Today was a nice early start for another 60+ mile day. Weather was perfect for the ride. I started on the Western Maryland Rail Trail and then the C&O about 10 miles outside Hancock. I made sure I took care of securing a Sheetz sandwich last night so I wouldn't have to stop along the way. I wasn't even sure if there was a place to eat along the way. The guys from NJ did find a place but I would have missed the turn.
Where there is water in the canal is chocked with algae as you can see above. When you toss a rock into the green coated water, a hole appears and in a few seconds is swallowed back up in green. I had fun doing this.
At 3118 feet this tunnel can get mighty dark. Somehow in the middle there are puddles and everyone steps in them. So you leave the tunnel with wet feet. As you can see above, the tow path goes along the left side of the canal in this direction. The tunnel is lined with bricks the entire way. You can also see the staircases leading up and over the tunnel entrances. It is a pretty amazing engineering feat for a tunnel of the era (completed in 1848). Bring a flashlight.
Looking downcanal you can see the lock gates here. Most are gone but a few are restored like these.
There was plenty of wildlife today. I saw 17 deer and 15 turkeys and a few fox squirrels as well as this guy. Twice I watched deer climb a nearly vertical cliff opposite the canal. You could hear the hooves scrapping on the rock as they made their way upward.
It is a pretty sight as you enter Cumberland. The big building is the Allegheny County Courthouse.
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