After waking up from a very restful sleep at the Super 8 Motel in Hancock, Maryland, we set out to procure groceries for the day before getting back on the Western Maryland Rail Trail! We were very grateful for the beautiful sunny weather and smooth asphalt to ride on for 10 miles, but as we reached the end of our portion of the WMRT, all of us started to feel the effects of the midday heat. Luckily for us, a conveniently located gas station five minutes from the trail allowed us to treat ourselves to some Gatorade, and after debating on some picnic benches which flavor of the iconic sports drink is superior, we were off once more! In order to rejoin the C&O Canal Path, we biked through Fort Frederick State Park and witnessed some historical reenactors, and once back on the trail, we were thrilled to find that this section of the trail was much drier and smoother than that of yesterday’s ride to Hancock. Even with stopping for lunch and playing several riveting rounds of the card game SET, the miles flew by, and before we knew it, we were at our evening’s destination of Williamsport! We celebrated with delicious ice cream and some additional rounds of SET in a charming local sweet shop and ice cream parlor. Rejuvenated by the ice cream and inspired by the mileage we had already achieved, we all agreed to bicycle on into the evening to a campground that was closer to tomorrow’s ultimate destination of Harper’s Ferry. We arrived at Big Woods Campground for the night feeling equal parts accomplished and exhausted, so just after grabbing a perfunctory bite to eat, we all turned in for the night, excited at the prospect of making it to Harper’s Ferry tomorrow.
