Pennsylvania, Great Allegheny Passage

Potomac and Delaware Rivers Trip -- Day 6 The previous night, I had hit some strong storms while driving to Ohiopyle State Park, PA.  Fortunately, the storm front had passed by the time I arrived.  In the morning's light the damage was made clear.  Branches big and small littered the campground.  Just down the road I saw a tree leaning on a power line that appeared just about to break.  Damage from last night's storm Ohiopyle State Park On a map, the Ohiopyle State Park campground seems adjacent to the Great Allegheny Passage, but it's actually 3.7 miles and a climb of 760 feet from the bike trail.  I imagine this has come as a unpleasant surprise to many through bikers at the end of a long day.  I drove to the parking lot by the Ohiopyle Falls and rode from there. The Great Allegheny Passage runs 150 miles from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD where is meets up with the Chesapeake & Ohio Towpath Trail.  So riding the "Passage" was a fitting end to this trip.   Bridge over the Youghiogheny ("Yok-e-gainy") River Great Allegheny Passage Very nice trail Turnaround I only had time for a morning ride as I planned to sleep in my own bed tonight.  Coffee and a creme-filled donut for the road Great Allegheny Passage Just eight hours away.

State:	Pennsylvania
Date:	2019-05-20
Route:	Ohiopyle to Confluence, PA
Distance:	20 miles

New Jersey, Delaware and Raritan Canal Trail

Potomac and Delaware Rivers Trip -- Day 5 The Delaware River is bordered by the Delaware and Raritan Canal Trail on the New Jersey side and the Delaware Canal Trail on the Pennsylvania side and I was planning to ride both sides today.   Megalith in French Town, NJ Delaware and Raritan Canal Trail Starting in Frenchtown, NJ, I rode south on the New Jersey side to Washington Crossing State Park. Bridge selfie! The perfect lunch spot, Washington Crossing Visitor's Center Washington Crossing State Park General Washington was a badass Cool spillover crossing on Delaware Canal If you passed the covered bridge, you went too far New Jersey/Pennsylvania Canal Trails Frenchtown was the turnaround for this road trip.  I'd checked off four states from the Frizbo Fifty, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and D.C.  The weather had been very agreeable.  Big success!  It was about 13 hours back to Mo Pro, but I had one more stop in mind, the Great Allegheny Passage.

State:	New Jersey
Date:	2019-05-19
Route:	Frenchtown to Washington Crossing State Park on NJ side (return on PA side)
Distance:	50 miles

Delaware, Michael Castle Trail

Potomac and Delaware Rivers Trip -- Day 4

The previous night I drove most of the Susquehanna State Park's roads in the dark looking for the campground, so in the morning I retraced my route to see what I missed.

Flint Furnace on Deer Creek, Susquehanna State Park

Another megalith!

Next up was Delaware, only an hour drive.  Today's route combined the Micheal N. Castle Trail and the Ben Cardin Trail running along the Delaware River between Chesapeake City and Delaware City.  Paved, flat and fast, it was a nice change from the limestone trails.

Chesapeake City

Paved, flat and fast

#bridgie

The canal was a shortcut between Baltimore and Philadelphia

One of those moments where I wished I had a biking buddy to share a cold one with 

Local fishermen on the Delaware River 

Boat parking

The vultures have taken over Fort DuPont

Avoid the state park's entrance fee, park here.

Phew!

My original plan was to take a break from camping to stay in a hotel in trendy New Hope, NJ.  When I checked for a last minute reservation, the rates were over $300.  It was Saturday night so I shouldn't have been surprised, but $300?  I checked around for another hotel and found a motel for $159 but it was out of the way.  Would I rather pay $300 for a nice bed and private shower or sleep in the van again.  Beaver Valley Campground here I come.

Beaver Valley Campground

Route along the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal

State:	Delaware
Date:	2019-05-18
Route:	Chesapeake City to Delaware City and Fort DuPont State Park
Distance:	33 miles

Washington, DC, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, Capitol

Potomac and Delaware Rivers Trip -- Day 3 Another nice day, today's destination -- Washington D.C.  As D.C. is notorious for traffic, I parked at the Carderock Recreational Area and headed towards to the capital by bike. Breakfast! Another megalith at Antietam Creek! Pay attention paddlers! The biking surface here is much nicer than yesterday's ride.  Well-packed limestone the whole way. Whitewater obstacle course The old canal enters the city The national mall is crisscrossed with paths, sidewalks and biking lanes which makes for some fun exploring.  The main obstacles were the other tourists and accidentally violating protocols.  I was informed that bike riding was inappropriate in Arlington National Cemetery and later chased away by armed guards at the rear of the capitol.  I missed my chance to break another protocol when I witnessed the presidential motorcade go by -- at least ten vehicles including an ambulance.  I briefly saw a silhouetted figure waving from inside a limousine.  Damn, I missed my one chance to flip Trump off in person.  Another megalith! Photo bombing everyone's pictures by lunching on the Capitol steps! President Turd's Motorcade Exiting the mall, every bit of visible roadway was crammed with cars inching along.  How do these people do it? C&O Canal On my return, I rode a few extra miles to Olmsted Island.  The island is perched in the middle of the Potomac with a perfect view of the Great Falls.  How to avoid DC traffic My feeling of superiority over the DC commuters was short lived as I left Carderock for Susquehanna State Park.  I battled my way out of Washington D.C. and luckily rush hour was over by the time I hit Baltimore.  I arrived at the state park in the dark and wandered around a bit on curving roads until I found the campground and my reserved campsite.  After dinner, I checked out the shower facilities -- clean, not crowded and hot water -- nice.

State:	Washington, D.C. (Yea, I know it's not technically a state)
Date:	2019-05-17
Route:	Carderock Rec. Area to Capitol and Olmsted Island
Distance:	39 miles

Maryland, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Trail, Antietam National Battlefield

Potomac and Delaware Rivers Trip -- Day 2 In the morning, I took a quick peak at the views from Coopers Rock which looks over the Cheat River.  No time for gawking, today was a big ride on the C&O Canal Trail. Coopers Rock Overlook Strange megalith at Coopers Rock I rode from Fifteen Mile Creek to the notable 3000-foot-long Paw Paw tunnel.  This part of the trail is also notable for rocks and mud so I rode the hard tail bike. C&O Canal Bike Trail at Fifteen File Creek Canal Lock Paw Paw Tunnel This section of the C&O canal is a bit sketchy Perfect spot for lunch, Purslane Run Campsite Friendly Butterfly Shed snake skin Campsite at Fifteen Mile Creek along Potomac River  A little muddy at the end of the day Another one of these weird megaliths at 15 Mile Creek On my way to my campsite at Antietam Creek on the Potomac River, was the namesake national battlefield.  As with most battlefields, the grounds made for some nice biking.  The "Cornfield," Antietam National Battlefield Second Corps Memorial, Antietam National Battlefield   Infamous "Bloody Lane" Antietam Creek Campsite, C&O Canal I'll never be too old to enjoy a hot dog cooked over an open fire

State:	Maryland
Date:	2019-05-16
Route:	Fifteen Mile Creek to Paw Paw Tunnel and mm 59/Toured Antietam National Battlefield
Distance:	35 miles/6 miles