Day 4

A very long day.

Started off very well! As usual up at 6:00. Had a nice warm shower and warm breakfast. Wanted to take advantage of everything my one planned night in a hotel had to offer.

Hit the trail around 7:30. A tiny bit of fog over the North Branch of the Potomac River made for a nice C&O kickoff picture.

Today was mainly just fall scenes and views of the Potomac River.

The hiccup came at the Paw Paw Tunnel. Closed, there was a very difficult detour up and over the mountain. While only a 1.5 mile detour, it was rough. Not a mountaineer by any means, the closest comparison I have to the steepness is from hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, and that was without lugging a bike up the path over rocks.

The restaurant I was hoping to get lunch at was closed, so it was a Knorr Pasta Side in the JetBoil.

Then 20 miles into Hancock for wings and pizza before my final 5 miles to the campsite.

Longest day so far.

Tomorrow the goal is Harpers Ferry, and watch the weather to establish a final plan for how to wrap up the evening and next day.