Georgetown!

55 miles later we rolled into Georgetown. Lee was feeling good today and we made a faster pace finishing the longer section in the same amount of time. Amazingly, Steve managed to keep the mutton chops on for the majority of the ride. Although the mustache fell off some where around mile 30.

We encountered one major obstacle today, the storms last week blew a tree down across the trail blocking passage. But as a team we were able to lift Lee, handcycle and all, over the downed tree and continued on.

Around 7pm we rolled into Georgetown triumphant where friends and family were waiting to cheer our arrival. Spent from two full days of riding, I think we were all "Strahgahleng".

Thank you to everyone who supported us and volunteered to put on this ride, we could not have done it without you!

And a special thanks and congrats to Lee for motivating us all to join you and celebrate completing the Tour d' Canal for the first time in ten years. There is already talk of coming back again to ride next year... Cumberland to Georgetown 184 miles.

 

 

Day Two (continued...)

Day Two

Day Two: Brunswick to Georgetown, 55 miles.

After a yet another delicious Waffle House breakfast we packed up took the scenic route through the small towns of Western Maryland to the start point in Brunswick. The sun came out today and it's going to be a beautiful day for a bike ride! Today we are all riding together and Carin (you are the best!) will be shuttling the van to meet us when we finish in Georgetown.

Jimmy and Steve drove up the night before and joined us for the second day.
Day two crew: Lee, Jen, Doug, Jimmy, Steve & Diane.

The Brunswick rest point had a 70's theme and the guys really got into the spirit.

41 Miles Later

We made it! Met at the finish by friends cheering us on, it took about 7 hours to complete the first leg of the ride. One minor chain mishap on the trail, but other than that it was smooth sailing.

41 miles, check, 54 more to go tomorrow. 

Day One (continued...)

Day One

Day One: Little Orleans to Williams Port, 41 miles.

After a delicious Waffle House breakfast we packed up and left the hotel near Williamsport to drive up to the start point. The trail was a little soggy and the sky gray, but that didn't dampen our spirits one bit. We started off on the trail while Jen drove the van back to the finish (thank you Jen!) and rode north to meet us at the half way point.

Day one crew: Lee, Jen, Doug & Diane.

Packing up for the ride

Looks like we might just get some good riding weather tomorrow. The rains have passed and we are packing up the van. Everyone ready for drinking? 

Blog de canal

We have a New Rider... Steve Linstrom!

Last week I got an email confirmation that a new rider has joined our team. Steve Linstrom signed up as a last minute bike rider for the 50/50 ride and it will be great to ride with him again. I think the last time I rode a bike with Steve was also on the Alzheimer's Tour De Canal, 11 years ago! It will be great to have him ride this year.

So far our "official rider list" consists of Diane R., Leslie E., Doug H., Steve L., and myself. We are still trying to raise donations so please CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

The bike ride is in a week! wish us luck!

September 12th & 13th, 2009

Tour de Canal

• 100-mile ride: 50 miles on Saturday/50 miles on Sunday

Our journey begins Friday evening, September 11th as we meet in Georgetown in Washington, DC to transport you to our host hotel in Williamsport, MD where you will stay both Friday and Saturday nights. Volunteers greet you in Georgetown with a boxed dinner and help load your bicycle and luggage onto trucks. Your bike ride begins early Saturday morning and ends late Saturday afternoon. Relax at the hotel before enjoying a hearty pasta dinner. Sunday rise and shine as you start the 2nd leg of your ride back down to Georgetown. Your luggage will be transported back to DC and will be waiting for you at the finish line. Celebrate your great achievement by joining us for a victory party at the finish line.

The C&O Canal

 The 184.5 mile long Chesapeake & Ohio Canal is located along the north bank of the Potomac River, starting in Washington, DC and ending in Cumberland, MD. The canal was built between 1828 and 1850, and it operated sporadically between floods until 1924. In 1954, US Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas organized an eight day hike up the canal's towpath in an effort to save it from being converted to a parkway. His efforts succeeded, and in 1971 the canal became a National Historic Park.

Today, much of the canal has been drained of water and reclaimed by the forest. However, the canal's towpath remains a favorite of hikers, joggers, and bicyclists.

Check out a virtual tour of the canal online!

http://www.mcmullans.org/canal/

As some of you may know, I have been involved with the Tour De Canal since Jimmy MacLean Started this ride years ago and have only missed it twice. The first time when I had my accident in 1999 and the other when a cousin got married a couple of years ago.

For the past 10 years my involvement has been on a "volunteered" basis as a bike mechanic, but this year I think I am up for the challenge of actually riding the C&O canal. I will be doing the 100 miler (50 on Saturday and 50 on Sunday)

I know time are tough right now so please do not feel obligated to donate... Any support (such as motivating me to ride/train) will be greatly appreciated. That being said here's the link to my donation page:

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=305046&lis=1&kntae305046=3C6C1E4C774E45FEBD45C060C144646B&supId=252573588

Oh and lastly... this ride is made possible by volunteers. And because of volunteers the charity actually gets no less than 90% of the money donated. That's a hell of a lot more than what the other rides get which is why I have stuck with this ride from Day One! (well that and Jimmy and Carin volunteer my services every year)

UPDATE:
I am now also Recruiting RIDERS! those who would like to become a rider, JOIN MY TEAM! (OCRACING)

sign up as a rider on the OCRacing team and help raise money for the ride.

Lee