A Trip to the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal

Submitted by J. Marsh, T270 Historian

Scouts BSA Troop 270 took a bike ride on May 10 and 11 on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (C&O), which is 184 miles long. The Troop started in MCoys Ferry, which is mile 110, and went in reverse for the first part of day one; they were adding miles and after lunch, which was in Hancock, Maryland—which is mile 124—they started subtracting miles. In two days, they got to mile 99, which is Williamsport, Maryland.

They did not encounter any injuries, but they did have issues with their bikes, one being that chains were popping off and sticks were getting stuck in the bikes’ spokes. Their biggest problem was the downed tree around mile 120 that took up the whole lane. They had to move their bikes over the tree. They were split into two groups. One group was completing a requirement for the cycling merit badge. They needed to do 50 miles in eight hours. They got the requirement signed off on the first day. The second day, there was one big group, and they all finished at once.

The C&O canal was a very cool place for the Troop to visit.