Planning the Trip - Itinerary

          I keep saying that we are planning to do this trip in 6 days, but in reality it's more like 4 1/2 to 5 days.  You see day 1 is simply driving out to the western end of the Great Allegheny Passage (in Duquesne, just outside of Pittsburgh), getting dropped off, loaded up, and then riding to the first campground - Dravo Cemetery Campground about 13 miles (1 to 1 1/2 hours of cycling).  We then have 4 solid days of cycling and about a half day left on day 6. 
          As mentioned in my first post, I am riding with 2 other guys - Phil & Mark.  Phil is a longtime friend who currently lives in Martinsburg, WV (although moving to Hagerstown - aka. "Hagertucky" - in the very near future).  Mark is one of Phil's friends and roommates who I've never met.  Phil describes him as an "avid outdoorsman" who could catch fish with his bare hands or cook a mean steak on a campfire.  He's also quite a bit younger than Phil & I (ie. in better shape).  Phil has ridden the Great Allegheny Passage & C&O Canal towpath in past years.  Last Spring he completed the ride from Boston (outside of Pittsburgh) to D.C.  The Fall prior he attempted the entire trip, but stopped early at Paw Paw (about 27 miles south of Cumberland) due to bad weather and bike problems. 
          We are starting this adventure Sunday May 22nd and ending on Friday May 27th.  But before I move on to more details, here are the two maps to follow along (you should be able to click the image and see a clearer larger version):

and The C&O Canal:

(If these maps are not clear, see the following links: Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath. 
 
Day 1 (Sunday May 22nd)
          As mentioned above, day 1 is mostly just getting out to Pittsburgh and getting started.  Phil and Mark will have the task of getting Mark's truck to Phil's parents house (about 1 hour north of D.C. in Mt Airy, MD - it's actually on the above map).  Phil and Mark will then drive to Cumberland where I will be meeting them to pick them up.  The intention is to leave Phil's car somewhere where we can utilize it for a drop-off / pickup location for clothes, supplies, etc. . . I will then drive Phil and Mark back to my house (Nanty Glo, PA) where I will load up my bike and supplies.  My father-in-law (or possibly a fill-in) will then ride along with us to Pittsburgh (Duquesne - just south of the Kennywood amusement park - trail mile marker 135) in order to drive my car back home.  The plan is to leave my house around 5pm in order to get dropped off in Duquesne by 7pm so that we can ride the 13 miles to Dravo Cemetery Campground - trail mile marker 122 - before sunset (Phil says the old people come out of their houses and yell at you for being on the trail after dark).  This campground is a nice one maintained by the Boy Scouts.  See it in Bing Bird's Eye View by clicking here.

Day 2 (Monday May 23rd)
          Plan is to ride from Dravo Cemetery Campground (trail mile marker 122) 60 miles to the Outflow Campground (commercial campground) in Confluence, PA - trail mile marker 62 - with a stop for lunch in Connellsville, PA - trail mile marker 88.  Campground seen here. 

Day 3 (Tuesday May 24th)
          Plan is to ride from Outflow Campground in Confluence, PA - trail mile marker 62 to the end of the Great Allegheny Passage and start of the C&O Canal Towpath in Cumberland, MD - mile marker 0 (G.A.P. trail) and 184.5 of the C&O Canal.  We are planning to stay at the Fairfield Inn which is located right along the trail.  Here we can use the laundry facilities, hot tub, swimming pool, etc . . .  And as mentioned we can also get to Phil's car to drop-off / pickup supplies.  We may also have a visit from longtime friend Nate (Nate-dog) Elliott. 

Day 4 (Wednesday May 25th) 

          Plan is to ride from Cumberland, MD - mile marker 184.5 - to the "Licking Creek Aqueduct" campground (rustic campground) located about 7 miles south of Hancock, MD at trail mile marker 117.  Now that I look at the map I see this campsite is very close to I-70, so we're thinking to push on another 7 miles to the "North Mountain" Campsite near McCoy's Ferry - trail mile marker 110.  In the Hancock area we plan to utilize the 20+ mile long Western Maryland Rail Trail as a bypass to this section of the canal (it's paved and nicer).

Day 5 (Thursday May 26th) 
          Plan is to ride from the "North Mountain" Campsite - mile marker 110 - to the "Indian Flats" campsite at trail mile marker 43. 

Day 6 (Friday May 27th)
          Plan is to ride from the "Indian Flats" campsite at trail mile marker 43 the remaining distance to mile marker 0 in Georgetown (D.C.).  We should arrive in D.C. mid to late afternoon in good time to be picked up by one of Phil's friends and driven back to Phil's house.  At Phil's house we switch into Mark's truck and Mark drives to Cumberland where Phil will get his car and I will get picked up by my Father-In-Law.  I don't doubt it will be close to midnight before I get home! 

          There you have it!  You know as well as I do that things probably won't go as planned.  If we do get held up for some reason we do have Day 7 (Saturday May 28th) to finish the trip if needed.  And camping along the C&O canal is much more flexible.  The rustic campsites are spaced out about every 7 miles above mile marker 26 (there is no camping below mile marker 26). 

          I usually give you an idea of what my next blog entry will be along with a title, but I am unsure what it will be at this time.  You'll just have to stay tuned!