GAP & C&O Trail Day 6

You know it’s gonna be a good day when you find a bathroom in the first 30 or 40 minutes of starting your ride!!!

The trail has been good to us this morning.  Especially this 4 mi section of the C&O where the canal actually diverges into the Potomac River and they dug out the mule trail from the bluffs to the left.   It was smooth and the river view, so seldom seen closely by us, was in its glory. 

The canal rout diverts back to its canal just ahead of Dam #4 which also included a power house. 

About 25 miles into our day we detoured onto these things called “roads” about 3 miles to pay a visit and respects at Antietam. 

We had had a great morning of riding and a visit to Antietam was a nice break as well as historic. 

We watched a “Talk with a Ranger” on the battle and watched about a 30 minute movie on the strategies and criticality of this area in the Civil war, including Harpers Ferry. Approximately 23,000 men died in the one major day of the battle on September 17, 1862.  The battle was back and forth but in the end, out numbered 2 to 1 to the Union, Robert E. Lee was forced to retreat across the Potomac in a significant and strategic loss to the Confederates cause. 

After a convenience store lunch in Sharpsburg, we rode on to our accommodations in Harpers Ferry where we are forced to hike our bikes up some steep and spirally stairs to an old train trestle across the Potomac. Sue is happy she has nothing to carry up this last trip!


Angela crosses the Potomac with Harpers Ferry in sight. 

Five of us who weren’t still too full from lunch walked about a mile to The Rabbit Hole Gastro Pub for fine dining on the patio overlooking the town and the train station.  Another good day on the trail. Tomorrow we finish in Washington, DC!