End of Trip

Well, Bubba and I toured the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond on Wednesday, which we both highly recommend. Bubba said it was the best Civil War museum in the country and I definitely believe it. We walk down town and find a little hole-in-the-wall called City Dogs, which has great brats and the now famous Devil's Backbone 8-point IPA from Roseland, VA. We leave for Raleigh and hear from Jerry and Kevin that they are both home. Bubba and I check into yet another Hampton Inn with a sports bar next door (which, oddly, has NO local beers) where we uninterestedly watch the Yankee's unfortunately crush the Red Socks.
In the morning, we replace the truck wiper blades so Bubba can see to drive it back to Tallahassee. Bubba leaves and I am left to fend for myself at the Hampton until friends can pick me up Friday to start the FSU - NC State party. And so, another Sloth trip comes to an end. When we all get settled back in, I will add a post-trip entry and upload some of the better pictures.
John

Day 8 - The Yin for yesterday's Yang

About 3:30 AM the rain starts. Since it never subsides, we decide to break camp, pack up everything wet, skip coffee and breakfast and get an early start on the 44 mile slog back to Cumberland. Bubba thinks he will have troble dragging the Bob through the mud, and we hit on a plan where he will stay at the campground guesthouse while the three of us head to Cumberland, pick up the cars and come back to Rockwood to pick him up. As we head back up to the Divide, we see an apparition ahead on the trail and it turns out to be Bubba, having changed his mind. He has only one request, and that is to stop in Myersdale, PA for a cup of coffee. We head down Main Street and find the G.I. Dayroom Coffee Shop, where the cook was standing outside. Bubba steps in ahead of us and says, "It was just like and old western where the gunslinger steps into the bar and everone goes silent and looks at him." But they all smile and welcome us in and are just the nicest, friendliest group of folks you'll ever meet. In fact, as Bubba headed in ahead of me, I asked him to get me a cup of coffee, black. Before I know it, the cook is returning with cup of coffe in hand! We order breakfast sandwiches and the highly recommended home fries. Since Meyersdale is known as "Maple Town" and they pride themselves on their maple syrup, the cook brings us each over little "smiley face" pancakes just so we can try the maple syrup. Just a great place with a wonderful small town vibe and just what we needed to propel us back to Cumberland. After reaching the Divide again, we have a 24 mile gradual downhill and make it back to the vehicles around 1:30. We have decided to pack up and head to a motel in Raleigh, where Bubba and I will visit the Civil War museum there and Kevin and Jerry can get an early start to Tallahassee.
John

Day 8 - Now this is more like it!

We break camp at the Y under a threat of rain, but it turns out to be a spectacular day as we head up the Great Allegheny Passage towards the eastern Continental Divide. Finally, we get some beautiful vistas and some variety along the trail. This is probably the best day of riding of the trip and we realize, in hindsite, that we should have started in Cumberland and just done the GAP trail out and back. We stop in Frostburg, MD for some sandwiches and a cold Fat Tire before continuing across the Divide and then down to Rockwood, PA under a renewed chance of rain. We manage to set up camp dry and head across the river for the requisite cold beer.

Day 7 - On to Cumberland

Alan and Dick leave early as planned and head home. The remaining four take a leisurely breakfast and head back to Mt. Vernon via the Mall. After a brief tour around the Mall and viewing some of the monuments, we head to Mt. Vernon, load up the bikes and drive to Cumberland. We find a YMCA with an area to camp and set up under the shelter to avoid the potential overnight rain.

Down to Four

The social fabric of the group unravels and Dick and Alan decide to head back to Mt. Vernon early Sunday and then back home. The remaining four will stick to the plan of picking up the remaining cars in Mt. Vernon and drive to Cumberland to ride out to the Continental Divide via the Great Allegheny Passage trail Monday, camp, and then ride back on Tuesday. Mac and Kevbo will head back to Tallahassee from Cumberland on Wednesday, while Bubba and I head to Raleigh to camp a couple days and do some day hikes. Bubba drives back to Tallahassee on Friday while I stay for the game and then fly to Syracuse on Sunday. There will hopefully be a final blog entry Tuesday or Wednesday to see if we could stick to the latest plan.
John

Day 6 - 17 miles to Georgetown

With little distance to cover, we get a leisurely start towards Georgetown. A spectacular fall day and everybody in the Metro area is jogging, walking, riding, walking dogs, teaching kids how to ride bikes, well, you get the picture. This may have been the most dangerous riding of the trip! We make it to the Embassy Suites in Georgetown around 1:00, grab some showers and head out for some lunch. We find this funky little place called Bread and Brew where we find out the waitress was from Shephardstown were we stayed a couple of days ago. The sandwiches are terrific and the local IPA's are even better. Now in the hotel doing laundry, updating the blog and getting ready for the complimentary happy hour and then watching the game in either a sports bar or the rooms. Tomorrow, we have all agreed to ride to Mt. Vernon to get the cars, drive to Cumberland, MD, and then ride the Great Allegheny Passage trail out and back for two days. Then some head back home ans the "joys of work" while others head to Raleigh and the FSU-NC State game. GO NOLES!

Day 5 - White's Ferry and beyond

After packing up a bunch of wet gear, we head out on the trail towards White's Ferry. Of course, the steady rain all night makes the towpath somewhat muddy, and we spend the morning dodging puddles and each others rooster tails. With an early start, we reach the great little restaurant at White's Ferry for our second round of killer breakfast sandwiches and burritos. After much discussion, we come to a consensus to stay on the trail, due to the narrow shoulder-less road up to Leesburg and the potential for some dicey road crossings as we get closer to Washington. Sufficiently fueled up, we head another 20 miles or so to Swain's Lock campground, where we had stayed the 1st night out. Since we are now practically locals, we set out stuff to dry and Kevin, Jerry and I head up the 2 miles to Potomac for provisions and cold beers. At this point, there is much desension in the ranks, with everybody wanting to do something different. Cooler heads (and colder beer) prevails and we decide to head to a motel in Georgetown the next morning for hot showers, a laundermat and the FSU game on ESPN. But, another nice day on the Potomac River and everything dries out for a peaceful nights sleep with only the sounds of Canada Geese instead of the trains.

Day 4 - Antietem

As planned, we ride the 5 miles to the Antietam National Battlefield as the potential rain does not appear and it turns out to be a spectacular day. The area is absolutely beautiful, with rolling hills and mountains in the distance and a much welcome change from the monotony of the C&O. The history is incredible, especially the fact that 23,000 men died here in one day, more than the entire Reveloution, Mexican and Spanish-American wars. After biking around the battlefield, we head back towards the canal and head south back towards DC. We camp at Calico Rocks which turns out to be right next to a very busy train track. Fortunately, the traffic dies down at night until about 4:30 AM. The rain on the tent all night helps dampen the sound of the trains a bit.

Days 2 & 3

While the C&O is a good, unpaved surface and the Potomac is pretty, the sloths soon discover that the problem with this ride is monotony. Picture riding the St. Marks Trail for 184 miles and you get the general idea. So distances are being significantly reduced from "somewhere close to Pittsburgh and back" to "lets turn around and find some places to ride around Washington". Tuesday, we made about 40 miles to a campsite close to Harper's Ferry. After setting up camp, Jerry and I ride 2 miles back, carry our bikes up a couple flights of stairs to cross the river, ride 2 more miles up a real West Virginia hill, and then return to camp with the ever elusive cold beer.
The next morning, we decide to ride back to Harper's Ferry (again with the stair routine) and tour the historic area which includes John Brown's Fort and the Appalachian Trail Headquarters (Harper's Ferry is about the midpoint of the trail). In the afternoon, we ride an easy 10 (yes, ten) miles to Shephardstown, WV. For much needed hot showers. We find, literally, the last three rooms at the Comfort Inn (Alan likes his "space"), which is conveniently across the street from a Food Lion. That evening, we walk in to downtown Shephardstown, which has a small college, and was basically a hospital during the Battle of Antietam. We find the Blue Moon Cafe, for some great sandwich's, local craft beer, and, unfortunately, not-so-good music at their open mic night.
Today looks like some rain, but the plan is to ride the 5 miles to the Antietam Nat'l Battlefield for some sightseeing, then head back about 30 miles in the afternoon to White's Ferry, I think I read the only still operating ferry across the Potomac. We will camp somewhere near there, then take the ferry in the morning to Leesburg and get on the 45 mile Washington and Old Dominion rail trail back towards Washington. The only problem with this plan is how to get from the end of that trail to Mt. Vernon (looked like all Interstates on the iPhone last night. More to come...
Johnny

September 26, 2012

Jerry finally discovered the State wasn't gonna shut down without him and all six sloths showed up in Mt. Vernon Sunday evening, Monday at 9am we were off along the Mt. Vernon trail to Washington and the C&O Towpath with an absolutely perfect fall day along the Potomac. After several hours of herding cats and cruising the well conditioned tow path, we find a nice campsite on the river. The boys set up camp with only 36 miles down due to, wait for it, beer logistics. Jerry and Johnny ride the 5 mile round trip to tony Potomac for beer and ice after discovering grocery stores don't sell beer, liquor stores don't sell cold beer, a seafood store sells us cold beer and the Safeway sells us ice. These guys may be rich but they sure aren't very efficient.

Pre-Ride Countdown – Day 4 – Logistical Upheaval Subsides

More Missives from the Mule

After yesterday’s unexpected scramble, the boys have really come together like a finely woven fabric. We are now all taking separate vehicles and driving solo for the nearly 865 miles from Tallahassee to Mount Vernon. Bubba gets partial carpooling credit for the last 300 miles by hitching a ride from the Mule in Raleigh. I hope I made those reservations for Sunday night since everyone keeps asking for the street address for the hotel in Mount Vernon. Will the fearless five actually arrive remains the looming question.

Last minute preparations and checklist packing are nearly completed or about to start, however sloth spousal units keep adding to the must-do-before-you-leave list. A man, even a manly man, can only do so much before he says, “I’ll make it up to you when I get back.”

With the trip becoming closer to reality, excitement is building. Like most years, our biggest challenge will be getting to the start line.

Pre-Ride Countdown – Day 5

From "The Mule", Sleepless in Brevard

 

After months of physical and mental training, meticulous planning by the Founder, route reconnaissance, re-planning, and numerous, dutiful, decision making BNO’s; the alternate route for the 2012 bike ride has now garnered the attention of the purpose-driven Sloth bike brigade.  As a result, the trip is in logistical upheaval today.

 

To wit:

 

Yesterday, the severely under-challenged Jerry (aka McManly) inquires of the location and street address for the meet up hotel this Sunday evening.   Today, Jerry announces “he’s OUT” due to something work related.   An unexpected, seismic event, but instantly the virility of the remaining riders is introspectively called into question.   Is the alternative route too easy for the Man because old people and young children are known users of the C&O Tow Path and Allegheny Passage Trail, or is his abandonment because of the less than grueling 1.5% maximum grade changes?   Or, is it some hidden political agenda having something to do with an upcoming presidential election, or, even worse, could it be the return of the unspoken and dreaded hemorrhoids?

 

Needless to say, Jerry will be “sorely” missed, but Sloths are destined to ride and the show must go on.  

 

Time will tell if the remaining five will arrive.

 

Analytical Alan -   As a covert advisor to the recently published “No Easy Day,” Double-A maintains his pre-ride radio silence and presumably his stealth training.   Alan’s reason for riding is work related.  He dreams of a retiree’s retirement, but has reluctantly become the indentured servant of well-heeled and mostly paying clients.   Fortunately, the headquarters for the CIA is not far from the beginning point for the ride in Mount Vernon so Agent Double-A has a good chance of an indiscrete showing.    Probable Equipment - Full Suspension 29’er w/ panniers full of tools and military-grade electronic gadgets

 

Kautious Kevbo -   Kevin is suspiciously cautious for a reason – he’s a younger Sloth and doesn’t trust his elder Sloths.    It was Kevin’s reconnaissance in West Virginia earlier this summer that led to a change in bike routes.  Granted the alternate route was less appealing to those self-proclaimed to be more-manly.   However, being risk adverse, Kevin has decided to seek refuge from a 14-hour one-on-one truck ride with Johnny and drive his own self to Mount Vernon.  Probable Equipment -  precautionarily, he will likely bring two bikes – a new hardtail 29’er and a touring bike, probably with panniers and a trailer.   

 

Bodacious Bubba -   Double and Triple “B” (aka Bob Brown-Barios) is on a Mt. Mitchell high, having gained some instant celebrity for his “Marathon Hiker” quotes in the local newspaper following a 5K roadrace in Asheville last weekend.  Bubba is scrambling for transport today because he was riding with the former McManly.     Bubba and his booby trailer are soon to be parted as his bike may find its way to the back of Johnny’s pickup truck.   Probable Equipment – New hardtail 29’er, no pannies for Bubba, he’s pulling the only trailer for this trip.  His motto – “Be like Hunter.”

 

Dog Bite Dick -   DBD (aka the Mountain Mule) has nothing better to do than to send out incessant and annoying emails as training tips for this trip.   Little Johnny’s helper was instrumental in some of the logistical details for pre-planning the alternate route – Mount Vernon – Washington, D.C. – Pittsburgh.   Now able to walk without the benefit of crutches after foolishly breaking up his dogs fighting, Dick has re-committed to actually riding the route.   With 3.5 hours of HARD riding time on his new bike in the last month, his physical stamina is questionable and yet unproven.  Fortunately, there is the Bubba factor as well as a number of train stations along the route.  Probable Equipment – New, very red, hardtail 29’er with recently changed fresh air in his knobby tires and retrofitted with racks and panniers.

 

Jubilant Johnny -   The Founder is extremely happy he will not be blamed for any planning miscues on this bike trip.   In fact, anything that goes wrong on this trip is officially Jerry’s fault for not being more insistent for making us stick with the more strenuous original bike route.  Double-J is also happy he can tailgate at the 8 PM FSU-Clemson game the night before his 14-hour drive to Mount Vernon and will be able to attend the FSU-NCState game in Raleigh at the conclusion of the bike ride.   At the request of the now perpetual Virtual Rider Hunter, the Founder has re-activated another blogspot for the 2012 trip.   If we were not to be burdened with carrying Hunter’s rain tarp, the least we can do is to be saddled with the responsibility of keeping Hunter entertained for a couple of weeks.   Probable Equipment – after endless C&O Tow Trail Google-searches resulting in a preponderance of obese riders and their preferred bike equipment, the Founder decided a modified touring bike with panniers was his best non-welded option.  Founder has indicated he may not bring food or water and feels panhandling would lighten his load.

 

A special shout out goes to Jerry, Hunter, Billy, Pretty Girl Cox, Vic, Jorge, and Joe Beckham for their encouragement, criticism, camaraderie, advice on personal hygiene, and training support in the months leading up to this ride.   It would be an understatement to say that Billy and Joe are the only ones trained for this ride.

 

Oh, if six turned out to be five...

Haven't even left the driveway yet and we are down by one. Work demands prevent Mac from making the trip, though Hunter thinks he is secretly overwhelmed by the grueling 1.5% grade of the route. We will miss his supportive demeanour, ever willing to encourage those that are struggling <dripping sarcasm>. On the other hand, we'll get to stay in B & B's a lot more and travel at a much more leisurely pace.

Pre-Trip Post

Well, I wasn't planning on doing a blog for this trip, due to the apparent lack of challenge or interesting terrain. But after a ground swell of demand (Hunter asked for it), I relented. There will be six of us (I assume; haven't seen hide nor hare of Alan in months) riding the C & O Canal Towpath and the Great Allegheny Passage from Washington, DC to somewhere near Pittsburgh (or wherever demands of work or overall wimpy-ness causes us to turn around) and back from Monday, Sept. 24 until roughly Thursday, Oct 4 (again, see proviso above). The six suspects are: yours truly, Bubba, Dick the Mountain Mule, Kevbo, Mac and the ever elusive Alan. Posts will be via text and/or picture messages from my dumbphone, emails from the guys with spiffy new smartphones (which aren't that much smarter in their hands) and the occasional motel room PC whenever we can talk Mac into taking a break from camping.
Johnny