Bike trip down the C&O Towpath

[Tyson L. Sparks]

After 3 days and a lot of pain, myself and 3 friends biked down the C&O Towpath. 184+ miles . All of our food and cloths went in with us on the bikes, we camped 2 nights. the path runs from Cumberland MD to Washington DC



Here are a few pictures......

[Greg McCary]

You look tired. Was it hot?

[Old Timer]

A real accomplishment Tyson. Thanks for sharing. I wish my old body would hold up to something like that. A few year ago I did 115 mile on a bike one day and that about did me in.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

It was hot at times Greg...

It did just about finish me off on the thrid day. I got real dehydrated and my blood sugar fell bad. I wanted someone to shoot me! But I stuck it out with the help of my great friends, I made it.

They even let me cross the finish line first! I almost didn't make it.

I want to do it again, this time better.

[Frog]

WATCH THOSE BLOOD SUGARS, TYSON!!

Looks like you did have a memorable trip. Thanks for sharing the shots.

[Xia_Ke]

Damn, now that looks like some fun times. Thanks for sharing Tyson :thumbsup: I REALLY need a vaca like that

[dumpy]

Sounds like a good time!!! Bikes+Cameras+Friends=always a good time.
Thanks for sharing your the pictures of your trip!!

I have to ask though, were you riding in sandals? That looks like a recipe for banged up, cut and all other types of feet pain. Maybe I just have wussie feet, but I couldn't imagine doing a trip that long in sandals.

[MB1]

The C&O is almost always a sweet trip.

Has some thunder storms I bet.

You ought to post these over in the RoadBikeReview Commuting/Touring forum.

[Dave Smith]

Nice shots Tyson
Makes me with I were there
Thanks for sharing

[splats]

I never got to ride that when My parents lived down there . always said I wanted too.


Nice job , cool pics

[another view]

You ought to post these over in the RoadBikeReview Commuting/Touring forum.

So you are the same MB1 as over there... I'm just getting back into it.

Sounds like a fun trip!

[Tyson L. Sparks]

Send me a link to that forum.

[another view]

Link Lots of good info over there.

[dumpy]

Don't forget http://www.MTBR.com.


And yes I am the same Dumpy as on MTBR and RBR.

This family of forums (look at the bottom of this page) has to be the best on all of this crazy interweb thing. I'm not so sure about the other ones, but the three I'm on (Photo,MTBR and RBR) are my primary source of info on their respective topics.

[Kokopeli]

I've been anxiously awaiting this thread since you posted your intent to do the trail. Thanks for taking the pics and sharing your trip with us Looks like great times!

~Brian

[Tyson L. Sparks]

I have a few more to add to it, I have just been so busy....

[livin4lax09]

So you are the same MB1 as over there...

I had been wondering...

[Wild Wassa]

It is all about the ambiance hey? That is what makes a shot special ... thanks for some very good photographs.

It was excellent to have (virtually) cycled with you and your Mates ... TLS.

Being a cyclist, if you find time to visit Australia, let's do the Lithgow to Newnes Rail Trail together, about 3 days. It is totally awesome, good cliffs, great tunnels. Most of the people that I've met cycling on the Newnes Rail Trail have been from the US. Boy they like to talk, ... and I'm not ever in a hurry.

Come on over.

Warren.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

It is all about the ambiance hey? That is what makes a shot special ... thanks for some very good photographs.

It was excellent to have (virtually) cycled with you and your Mates ... TLS.

Being a cyclist, if you find time to visit Australia, let's do the Lithgow to Newnes Rail Trail together, about 3 days. It is totally awesome, good cliffs, great tunnels. Most of the people that I've met cycling on the Newnes Rail Trail have been from the US. Boy they like to talk, ... and I'm not ever in a hurry.

Come on over.

Warren.

I'll have to keep you in mind, thanks for the invite. Cycling is my new hobby, I really like it. It will help me shed a few pounds and it gives me plenty of photo opts!

[Wild Wassa]

" ... and it gives me plenty of photo opts!"

I just went back over your post to look at your images, because they remind me of places I've biked into ... and saw that you did 184+ miles, I don't think it clicked the first time that I read that ... that is huge. Totally. Good effort.

That is why I like the bike for "photo opts," fast and mobile and there isn't a single locked gate that I can't lift the bike over. Here in Oz cars are excluded from many of the special places that interest me, like wilderness regions, primitive reserves and many National Parks. I do agree with excluding cars, don't get me wrong. National Parks have made it so that seeing the deep wilderness basically is only the province of the fit and extremely healthy athletic walkers nowadays. Mountain biking overcomes that and the only difficulties now are negotiating the collapsed old wooden bridges to do the rail trails.

I hope you had a chance to look at the 'Newnes Heritage Trail' site ... I know all about negotiating collapsed bridge.

Warren.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

Ya it was 184+ a 6 mile detour. Great ride it was,

[freygr]

Ya it was 184+ a 6 mile detour. Great ride it was,

How long did you take, a nice three day or longer, or a fast two day ride?

[Tyson L. Sparks]

It took 2 and a half days. We could have done it in 2 and a few hours but I am really out of shape. Typically it is recommended to do it in 3 days at 60 miles a day. I wanted to do it in two but maybe next time.