or Llovia en el Tiempo de Covidia.

Two weeks ago I rode the last 30 miles of the C&O canal from the Paw Paw tunnel to downtown Cumberland, MD over two days, each an out and back of 31 and 27 miles respectively. Strava recorded neither. It was my COVID vacation option, tent camp 100 feet away from anyone and ride a bike on the canal passing a handful of people over several hours. I’m really good at this distancing thing.

A lifetime goal I didn’t know was a lifetime goal until last year. I had done sections last summer, and late in the year was set to finish it off starting at the Paw Paw tunnel. I rode about 4-5 miles when the bolt holding my seat snapped and I was seatless. Riding your bike back in constant fear of a DIY colonoscopy is some pretty good exercise. A couple weeks ago, extra seat post bolt in bag and various other untested components I was ready to try again.

Wednesday was glorious, blue skies, puffy white clouds, even pink clouds in the evening, a charm of goldfinches along the way. Good ride although a little out of shape. Camped out in Rocky Gap State Park on a pleasantly cool night, looking at the stars. Thursday started out the same way, beautiful day, found the secret cut off between I68 and the Potomac river valley, rode back a mile to where I had turned around the day before. Felt good, what am I going to do with the rest of the day after I rip this one out?

Ah, that old bitch goddess Karma. I had been wondering why nothing had gone wrong on rides earlier this year, no flats, despite not having spare tubes, no rain despite not taking a rain jacket. It was simply biding its time… waiting. Waiting for the perfect moment, that is, four miles out from Cumberland, four miles from achieving the goal. Do you want it ‘lag, huh? Do you really want it??? How bad 'lag, how bad???

The rain had started slowly, noon T-storms but figured it was just an early day fake-out. It just got harder and harder, weird because you still could see patches of blue sky, the clouds simply did not move. Stopped under a railroad bridge but at some point you just have to keep going and I finally made it to Cumberland. The trip back, the sun came out, then rained some more and at some point you might as well go through the puddles, you’re already soaked, can’t get muddier. The front tire looked like the bow wave of a ship going through them. Got back to my car, wonder why with 20 other parking spaces the only other car is parked next to mineoh, because there’s a buck-naked older guy changing his cycling clothes between them. Yaaaaaaah!!! didn't need that. He had just done the same thing, though I never saw him on the trail. Doppelganger.

And that really is my summer vacation, three days that felt like a week. I’m thinking about going down to the ‘burg in a couple weeks for the same kind of stuff, talk to people, a tennis tournament, but curiously I’d get caught up in the same discussions we’re having about college sports in general this year, If the women’s team ain’t playing at the BB VT tennis center, why would they allow us to play?

Maybe I got Karma wrong. Maybe it was doing me a honor. Beautiful day? blue skies, done in a couple hours? You’ll forget that. Rain? Mud puddles, being a stupid screw-up kid again? talking to a couple under a bridge learning about the local area? Lunch under a tarp in the steady rain? Forever remembered. I love the bike picture, muddy bike on the finish line. it sums it up. Guy over to the left asks me if I’m on some sort of racing team, Sheepishly smile a little, “nah”…but, thanks for the thought. Maybe that WAS Karma, came out to meet me this one time and pat me on the back.

















[Post edited by `lag at 07/13/2020 2:42PM]