Hiking the C&O Towpath 2021: (Day 8) June 24

Morning on the towpath

making coffee

Footbridge into Williamsport

The only "functional" aqueduct on the whole towpath. Bridge holds the water for canal boats while spanning the creek below.

Williamsport

Ate lunch and recharged batteries at gazebo

Fair in town

Desert Rose Cafe

Delicious milkshake

Old ruins

Great bathing spot

High school hangout just around the corner. Only a few kids hanging out this time.

4 Locks

Camp for the night

 Day 8 was an interesting day only because it was an almost carbon copy of the day I had 2 years ago in this section. Even the weather was identical. In my memory bank, there is not much to distinguish the two days apart. After waking up and breaking down camp, I gradually made it to Williamsport for resupply and arrived around the same time. I stopped by the Sheetz in town to buy a few items to make it to Hancock, about 25 miles away. I found out later I bought almost the exact same items. The Sheetz in Williamsport was the first indoor establishment I chose to go maskless in since March 2020. I don't know why, and I never would have guessed that's where I'd do it, but that's what happened. I bought a cold cut sub there and made my way over to the park in town to eat lunch and recharge my camera and phone batteries. The fair was in town, just as before. It took about the same amount of time to recharge the batteries, and I made my way over to the Desert Rose cafe for a milkshake, just as before. I was glad to see they were still open. I think I was sitting in the same spot too. By 2:30, I was leaving town and back on the towpath.

It was a peaceful afternoon, although it started warming up again. I found a nice calm spot to jump in the river and cool off. The towpath also was lightly used until I reached the dam where more people were around. I passed the highschool hangout where kids sunbathe and jump off the towpath into the river. Mentally, I knew what to expect with mileage and have learned how much time it takes in between miles so I felt low stress. 10 miles after 2:30pm was no big deal. I was heading to mile 110 where the North Mountain hiker/biker campsite is. I was starting to struggle with a bad case of chaffing on my inner thighs due to hiking in wet shorts/boxers after swimming. Feet felt totally fine, had some pain in my right shin.

I made it to camp around dinner time. There was a man there, out for a dayhike, identifying plants with his phone when I got there. We talked a short while, then he left. I had camp to myself for the night.