After getting some local information from Dave and Donna at the town hill inn we decided to take a 40 mile route along the scenic C&O tow path to Cumberland instead of 20 more greuling miles on route 40.
What a great decision! The tow path is a shady dirt road which winds it's way along the Potomac river. A canal runs along the otherside with a series of locks which have long fallen into disrepair. Along the way we travelled through the Paw Paw tunnel, a long and dark old canal tunnel with a cramped walkway to one side. Ryan played his harmonica in the middle off it, the sound reverberating off the walls as he immitated train passing through.
Along the path we stopped in Old Town, where there is a defunct high school which continues to serve food out of the cafeteria. Pictures of each graduating from 1932 to 2000 class hung along the walls. There were never more the 20 kids in a class, some had as few as ten. I Kept imagining what life is like to grow up in such a small town.
On the other side of the canal in Old Town is the last privately owned toll bridge in America. A lady in a booth sticks out a tin cup attached to a poll to collect fairs from cars passing by. I didn't see the price, but I got the sense it was 50 cents or so.
We were thinking this would be our off day but we really had no where to be off. Riding along the path was easy work compared to the hills from yesterday but a bit rough on the backside being on a bumpy dirt road all day.
The best part of the path is that there are plenty of free campsites right along the trail. We de ided to finally use our gear we have been lugging all around and pitch our tents at the last site before Cumberland, Md. The site is a little small and noisy from a nearby highway and rail yard, but pretty suitable nonetheless. We met a cool couple also stopping there for the night, who are on route to DC. The husband Tom is thin, has a prodigious moustache and a speaking voice remenicent of a young bob dyaln. His wife, who is a nice as can be, is a director at Meals on Wheels. They offered up some of their Yeungling beer, always a tasty treat at the end of the day. If you are reading this, thanks guys!
I'm sitting in my little one person tent now finishing up this blog post. I've aleady misplaced stuff inside which I will have to find when it's light again. Looks like I have a little more to learn. Things to ponder as I get some rest.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
No comments:
Post a Comment