{"id":18591,"date":"2015-08-26T19:25:02","date_gmt":"2015-08-26T23:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=18591"},"modified":"2015-08-27T20:14:21","modified_gmt":"2015-08-28T00:14:21","slug":"day-47-wednesday-august-26-cumberland-to-hancock-maryland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=18591","title":{"rendered":"Day 47. Wednesday, August 26 – Cumberland to Hancock, Maryland"},"content":{"rendered":"

A clear, crisp and sunny 55\u00b0 morning as we began our ride on the C & O Canal. \"DSCN7781\"<\/a>\u00a0We picked up the North Branch of the Potomac River\"DSCN7773\"<\/a> as we left Cumberland.\"DSCN7771\"<\/a> \u00a0This trail has a very different maintenance regime than the Allegheny Passage. \u00a0As pretty as the path was,\"DSCN7794\"<\/a> it was twice as bumpy and sometimes very narrow. \"DSCN7787\"<\/a>\u00a0We bounced along the trail\"DSCN7785\"<\/a>\u00a0 like a wooden wagon on a cobblestone street; any photos required stopping. \u00a0\"DSCN7796\"<\/a>Progress was slow due to the gravel and root filled path. \u00a0The canal the path parallels is either dried up\"DSCN7844\"<\/a>or a mucky green, \"DSCN7800\"<\/a>but enough of the locks\"DSCN7792\"<\/a> remain to offer\u00a0a\u00a0glimpse to the past.<\/p>\n

With the exception of our rattling down the path, it was wonderfully quiet morning; wildlife everywhere. \u00a0Though the deer could hear us coming, we did get one to pose for us,\"IMG_1426\"<\/a> along with a huge crane. \"IMG_1405\"<\/a>\u00a0The turtles\"IMG_1408\"<\/a> and ducks\"DSCN7828\"<\/a>\u00a0were a little less concerned with our presence. \u00a0At about 30 miles, we came to the Paw Paw Tunnel,\u00a0\"DSCN7812\"<\/a>an\u00a0unlit, heavily rutted half mile stretch. \"DSCN7817\"<\/a>\u00a0Riding was not an option and walking was very slow due to the uneven footing. \u00a0The rock wall \"DSCN7819\"<\/a>the tunnel was cut through, \"IMG_1414\"<\/a>gave pause as to how it was accomplished back in the early 1800’s. \"DSCN7821\"<\/a>\u00a0We had the occasional glimpse of the Potomac\"DSCN7834\"<\/a>\u00a0and the clouds that\u00a0had gathered in the blue sky. \"DSCN7838\"<\/a>\u00a0At 1:00 we took a break at the only place for food on the entire stretch today; it was needed…..we had been shaken, not stirred<\/em>. \u00a0We only had six more miles of getting bounced around, before we turned on to the paved Western Maryland Railroad Trail.\"DSCN7850\"<\/a> \u00a0The day had become completely overcast\"DSCN7855\"<\/a>\u00a0keeping the temperature barely above 70\u00b0. \u00a0It had been a long\u00a0and slow 62 miles, but a beautiful day, nonetheless. \u00a0Just across the street a mountain of meatloaf awaited us.\"DSCN7865\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t