Today we were introduced to the dynamic C&O Canal...
Day 9
3/15/2006
Started: Georgetown - Start of C&O Canal
Finished: McKee Beshers Wildlife Management Area
Today's ADT Miles: 26
Total ADT Miles: 182.8
We started our day nice and early, up at 5:00 and out the door by 5:30, hoping to beat the morning commute back to Georgetown. Our stay at Robert and Linda's was very refreshing. The moon this morning was full and bright when we got back on trail at the start of the C&O Canal Towpath. The hike today could be summed up with the word dynamic. The C&O Canal has a lot to offer to the ADT hiker. The first few miles were through Georgetown and past Georgetown University. (Sheri was sure to remind Randy of Duke's loss this season to the Hoyas) The towpath was a rather social scene during this stretch with lots of runners and dog walkers. As we continued away from D.C. the trail became more of a nature setting. We had some great wildlife sightings today. Everything you would find in a flood plain forest from a small field mouse to squirrels, a grousse, turtles, white tail deer, a variety of birds, ducks, geese, a blue heron and even a freshly caught large mouth bass, made their precense known. The historical value of the C&O Canal was ever present as well. The restored canal houses near the old locks had information boards full of stories about the lock operators that once called them home. There were even stories of President Cleveland enjoying fly fishing expeditions on the towpath so as to access the swift moving Potomac River. It was nice to hike an entire day and not have asphalt under our feet one time. The geology was pretty dynamic as well. The small cliffs and uplifted rock formations were the most extreme we have seen to this point. We thought that the towpath would be a great place to log some big mile days, but Randy's shins are arguing otherwise. Today's 26 miler might have to be followed with a slightly more casual hike tomorrow. It's nice to be back in the tent tonight. Tomorrow there will be no commute.
Your Friends on the ADT,
Randy and Sheri
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