Traffic, Heat, Decisions, Relief

Dear friends and family,

I sit here in my small apartment in a house built in 1830. I am on the third floor so had to haul my bike up the stairs, reminding me of Colombia, where I had to haul upstairs every day for lodging.

This place is right on the start of the Chesepeake and Ohio Canal, from here in DC to Cumberland, MD, ( 184 miles) which then joins up with the Great Allegheny Passage (150 miles) right into Pittsburgh.

No more sharing my way with vehicle traffic for quite a number of days and I am grateful for that.

I rode the 52 mile long Virginia Capital Trail right into Richmond, VA, which was car free but hot and humid and long, so I and the bike were both tired and in need of recuperation and repair.

Luckily, the people who took my picture on the beach published earlier recommended a bike shop in Richmond called Journeyman’s Adventure Company for help with repairs. The salt and sand of the Outer Banks were deep into all the working parts of the bike and causing several problems. Glenn, the owner, took care to tune things up and get me ready for more touring. Thanks Glenn!

When I mentioned to him my plans to pedal to DC to start the trail ride, I noticed him furrow his brow. Note to self!

At another outdoor gear store downtown Richmond, the owner of that store (who used to live in DC) gave me the similar furrowing.

Research on the internet said the ride was possible, but to be extra careful with traffic on shared two lane, often busy, roads.

I struggled to make up my mind as to what to do. I could not get myself to make reservations for the next night north of Richmond, and felt uneasy about what to decide.

Normally, this planning process appeals to me, figuring out logistics. Now I was troubled by it. 

Temperatures for the next three days were forecasted to be up to 90 degrees F., humidity 93% and sharing a 2 lane road with traffic. Riding into the busy downtown DC. All seemed doable,but not easy or safe. 

As I was berating myself for being a wimp, I walked out to dinner in downtown Richmond. In the first block sat a shiny black pickup truck behind the Enterprise Car Rental dealership. A clear sign to me of what to do.

It took the entire dinner to decide that this was indeed a sign of the universe helping me, telling me, and showing me. Kind of like “in case you are stubborn, or even stupid, we made this as easy and clear as is possible for you to decide, now all you have to do is say yes and make the rental reservation”

So, feeling wimpish, or a failure and not sure why, I made the booking.

The relief feelings came on strong. Traffic less, no heat issues, and even a rental apartment at the start, not near, but AT the start. I had such relief energy I could barely sleep that night. Total cost of car rental $105.

I sometimes forget that I am not trying to prove anything with my rides, but to enjoy the hard physical part, the scenery, and yes, the challenge, but the whole thing would be ruined by the stress of riding into traffic or even worse, if i were to get hit. As I arrived in DC and checked email, I heard from a friend who shares bike touring stories with me of her getting hit and a broken leg needing surgery last week. Riding the same roads I rode last year in Montenegro. Ok, universe, I hear you!

Other than the fact that I accidentally found out that the pickup truck would not fit into the Enterprise garage at the DC end and having to swap it out for a minivan, all went well driving in (if you think poking along in heavy traffic almost all the way is ok) and got me here.

Seeing the busyness and traffic made me SO glad for this choice.

The Chesepeake and Ohio canal was operated from 1831 until 1924 to haul freight (mostly coal) from West Virginia. It was intended to go all the way to the Ohio river in Pittsburgh, but the railway took over instead. It became a National Historical Park in 1961 and became the first section of the US Bicycle Route 50 to go all across the country eventually.

The forecast shows a high of 70 the next few days, with light rain. Think of that: no cars, no heat, a campground every ten miles (free for bikers) and even small towns along the way for possible meals, resupply, and even motels. 

In the meantime, I am enjoying Georgetown: outdoor cafes, coffee shops and even avocado toast with arugula for breakfast. Quite a hip place and no evidence of any “affordability crisis” by the way people are spending money here. 

I don’t know about internet availability along the canal route, so I will post this now and the next when I get coverage.

Sending love,

Charley