The Whole Enchilada

Since 2008, I have been talking about riding the C&O/GAP bike tour.  We came close a couple of times but the logistics scared us off.  Last year, I did the GAP with the Rails to Trails group but did not get to see the C&O.   This year, everything came together and seven years after I set my sights on doing this ride, it’s finally going to happen. Back in the early days of bicycle touring, the nerves would usually kick in a week before the ride began.  All the “what ifs”.  With a few tours experience, it’s become a summer routine.  I still get excited, but instead of thinking about all the things that could go wrong, I installed new handlebar tape on my touring bike.

Most of the stuff is laid out on the bed aligned with the pannier it will occupy.  It’s under guard so I’m not worried about anything going missing.  ( I have a small dog that likes to take things to different parts of the house).

On tour, or reading about touring, there are always stories about people going out of their way to do something for the traveler.  This tour however, things began before our first pedal stroke.  A new friend from bikeforums.net got us a visitors resident parking pass in DC.  When we get to Pittsburgh, we are staying at an airbnb host.

June 1st is our travel day and we begin the ride on June 2nd.