Summer camp for grownups
I, along with 11 other riders and 2 guides did the Great Allegheny Pass-C&O Canal Bike Tour with Wilderness Voyageurs. What a blast! Six days of riding, meeting new people and experiencing beauty with every push of my bike pedal. The GAP and C&O portions differ from each other, but are each breathtaking in their own ways.
Our bike tour guides, Taylor and Dave, were terrific. They prepared meals and snacks, gave us an overview of what to expect each day, hosed the mud off of our bikes, oiled the chains, and just made the whole thing a lot of fun. They seemed to be enjoying themselves as well.
Riding over 300 miles in 6 days may seem daunting, but it was not. It is a ride that takes some preparation, but it is not an Olympic event, and everyone in the group was able to do it and have a good time. Wilderness Voyageurs gives a recommended training regimen in preparation for the ride, as well as what to bring, which helped me a lot. Anyone who has spent more than 5 minutes contemplating whether to do this ride should just do it. It’s summer camp, but better because no one is snapping a towel at your naked behind.
Rating: Excellent *****
Mark O’Brian
Buffalo, New York
This was Mark’s first adventure with us on the Pittsburgh to Washington D.C Bike Tour.