Thanks for sharing that story - I always wonder if people see the stuff that I make. I still do it because I like doing it, but it's always good to get feedback.

You make a great point about the GAP and C&O, particularly the GAP since the C&O is a national historic park. I'm still gobsmacked that the GAP was built at all, that a handful of people passionate about the idea worked literally for decades to get it built.

Congress considered turning the C&O right of way into a turnpike in the 1950; it took the advocacy of an associate Surpreme Court Justice to prevent that from happening. Just imagine what we would have lost if it had been turned into a highway.

With major cities as the terminus for the combined trails, I'd argue that the GAP and C&O is one the nation's great and most traveled trails. It would be a shame if it ever fell into disrepair.

I've been following the threads on the state of the ACA with interest, but not living in the US makes that I'm not involved in any way.

This current thread and others touch on something that is close to me and I know close to others here in this forum and that is that for us, cycle touring is a way of life. By that I mean that touring gives us something special, something that completes us, as I'm sure is also the case for backpackers, kayakers and those who rely on motors to enable them to go into the great unknown.

(From my limited point of view) everyone involved in these cycling adventures represent an extreme minority of the general population. As members have mentioned here, it's quite the miracle that the infrastructure we do have exists at all and is certainly the consequence of great efforts from a few inspired people. Given the (apparent) average age of members here, we've all known what it was like to tour with no infrastructure to support us and we did quite well (those of us that survived the experience !).

The infrastructure is unfortunately still very limited. I can go about 150 km away from home in several directions without having to ride on car-infested roads, but after that there is no infrastructure at all, just like 50 years ago.

So touring of any extent has to take place on roads with cars. Yes, we risk our lives, but what is the alternative ? Stay at home and age ? I'm quite happy to ride a nicely paved wide shoulder on a country highway that has cars passing at 100 km/h every few minutes/seconds. I put my trust in them (I also make myself very visible).

[This winter is going to be really long...we've already forfeited November which isn't normally the case.]

Wow! I recently read a post on ACA’s forum by someone who sounded unhappy that he had bought a map set (not an expensive one) and felt that he didn’t get his money’s worth. It read like “I plopped down my money and ACA failed to do XYZ, which are things that it should be doing throughout the country.” The first thing I thought was “What have YOU done to improve the conditions you feel are lacking?” Have you submitted short routes. Have you proposed alternatives to existing routes based on your riding experiences? Have you updated information about things like closed services? Have you corresponded with your state’s park system regarding cyclist-only campsites and no-turn-away policies? Sorry, but some things DO take a village.

I think you may have misunderstood what I was trying to express, which was just awe that there is any infrastructure at all given that there are so few tourers. But it has its limits once you get away from large population centers (at least around here). So while it's nice to ride on a path away from cars, you can't go very far before you're back on a shoulder, if there is one. But that's ok, that's the way it's always been. No complaints from me.

Sorry if I was unclear. I was referring to the post in the other forum, not your post. What you wrote instantly made me think of it.

Densely populated countries or regions of countries have the advantage that the limited efforts of the inspired few can connect and make for long routes. I've notice that around here, where separate communities create paths for their own territory for their citizens to ride on (and that seems to mean older couples on e-bikes or youngsters on e-motocross bikes). No tourers, but if they're close enough, the smaller systems connect and enable one to ride long distances away from cars.

The cost of helping cyclists must be immense. I believe in Quebec there is this idea that when redoing a road, a wider shoulder will be paved in the interest of cyclists. But there are thousands of kms of country highways and just a few feet of extra pavement must really add up. There is also an ongoing public awareness campaign that informs drivers that they are required by law to give cyclists a certain distance of safety.

I guess I live in (or at least close to) a sparsely populated area which means that my main concerns are country grocery stores and campsites. I can only carry maybe 2-3 days worth of food and I don't cycle that many kms each day. But I want to explore the areas that are available to me. Cars are (unfortunately) secondary in importance.

I was recently in Pittsburgh and scoped out the somewhat-nearby McKeesport, western terminus of the GAP. I've been interested in doing the whole ride but never seriously investigated. I've ridden sections of the C&O and walked sections of the GAP but not the whole thing. While in PGH it occurred to me I could take the Greyhound from here to there and ride my bike to McKeesport to begin the trip but the sign below revealed a path that several trails link from downtown to the GAP trailhead​​​​​​. Nice to know.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5316d8c8c0.jpg

Found this in McKeesport.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b4b34ded0c.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7690f52e0e.jpg

The red line at the top goes to Pittsburgh (or brings you from there). The red line at the bottom is the GAP trail toward Cumberland MD.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...08ce2b0bfe.jpg

Now to get in shape for the ride!

I’ve done the GAP twice. The first time was in 2013. Even then it started at Point State Park in downtown PGH. You have to do short road sections through McKeesport, but they

I wonder if this has anything to do with the idea that we've become a much more transactional society? Building relationships and community don't seem as important anymore.

I believe so.

And I developed a feeling that ACA had moved away from a “community spirit approach”, for lack of a better term. Every time, dating back to 2000, I presented ideas and updated information engagement began within days, if not the same day. That was until I submitted a short route last year and it “fell through the cracks” despite me following up twice after getting preliminary approval.

When I see politicians on TV, I see the attitude you cite.

But, talking to friends, family, neighbors, total strangers that I meet, I do not see that kind of change.

Sewer pipe breach flooding the C&O Canal near Lock 10.

https://www.canaltrust.org/2026/01/d...ewer-overflow/

"The bypass uses a contained section of the C&O Canal running about 2,700 feet to carry wastewater around the damaged section of pipe and back into the Potomac Interceptor further downstream."