Sunday, July 21st
Sunday, July 21st
Ride Day 2
Ride Day 2
Paw Paw to Hancock ((estimate 33.1 miles) (actual 36 miles)
Paw Paw to Hancock ((estimate 33.1 miles) (actual 36 miles)
(2 Blue Hill Road, Hancock, MD)
(2 Blue Hill Road, Hancock, MD)
Embedded Files
Highlight:
Highlight:
....
Getting ready to leave the Canal Cabins at 8:30 am. Sue and Shannon are looking at the flyer regarding the Paw Paw Tunnel and a book called Get Up and Ride. Sue was looking for where they are quoted in the book a few years ago.
While riding down and then up a hill, Mary's bike came to an abrupt stop. It turns out her lock got stuck between her tire. This could have been really bad. Fortunately, Mary was fine, and her bike lock got some pretty good burns!
The Paw Paw Tunnel is one of the most significant engineering features on the Canal. To save building six miles of canal along the river, the C&O Canal Company decided to construct a tunnel through a steep topographic ridge now called Tunnel Hill. When work began on the tunnel in 1836, the builders estimated the project would be completed within two years. The tunnel ultimately required 14 years to complete due to labor issues and violence, funding shortfalls, work stoppages, and the challenges of digging a 3,118-foot tunnel through the hard, loose shale. The tunnel opened in October 1850 with rockslides continuing to be a challenge throughout the tunnel’s history. (Information above from the National Park Service) Click HERE to learn Five Things You May Not Know About the Paw Paw Tunnel.
It was so dark going through the tunnel. Thankful for our font bike lights!
Pat tried to ride her bike through the tunnel. It didn't work out so well for her. She ended up walking her bike through the tunnel like everybody else. The sign says, "Dismount and walk bicycle through tunnel and boardwalks."
Stopping to enjoy the beauty! Jenny climbed to the top and had a nice pose.
The shale was so cool to feel. Incredibly smooth. If you look closely at the pictures, you can see where they did some drilling to try to prevent rocks from falling.
A storm came through the area the night before. We avoided many branches and limbs. However, this tree required 3-4 of us to work together to lift bikes over before we could continue on our way!
All of us followed instructions to dismount! This detour was terrible. Due to the rain the night before, the hills were muddy, and hard to push our bikes up. We thought we were doing great until we came to the last hill which was a complete vertical. We needed 4 people to get the bikes up. Two pushing from the back, 1 at the front steering, and 1 person 1/2 way up to grab the handlebars in the center to help give it one last pull while the rest of us continued to try to get up in the loose mud and woodchips.
And we are back on the trail to Hancock!
After getting checked in, Shannon, Pat, Jenny, and Sue went swimming in the Potomac River. Jo and Mary watched the swimmers and the bikers from the shore.
Our sleeping quarters for the night. Have you watched the show Schitt's Creek? If not, you really should! This motel was very similar to the show! This made for some great laughs!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse