Cycle Tour: W & OD Trail to the C & O Canal Trail
DAY THREE: Harpers Ferry to Shepherdstown, WV to Brunswick, MD (36.70 miles)
Strava
Once again, we had a day filled with sunshine and from the hotel, rejoined with the C & O Canal Trail for an out-and-back day of riding to Lock 38 and Shepherdstown, WV.
Once we got to Shepherdstown (after my misguided directions), we took turns getting coffee, buying fancy popcorn, and walking around one of the main streets in the town. Everything was adorable and beautiful, which was the trend for most of this trip.
After our break, we hit the ‘ol dusty trail (literally), and made a U-turn to start our return trip back to Washington, DC. We backtracked on part of the C & O that we had ridden the days prior, enjoying glimpses of the Potomac River, canal locks, bountiful rest stops with locals who I always found myself in conversation with, and perfect weather for a mechanical and quick repair!
We rode a little more than thirty miles (on that dusty trail that I mentioned) before pulling off into downtown Brunswick for a late lunch at Beans in the Belfry, a cute cafe in a restored church.
It was only a short ride from the cafe, up to the newly developed, more-bougie part of the city. As I said, just a short ride, on the beautiful, brand new Brunswick Crossing Valley Trail…
…with just a short little, 17% grade climb.
Guess where my chain slipped?
I truly blame it on all the dust from the gravel riding - my chain never stood a chance.
We made the rest of the climb to our newest, fanciest hotel of the trip, where we took well-deserved showers, and celebrated not having to wash our dirty kits in the sink since we could wash them once we were home the next day. I celebrated further by running across a busy highway to a creepy liquor store to buy some beers.
I drank one while I journaled for a little while, and then Polly and I walked to the supermarket across from the hotel to pick up a few things for dinner. I also bought lots of (jk, it was two) snickers bars for the big ride the next day, but we all know I ate one in bed at the hotel that night while I watched 10 Things I Hate About You.
