It reminds us we live on the Water Planet. It reminds us the towpath was built for mules. And it reminds us of our limitations as pack animals. Pulling a Bob trailer through the mud for 30 miles creates a sense of accomplishment.
It also reminds us to drill holes in the toes of our hybrid sandals to let out the water.
We don't mind the slower going. It feels good to have done it, and to be dry, and warm, and grit-free.
The combination of the C&O and the GAP makes for a ride like none other on earth. It really is "The Ride of Your Life." And while we think of them as one trail, it is a trail with a split personality.
The Towpath is often a double track (shown below at Big Pool), created, I suppose, by National Historical Park Service vehicles. In an all-day rain, these can become long troughs of brown water. We learn it is still easier to ride through the water than in the middle or on the berms.
That the GAP is built and maintained mostly by volunteers is a credit to our better natures.
copyright 2010 J. O'Brien, all rights reserved
