GAP and C&O Towpath Epic Tour

Tour Details

DAY 1: We’ll meet in Pittsburgh at our starting hotel on the bike path along the Monongahela River. We’ll begin with an orientation at 2:00pm followed by a rental bike fitting and dinner. 0 miles.

DAYS 2-9: We’ll run this tour as we do our other epic tours. We’ll start early with a light breakfast provided by the hotel. Then we’ll pack our bike bags with snacks of raisins, nuts, energy bars and peanut butter sandwiches. We’ll make sure we have an extra layer of clothing and perhaps a rain jacket with us. We leave on our own, usually between 8- 9am and cycle at our own pace.

About every twenty miles, we’ll meet our SAG vehicle along the route. It holds water, snacks, tire repair tools and a first aid kit. Even if you don’t need anything, you can stop to chat and talk about the wonderful tailwind or view. If you’re too tired to bike anymore, you can take a ride in the SAG vehicle to our hotel for the night. The SAG makes sure everyone is in safely at the end of the day.

Once at our hotel, you'll find your luggage, (delivered earlier by the WomanTours van and trailer), and can check in to your room. You can also grab a quick late lunch on your own before dinner.

We rotate roommates every night, unless you've requested a specific roommate or to upgrade to a single room. There will be time to shower before dinner and perhaps take a dip in a hotel  hot tub. If anyone has experienced bike problems during the day, you'll use the time before dinner to work with the guide to fix it. If it's a complicated repair, we'll help get your bike to a professional at a bike shop.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Pittsburgh Point State Park
• Ohiopyle State Park
• Eastern Continental Divide
• Mason-Dixon Line
• Potomac River
• Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center
• Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia & Maryland
• History happened here & small town hospitality

Then we'll eat dinner together usually served buffet-style outside. Our traveling chef will create hearty and healthy dishes from our trailer kitchen. While our chef will accommodate guests with specific allergies and provide a nonmeat protein source for vegetarians, she cannot adhere to everyone's likes and dislikes. We ask that you be flexible. If you require a vegan or gluten-free diet, there is an additional fee of $50.

After dinner, our guide will hold a map meeting to discuss the highlights of the day and go over the details of the next day's route.

We'll celebrate the end of our adventure at dinner on our last evening together. 50 miles on average per day.

DAY 10: You're free to take a taxi at your leisure to the Reagan National Airport (DCA). If you have time to stay longer, our ending hotel is a short walk across the Key Bridge to Washington, DC. If you need to return to Pittsburgh, PA for your car, WomanTours will provide you with a shuttle back to your car arriving about 5:00pm. 0 miles.

CANCELLATION & REFUNDS: To sign up for this tour, we require a nonrefundable deposit of $300. The balance of the tour price is due 75 days prior to the tour, by July 6, 2019 and is nonrefundable. We offer a 2% discount for paying by check.

SAG DRIVERS: We will use three SAG volunteers to drive a Honda CRV every third day to support the tour in exchange for a 40% tour discount. If you’re interested, contact us!