iBoB list member Scott C. was going to be up in the area and put out a feeler to see if anyone would want to do a ride. I was the only one who ended up coming along. The rest of you missed a nice ride.
We met at the Harpers Ferry Hostel, which is actually across the river in Maryland. Scott had scouted the way down to the bridge over to Harpers Ferry the night before, so we headed down the hill to a spot to access the C&O towpath, then crossed the river.
| I actually was going to ride this, but the sign stopped me. |
| On the bridge. |
| Harpers Ferry on a Sunday morning. |
We had wondered if the rough gravel trail/path along the RR tracks would lead all the way over to County Rd. 28, and fortunately it did. We avoided one pretty good climb this way, but even so we were soon climbing out of the valley.
 | The weather was cool and cloudy, with even a bit of fog in some places, but great for riding. It felt as if it might rain, but never did. |
 | The view from higher up. |
 | The road left the river and went in a twisty route through the woods, with plenty of ups and downs. |
 | I liked the dogs in the window. |
 | Roadside flowers. |
 | We followed a stream drainage back down to the river. This is Scott. You can see flood debris in the tree on the left, at a level higher than his head. |
 | Morning Glories on the climb up into Shepherdstown. |
 | Shepherdstown, West Virginia. |
 | From the Route 480 bridge back into Maryland. |
 | Scott on the new bridge, next to the old bridge. |
 | A couple of bikes. Once across the bridge we headed down to the C&O Towpath to follow it back down river. |
 | The bikes again, on the Antietam Creek Aqueduct. |
 | A view of the aqueduct. |
 | You know they wouldn't have put up signs if this hadn't happened before. |
 | You really only need one picture of the towpath. This is pretty much it. |
 | Looking across the Potomac River, into West Virginia. |
 | We got off the towpath to head back up the hill to the hostel. |
 | Up and across the railroad tracks. |
 | More dramatic scenery, but that is Virgina across the river now. |
 | Today's Map. My GPS battery died about 10 miles into the ride. and I naturally left the spares in my truck. We started in the lower right of the map and rode North on the West side of the river, crossed back at Shepherdstown and rode South on the East side. Best I can estimate is about 28 miles overall. |
Thanks Scott! I had a great time!