Day 6 Little Orleans to Cumberland Md - Still 8 years old in my brain - CycleBlaze

May 17, 2023

Day 6 Little Orleans to Cumberland Md

Another gorgeous day weatherwise. I feel so fortunate to have finished the C&O without any rain. I only had to deal with some of the residual mud and puddles. Starting out in Little Orleans, I turned right, onto the trail, assuming it  would join the canal trail. Shoulda done my homework or at least read the cues on Frank Moritz’s wonderful map. This what I found:

This is the end of the Western Maryland Trail- oops!
Heart 1 Comment 0

I only had to back track about a mile to find the C&O. About 15 miles later I came to the dreaded Paw Paw tunnel detour. Having looked at the website map of the detour but not the legend, I assumed the detour went to the right.  Nope. 

This is not the detour!
Heart 0 Comment 0
The detour is on the left but the detour sign is about 20 feet up the trail
Heart 0 Comment 0

And no, the shuttle was not working even on a week day. After clambering partially up the steep, very rough and muddy trail, I ran in to Elaine from California. Check out her self-fashioned helmet accessory. I think she should sell her design to DaBrim!

Elaine from California
Heart 4 Comment 1
Charmaine RuppoltNice hand-made brim to her helmet. :)
Reply to this comment
11 months ago
A lot steeper than it appears in this photo and this was not the rough section
Heart 1 Comment 1
Julie O’NeillYou are becoming quite an experienced detour-er! That looks like a hike-a-bike section. 😉
Reply to this comment
1 year ago

The downhill was a lot easier as the “trail” was not so rugged.  At the bottom, I took the 1/2 mile diversion back to see the Paw Paw Tunnel.  It’s amazing- took over 12 years to complete and I forgot how many men died building it with pick, shovel and hand laid bricks. Only the upstream entrance is open at this time. It’s 3,118 feet long. 

Heart 3 Comment 0
Paw Paw Tunnel
Heart 6 Comment 0


I stopped and had lunch on the porch of Lock house 68. I really liked the water lillies and wild iris. 

Heart 4 Comment 0
Water Lillies
Heart 1 Comment 0
Wild irises
Heart 2 Comment 0

And yes they do do maintenance on the trail, although some sections make you wonder. This guy was trimming brush on the side of the trail. A little further down, the grass was 2-3 feet tall on both sides and in the middle. 

Heart 1 Comment 0

My phone was running out of juice so I don’t have many photos. I was thrilled to reach the end as my my backside was not adequately prepared for terrain of this trail!

The end of the C&O Trail and the beginning of the Greater Allegheny Passage Trail. Hallelujah! (That’s my butt talking)
Heart 3 Comment 0

Peter made dinner- the most delicious tuna salad sandwiches I’ve ever eaten, made with Lummi Island Wild tuna he brought from home!


Today's ride: 47 miles (76 km)
Total: 184 miles (296 km)

Rate this entry's writing Heart 9
Comment on this entry Comment 2
Julie O’NeillSo many adventures on your last day on the C&O! Great memories.
You seem to have the trail to yourself.
Reply to this comment
1 year ago
Sandy EarleThanks for your comment Julie! Very few cyclists going my direction. Over the whole C&O I only saw about six going west. Wish you were with me!
Reply to this comment
1 year ago