Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey
Entering Maryland, we ran across more small towns, but more coal production and trains.
Our ride involved a long and dangerous downhill for both trucks and bikes.
The mountains around here are plentiful.
And the cicadas are still around.
From Cumberland, we set out on the C&O canal towpath. This is the redeveloped downtown site.
Later, the path looks like this. (Shot taken at a lock.)
The canal even goes though a 3000 foot long tunnel to avoid 6 miles of bends in the Potomac R.
The canal flows alongside the Potomac for 185 miles. Here is a picturesque dam on the river.
Lower on the river, around Harper's Ferry, rapids take over.
Still further downriver, we crossed into Virginia on White's Ferry, which dates to colonial times.
And on the way into Leesburg, we ran across this incredible field of poppies. Jan couldn't resist.
The Washington and Old Dominion rail trail is a super facility with shelters, free compressed air (in places), a newsletter that Jan is looking at, and bike stores and places to eat en route.
Finally, we arrived at the home of the Ellisons in DC.
After a layover day, we travelled to Annapolis (Main Street, here.)
Headed for the Bay Bridge, we saw this view of the older parts and waterfront of the Naval Academy.
The Bay Bridge is huge, and does not permit bicycles to cross.
Our friends the Carrolls took us across the bridge. We stayed there overnight.
The next day we blew a tire and Palmer Councell stopped by to help.
The Causey Mansion B&B put us up in Milford, DE.
On June 18, we crossed Delaware Bay on the Lewes-Cape May ferry.
And we finally dipped our wheels in the Atlantic Ocean!
Going up the Jersey Shore we saw the 6500 seat Ocean Grove Auditorium, which Jan had been to as a child with her grandparents.
And alongside the Auditorium was a whole neighborhood of tent houses from the early 1900's.
Next town over was Asbury Park, which has fallen on hard times, but is trying to recover.
At the north end of the Jersey Shore, we took a commuter boat into Manhattan.
And gained a famous view of the city's skyline.