep spots on thos heights). If you do, exiting the canal around Taylor's Landing or (better?) Snyder's Landing may be preferable to the climb up to Rt 34 at the Shepardstown bridge. Nice downhill run back to the towpath via 34 or (better) Haper's Ferry Rd & Canal Rd (comes out by Antietam Creek and the big H&B campground). With all the water coming down-river, be sure to stop @ Great Falls NP in MD and check out the falls!

If trail conditions get too difficult (more t-storms and rain forecast for Wed PM and Thursday), you can cross into VA at Bruswick MD or White's Ferry (if ferry is open) and you can ride down to the W&OD trail; several bike shops along it and easy access via W&OD and Custis trails to DC near the C&O terminus. Have a safe & great ride!

Boondock

wow.. the thunderstorms last night (yikes) but looks like good weather for the next 5 days. I holding the miles back to be able to pick up a general delivery package in Hancock MD (with my new camera, yay!). I want to vlog about the C&O and GAP as much as possible. I'm planning to stay at the C&O Bicycle shop in Hancock, I spoke to a south-bounder who stayed in their "Bunkhouse" and that seems like a good place.

please excuse the crappiness of these 3 vids using my old cam but it gives you a pretty good idea of what the C&O looks like.

C&O part 1
C&O part2
C&O part 3

DropBarFan

A couple of years ago I was surprised to learn that Northern Virginia gets more rain than London UK. Virginia can be pretty damp with lots of bugs at times, glasses are a must for bikers during warm weather. Blue Ridge Mountains get even more precipitation than the DC area. Makes for nice lush greenery, just make sure to bring your GoreTex! I remember spectating at the Tour of America pro cycle race...after one cold & rainy April stage in Richmond I saw a Danish rider shivering uncontrollably afterwards. I'm guessing they looked at the avg temps & didn't realize how variable the weather is.

iforgotmename

The bunkhouse is cool...don't forget to go into town and get some pie...mmmmm
Great videos by the way!

Neil_B

Yes, by all means visit Weaver's.

n3vqh

Was just at Weaver's this last weekend with the wife on our short saturday 20 mile ride from Fort Frederick. Great food and people... the hostess said you wouldn't believe the number of people that have seen that place mentioned either in the video or our the forums and stop by. She also said they originally didn't want to be in John Urman's "On the Canal" video but are glad they did.

PS if you need bike work Denny at C and O bikes was a great help with my squeaky "driveline" on Saturday even when the shop was closed

Enjoyed the videos and can't wait to see more!

Mike