Here we are at mid-point of the 6 day trip – starting off Day 4. The hotel at Berkeley Springs is right next to the Berkeley Springs Baths – where the George Washington Bathtub is located. In the morning, we have breakfast and walk around the grounds. We see people coming up to an fountain area where they can fill up their own water jugs. The man says – hey, its free water.

The routine is usual today – bring your suitcases to the van, have breakfast and then a briefing before loading up to drive to the start of the trail where we left off the day before in Hancock.

I am skipping the first 12 miles along with Megan and Frank. After watching everyone get ready and take off on their bikes. We jump in the van to stop at the liquor store for some more beer and then head to Ft. Frederick where the riders will meet us.

Once we arrive at Ft. Frederick and unload bikes, we walk over to explore the fort. This fort is one of the few made of stone not wood. It was built before the French Indian wars, survived the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and then was purchased and held privately until the state of Maryland purchased it. We couldn’t get in to the soldier’s barracks but I was able to get pictures through the windows. Well-done preservation of history!

Now its time to get back on the bike and ride. We follow the towpath trail along the old canal bed. The canal was closed for good in 1924 due to major flooding and the increase use of railroads to transport goods. So imagine, after 99 years, there is no water in the canal except in certain areas and some of the trees along the canal towpath look like they could be 99 years old! We continue to see the locks and the houses. In one section there are 4 locks in a row. It is also nice in these areas along the path because we get to go downhill just like the locks helped the barges go uphill.

There is an amazing dam on the Potomac River called Dam #5. It is quite old and there was an attempt by Stonewall Jackson during the Civil War to blow it up but his attempt failed. It survives to this day.

The scenery along the trail here is spectacular! Across the river, we see homes and boats – typically summer scene.

Our stop for lunch is just on the other side of the Conococheague Aqueduct in the town of Williamsport. Lots of history here on plaques just past the aqueduct.

On the next segment of the ride, there are more locks and lock houses along the tree-lined trail. The Potomac River is always on our right peaking through the trees until we get to the Big Slackwater section. Then there is a rock wall on our left, Potomac on the right which has been dammed up to allow for water to be able to run into the canal.

A better description of Big Slackwater from the internet:

Big Slackwater is a 2.7-mile stretch of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, located downstream from McMahon’s Mill. It is the only “missing link” along the historic canal, and was one of the few areas along the towpath that boats exited into the Potomac River. The C&O Canal Company engineers chose to utilize the pools behind Dam 4 and Dam 5 instead of digging a canal prism due to rocky cliffs along the river. The area provides majestic views of the calm water of the Potomac River and is a River Access Point, one of many historic, cultural, and recreation sites on the Potomac River.

Dam #4 now comes into site.

We were told if we see someone stopped on the trail looking distressed, we should stop and ask if they need help. I stopped for this man who looked distressed and was just standing, not even pushing his bike. He told me he was okay except his feet hurt. He was coming from Pittsburgh and going to Washington DC. He then went on to tell way more information than I needed to know so I determined he was “okay” and I could continue. He let me take his picture. Does anyone know this person?

Continuing on the trail and reaching the turn off to the hotel. To get there, you have to take a winding trail up the hill to the main road and on to the sidewalk on the bridge that crosses the Potomac River to the Bavarian Inn, our hotel for the night. We are now in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. A plaque explains why Shepherdstown is another historic site. I was surprised with the Chicago connection.

If a hotel is called Bavarian Inn and has an outside that looks like it was built in Germany, there must be German food. My dinner tonight, wiener schnitzel, red cabbage and spaetzle

It is hard to believe we only have two more days of our bike adventure!