The C&O, Part 5: Cumberland, At Last

I did my short segment of riding today to get into town so that I could spend most of the day resting and running errands. Went to a cafe in Cumberland that Chris recommended and got a coffee and refilled my water. There was a woman out front who’s part of a local cycling group and she watched my bike for a minute while I went in and ordered. We talked about our bikes for a bit, and I asked about the different services in town.

Apparently the YMCA in town offers overnight camping for cyclists, in addition to shower access, for a small fee. First, though, I went to a laundromat and washed my clothes, which is proving to be the hardest part to keep on top of, logistically. I cannot carry very many clothes with me, and while they tend to clean easily and are odor-resistant, I still have to rewear them.

I also got lunch in town before going to the Y and showering. I sat in the building until it closed charging my power bank, then moved to the pavilion across the street and sat around. Eventually I decided to go into town for dinner, and I ended up having the all-you-can-eat special at a bar and grill. I made it through an order of sliders and one and a half of boneless wings (which were about halfway to popcorn chicken), plus a cider, before tapping out. It’s still kind of remarkable to me how cheap the food can be out here, even if it’s not always the highest quality.

The camping spot isn’t the best. There are lots of bright lights nearby, and there’s a fairly busy freight line that runs right next to it. It came with the shower, though, and I don’t need much more than a patch of grass, so I set up.

Route Map

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