Lunch at Harpers Ferry, WV
 

Harpers Ferry

What a gorgeous day in the DC area—temperatures in the 80’s, humidity LOW—felt almost like a Colorado summer. I picked up a mountain bike on Craigslist that I want to use to hit the local trails, and decided I wanted to get the ‘feel’ of the bike by doing a long ride. So I decided to go to Harpers Ferry for lunch.

First I ride the W&OD trail (paved)—I was feeling the uselessness of a full suspension mountain bike on a paved trail. Really not made for that, but that’s OK. It is a breaking in for the bike and me anyway, so I can live with it. Rode to Leesburg, VA and followed Rt 15 to White’s Ferry. There I waited for the ferry to come across the river and chatted with 2 women who were doing the Great Alleghany Trail and C&O Canal (total of 340 miles). They were on their 8th day—riding enjoying the scenery, averaging around 50 miles a day. They just had the last leg of the C&O Canal to do—White’s Ferry to Georgetown, in DC—about 35 miles.

I headed west on the trail after leaving the ferry. Very quiet, very solitary. Occasionally (I saw 7) I would see a rider coming towards me—all of them with panniers and the look of cyclists who were doing days of riding. The distance from White’s Ferry to Harper’s Ferry is 25 miles. I had forgotten how nice it is to ride alone, in complete solitude, with no cars around. I saw deer, squirrels, chipmunks…

As I approached Harper’s Ferry- probably 4 miles out, I started to see people—on bikes, walking, running, with kids, with dogs, alone. All very pleasant.

I crossed the river into Harpers Ferry, West Virginia and decided to go up the hill for the view. I had just ridden over 50 miles of almost flat terrain. The hill going up to Hilltop House is very long and very steep. (The bike handled it flawlessly). I took a couple of pictures from the top and headed back down. A quick lunch and back to the trail and home.

All in all, it was 105 miles of riding on a bike that was new to me. I definitely need to replace the saddle on the bike. I haven’t been that sore in a long time. Otherwise, the bike seems to work pretty well. We’ll see how it does offroad on Saturday.

Train safe-

looks like a great ride. I am in Mt. Shasta Calf now and have very similar looking scenery.

What a charming ride! I envy you. Most of my riding is solitary and I do enjoy experiencing nature quietly the way you did. Last night I went with a small group from my club along the Mountain Division Trail in Maine near Lake Sebago and it was very pleasant although under grey skies. Thanks for sharing.

I have been to Harper's Ferry four times (three on cycling trips). Love the town and love cycling on the C&O Canal. Here is a photo of a friend and I having a liquid lunch on a patio in Harper's Ferry.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...rist/beer2.jpg

That looks like a beautiful ride.
Ken, that looks like Guinness!

Loved the pictures. They reminded me of my ride in the same area last summer. We also stopped for lunch in Harper's Ferry.

Thanks for the story and the nice pics!

I rode through Harpers Ferry for the first time this spring (on a road bike.) I crossed the river at Point of Rocks instead of taking the ferry, and came down through Brunswick. It was way colder than the weather report predicted, but I still stopped and had an ice cream cone :)