My Bike Trip - Little Orleans to Williamsport

The folks at the Towne Hill B&B had an incredible breakfast for us, about eight dishes, all really interesting and tasty. There was a group of 10 bicyclists staying there besides me - five siblings, their spouses, and one daughter. They were a really nice group. And one of the guys works at Northrop in Long Beach!

After being shuttled to the trail, I set off from Little Orleans at 9:45 AM, and reached the Bay Farms Inn in Williamsport, MD at about 5:15.

Starting out, I went the wrong way! I soon got to the spot where the trail seemed to end. I was trying to figure out why, when I heard a voice behind me. One of the members of the Towne Hill group was kind enough to track me down and set me straight. I ran across them a few times on this segment.

Trail conditions today were wonderful. Starting out, the trail had some black stuff on it. Asphalt!

 From Little Orleans, the state of Maryland has been converting the railroad route to a trail, and has paved it! I started the day with over 20 miles of paved trail, with only a short segment of the mucky towpath trail used to route around s RR tunnel where some endangered bats have a colony. And where the paved portion ends, the towpath further was dry and mud-less! Unlike yesterday, today’s ride was very fine.

At one point it looked like it was going to rain, so I put on all my rain gear to prepare for the mud. A half hour later it was apparent the storm had bypassed me, so at a campground I found a restroom, pulled off all the rain gear, and also put on shorts instead of jeans. I had intended to wear the jeans for the whole trip, But it's been so hot, the shorts really are the better way to go. And hosing mud off my legs would be easier than trying to hose it off the rain pants.

Another reason for the short pants was that other cyclists had been telling me about a swimming hole along the trail. Indeed, I came across a group of young adults jumping into the water. They showed me where there were some steps in the rocks to get in and out, and said they guessed the water to be about 70°. They were right! I went in, and it was cool and refreshing and super fun.

On this trip I saw some more RR bridges, a turtle, and also another little strange critter trundling by. See if you can guess what it is! I’ll give the answer tomorrow.

Along the trail there are a number of lock houses that are maintained as structures, but not used. But there are a few that are available for rent!  

I think it would be nice and peaceful to stay in one a couple of nights.