October 11, the long day out

Believe it or not we were on the road by 8:00 AM this morning.  Got across the bridge and carried our stuff down the stairs and repacked for the road by 8:30.  Even had time for a few last pics of HF.  My aches are almost gone so I am thinking it was some type of flu or cold. 

Rained fairly hard last night.  only light rain this morning.....but wet and muddy trail

looking across at the Shenandoah

downstream of the Potomac

a small creek crossing that caved in.

This is an aqueduct rebuilt to todays standards, not sure about water loads

note how clean she is, for comparison later

Reflection Shots

Kayak course next to the towpath

Whites ferry ov3r to Leesburg.  it is a cable ferry (see cable in photo below)

ferry terminal with flood level heights............lotsa water

starting to pick up mud (compare with Barb's pants at start)

These canal houses are available for rent.  no water, electricity or bathrooms, but damp and quaint!!!!

Potomac above the Great Falls area

Canal to the left, river to the right. 

 Pretty white bird.....

Aqueduct that failed at one arch.  looks like they shored up with struts and a foot bridge.

Some random guy from Belarus came by and we talked a bit.  He was just a tourist loving the US as it had lots of places to bike (get muddy too).  Difficult conversation, but he did know how to ask us if we wanted our picture taken by him.....

Then all of a sudden, the river is full of rocks with vegetation

locks that are closed, but leaking

Canal with rock face, cool, huh???

This is the north side of Great Falls.  We did not go out to the falls.  by this time we had been in contact with Roger, Barb's brother, and he is in DC, some 15 miles away.

The dirty

bike Friday.  that low rear derailuer gear really picks up dirt and debris on a trail like this

The great falls tavern.  Now a museum, so no chance to quaff a few....

so now comes the really neat part...We got to see the locks work!!!!!  so much for worrying about Roger waiting for us in DC.  First the mules

Then a boat.

the boat is pulled into the locks by the guy in front

The guy in back uses a pole to keep the boat centered

and into the lock

 

The mules again

shut the gate

Open the small gates in the larger lock gates to let the water in.

The guy bent over is opening the small gates on the left lock gate

open the gates

Hitch the mules and away they go!!!!!

just downstream of the Great Falls, the main channel cannot be seen from the towpath.  the rock and pools looked pre-historic.

This is less than 15 miles from downtown DC.  We're off to see Roger again after our lock distraction (but oh what a distraction)

The Keys bridge with Washington monument in background.  they were nice enough to roll out the fog for us.

birds.....

So, then we had the big city experience.  our task was to get across the Key Bridge.  this first challenge was to get on the bridge.  They had posted maps to do it, but they all included walking up about 100 stairs...uh-uh-no way.  We finally road our bikes down about a quarter mile past the bridge and found a road that went up to M St which would take us back to the bridge.  Seems there was this canal that blocked the through streets.  Multitude of cars and a hell of a lot more pedestrians.  We found ourselves walking down the sidewalk in all our muddy biking gear.  Barb got a couple of "you must've come off the towpath...."  We tried to cross the street at a corner but as we waited I realized I was blocking the sidewalk with my bike and Bob, so off down the sidewalk we went.  We finally got off the sidewalk and into traffic.  I felt safer there.

What is amazing is with all the hustle and bustle of the street above, the canal sits down in its solitude.  this was taken from the Keys Bridge

turn left and you look across the bridge

a look up river

 Here we come, excited to see Roger.  These are photos of his documenting our arrival and our "dirtiesness"

Would you ride a bike that folds up like this for 1100 miles????? Barb would  :>)



as you read this we are recovering in Greensboro.  another great trip we got to share together ('barb and I) and those who read the blog.  The bikes are reasonably cleaned and ready for the trip home.

One more THANKS to those we visited along the way, including those we met such as K2.  Connecting with others and sharing experiences are what its about.  Thanks also to Roger, Suzie and Molly, our North Carolina base camp and to my sister Peg who has to listen to me along the way.

I do not plan to post more or the blog on the trip back, so take care and thanks for following.
                              Chuck
                                         and
                                               Barb