Spent 2 weeks riding through the Virginia Capital Trail, Great Allegheny Passage, Chesapeake and Ohio, and Erie Canalway Trail in the middle of a heatwave. In the past I've been a fan of stopping and smelling the roses, but this trip was about riding. I just wanted to ride every moment I could, since there were only so many hours of the day where riding was bearable. I would wake up right when the sun came up, so I could ride until 1-2pm when the sun would come out at full force and assault me with its rays.
At the beginning of the trip I was feeling a bit defeated, but as time went on I started to feel freed up from the feeling of obligation. Sometimes I wondered if I was really savoring the moment, or if I just forced myself to slow down because strangers on the internet told me I should explore XYZ thing. Beating the heat and humidity gave me the excuse I needed to just put my head down and ride, eat and drink when I needed to, set up camp when I couldn't ride anymore, and read in my hammock until the sun went down.
It was strangely relieving. I'm sure others may have found that itinerary boring, but damn that was the reset I needed. Chomping down miles was a great use of my PTO this year.
Favorite wildlife encounter: juvenile black bear near the Mason Dixon line on the GAP.
Favorite place: Green Lake State Park in Fayetteville, NY.
Biggest pain point: surprising lack of public water sources on the ECW compared to GAP+CO despite being way closer to civilization.
Most awe inspiring moment: seeing the smokey, hazy sun peak out above Niagara Falls.
by OrianaBikewayProject
8 Comments
Sounds like you’re ready for your first ultra endurance race
Glad it was a good trip. Very jelly you saw a black bear near the Mason Dixon. I’ve ridden through that thing 10 times, only ever saw a deer w/ cwd that wouldn’t move.
Dude !!! Awesome photos!!! And I need to say I just biked across New York and spent my rest day at Green Lakes State Park and it was also my favorite place. It was so cool!
Did you like the C&O/GAP better or the ECT? I’ve done both and wanna hear your opinions.
How many mm tires would you say should be the minimum and the ideal?
Living the dream. Thank you for sharing the thoughts and lovely photos.
What a great trip. How did you connect these?
That is such a great frog photo! The others are amazing, too, but the frog made me think that sometimes it not about pulling off and seeing all the sights. Sometimes it is just being out in nature, on trails free of cars, just riding along and being bowled over by how beautiful this world can really be. Sorry you got the heat, and the smoke, but you really made the best of it.
I love the GAP/CO, I really have been trying to plan another trip back soon! Great pics!