GAP - C&O Canal - Day 8

Monday, 19 October 2020 

Harpers Ferry to White's Ferry (Leesburg), 26 miles

This was our shortest day of our trip, only 26 miles -- and entirely resurfaced in the last two years. What a treat! By the end of the day, we've ridden bikes through two states (Pennsylvania and Maryland), but spent the night in four states (adding West Virginia and Virginia).

Harpers Ferry: A final view of the bridge over the Potomac.

Lon walking his bike across the pedestrian bridge. Even on Monday morning, there were quite a few tourists in Harpers Ferry.

An osprey nest on the bridge. Ospreys will put a nest on any high flat surface that is near water.

Pushing my bike up a steep bank after cross a small creek on a footbridge. After taking a tumble yesterday while trying to ride across a similar footbridge, I walked over all remaining small bridges.

Catoctin Creek Aqueduct

Catoctin Creek

Sue on the Monocacy Aqueduct.

The Monocacy Aqueduct is the longest aqueduct on the canal, with seven arches spanning a total of 516 ft.

Canal and towpath (Potomac off to the right). Sometimes the canal water is reasonably clear (foreground), and sometimes it's covered in algae and other vegetation (background).

Someone had added Jack O Lanterns to the wall of Lock 26. Lon joined them.

Our night's lodging was on the outskirts of Leesburg, VA, so we crossed the Potomac on the "Historic" White's Ferry (toll $2 for bicycles). White's Ferry is the last operating cable ferry on the Potomac, and the only way for vehicles to cross the Potomac between US-15 at Point of Rocks and I-495 just outside Washington. We got a shuttle ride to the hotel.