I stumbled across the group last spring when I googled C & O Canal Bicycle Tour. It is basically a fund raiser for the children's home (now that group homes have fallen out of favor in Maryland, they use the money for counseling and foster services for the kids that would have been in the group homes). Anyway, for a $475 tax-deductible donation, I was provided with the opportunity to participate in the most fun thing that I have ever done in my life. The tour is fully supported, with camping the first two nights and one night's hotel stay the final night. All food was provided, and the tour was fully supported. If you raised enough money, they would even have someone pitch your tent for you.

I rode the tour by myself, but by the end of the four days, I felt like I had known the people that I was riding with for my entire life. I cannot wait to do it again this year.