Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Big Bills


day3pic3
Originally uploaded by leekraus.
Here is a picture of Big Bill's. A regular stop along to towpath. Bill's was truely unique and offered a variety of dressings for your salad (not).

Saturday, May 14, 2005

Kraus Tour 2005

This years trip will be Sept. 10 through Sept. 14. Let us know if you want to go.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Day 5

Leave Whites Ferry at 7:30 Mile Post 35. It is a working ferry.

11 AM Great Falls mp 14


2 PM Georgetown mp 1


3 PM Washington Monument


6 PM Rich, Beth, & Trey's house My new Grandson is arriving the week before.


8 PM Start Home


12 Midnight Weston

Day 4

Leave Hancock at 7 am, breakfast at Sheets.

There is a 15 mile paved Rails to Trails parallel to the canal here, we usually take that for a change of pace.

Lunch at Williamsport. We like Sheetz. This is a nice little town. There is a bike shop.

Whites Ferry about 4 pm. We stayed at The Angler's Inn B&B 535-1239 ($85 & $70)

The views along the Potomac are grand!

Brunswick is where we stopped for the day last year. I have been thinking about going ahead to White's Ferry for those who would like to ride a Century. Need to work on the details of this with Mark and the Leigh's. Those who are staying at a Motel in Leesburg need to make a reservation. Rooms were hard to come by last year.

Day 3

Leave Cumberland 8:00 am. This is milepost 185 on the C&O towpath. The path is dirt. Can get a little muddy in wet weather. It is nice flat riding though and to average 10 mph is not pushing it.

The Paw Paw Tunnel is at MP 155, we should get there around 11:15. Cindy will tell you a light is nice, not absolutely necessary. 30 miles so far today.

Milepost 142 (Little Orleans) is lunch at Bill's (a trip highlight)

The other tourists are sparse on this part of the trail but very friendly.

Hancock at 4 pm. Last year we stayed at The Hannock Motel(1-800-329-6108). We stayed at the Econolodge in 1999 ($50 & $65) in 97 we stayed at a B&B.

We have used 3 restaurants for dinner. You must have a picture ID to be in an establishment that sells "your favorite legal beverage" in Maryland. (ask Lee)

Day Two

Sunday-June 17- 67 miles

Have breakfast and be on the road by 7:30 am Rt. 93 to Mt. Storm Lake by 8:45- rest stop at at the truck stop.

Down Hill!!!! To Scheer and the Greenland Gap- Stay out of Cindy's way!!!

The valley from here to Ridgeville is nice. No traffic and great view. It's Rt 3 until we get to

Mineral County, then it becomes Rt. 9

Lunch at Ridgeville-if you forget to buy at the truck stop, Lee will share. About 42 miles so far this day.

The people at the Short Gap Store don't know how far it is to Cumberland. But we know it's Rt.

28 to the C&O. This 4 or 5 miles is in traffic, with a paved shoulder. Not too bad, but we have to take care.

Cumberland about 3:30. we stayed at the Braddock-nice rooms and hot tub & pool. They picked us up and took us back to the C&O the next morning. Doc will work on your bike in the room.

Room was $49 single and $66 double. 1-800-296-6006

The Inn at Walnut Bottom is a nice B&B

The flounder is good at the restaurant.

We ride 67 miles on Sunday. C&O visitor center is good.

Day One

Saturday - June 16

75 miles

Leave Weston at 6:30 am

Arrive in Elkins at 10:30 am we had lunch at Shoney's last year 33 miles -on the road by 11:10

Rt 9 to Shavers Fork River

Parsons at 2:30 pm- we like the river side ride from Elkins to Parsons 22 miles

Railroad grade to Hendricks

Davis by 6:00 pm via the Blackwater Canyon- it is closed now, understand it will be open-

it is a 76 Mile day.

We use the Best Western Motel-nice rooms-restaurant open for breakfast. About $55 for single and $62 for double. 259-5245

Dinner at Sirianni's Great food and beverages.

Trip Information

We suggest a bike rack with a bag and/or panniers. We ride our mountain bikes. Most of us use our regular off-road tires. A computer for speed and distance is nice. We arrange the ride home by taking our van up the week before. We can haul up to 7. A camel back for water is necessary. The C & O has water and restrooms.

Kraus Tour 2003

(Past Trip Information)

We have scheduled our annual Weston to Washington trip for June 21 thru the 25; that

is Saturday thru Wednesday.


For those interested, here’s the proposed schedule:



Saturday –June 21-75 miles
Leave Weston at 7:00 am

Arrive in Elkins at 10:30 am (33 miles) –on the road by 11:10

Allegheny Highland Trail to Parsons (22) miles

Parsons at 1:00 pm- lunch

Railroad grade to Hendricks

Davis by 5:30 pm via the Blackwater Canyon- Steve, Todd, Dan, and I rode down it last month

We use the Best Western Motel-nice rooms-restaurant open for breakfast. About $75 for single

and $67 for double. 259-5245

Dinner at Sirianni’s Great food and beverages



Sunday-June 22- 67 miles
Have breakfast and be on the road by 7:30 am Rt. 93 to Mt. Storm Lake by 8:45 - rest stop

at the truck stop.

Down Hill!!!! To Scheer and the Greenland Gap- Watch out for the deer!

The valley from here to Ridgeville is nice. No traffic and great view. It’s Rt 3 until we get to

Mineral County , then it becomes Rt. 9

Lunch at Ridgeville-. Cindy found a spot among some trees. About 45 miles so far this day.

The people at the Short Gap Store don’t know how far it is to Cumberland .( But we know its Rt.

28 to the C&O. ) This 4 or 5 miles is in traffic, with a paved shoulder. Not too bad, but we have to

take care.

Cumberland about 3:30 . We stay at the Braddock-nice rooms and hot tub & pool. They picked

us up and took us back to the C&O the next morning.

Room was $66 single and $71 double. 1-800-296-6006

We ride 67 miles on Sunday. C&O visitor center is good.



Monday-June 23- 63 miles
Leave Cumberland 8:00 am. Don’t forget Steve

This is milepost 185 on the C&O towpath. The path is dirt. Can get

a little muddy in wet weather. It is nice flat riding though and to average 10 mph is not pushing it.

The Paw Paw Tunnel is at MP 155, we should get there around 11:15 . Cindy will tell you a

light is nice, not absolutely necessary. 30 miles so far today.

Milepost 142 (Little Orleans) is lunch at Bill’s (a trip highlight) Cindy will meet us here

The other tourists are sparse on this part of the trail but very friendly.

Hancock at 4 pm . We are staying at the Best Value Hancock Motel $52 single and $55. Phone

301-678-6108.
Cindy is going home this evening. Michael (Mark’s brother-in-law) is going to take the van to his house. We will have to carry all we have on Tuesday morning. Will need to pack light.


Tuesday-June 24- 70 miles


Leave Hancock at 7 am , breakfast at Sheets.

There is a 15 mile paved Rails to Trails parallel to the canal here, we usually take that for a change

of pace.

Lunch at Williamsport . We like Sheetz. This is a nice little town. There is a bike shop.

Harpers Ferry about 3:00 pm . Brunswick about 4 pm . Michael will pick us up for the trip

to Mark’s(540-668-6680)

The views along the Potomac are grand!



Wednesday-June 25- 70 miles



Leave White’s Ferry 8:00 MP 35. It is a working ferry.

Great Falls 2pm - MP 14

Georgetown - 4 pm –MP 1

Washington Monument- 4:30

Beth & Rich’s – 6 pm

Start home – 8 pm

Weston – 1 am



We suggest a bike rack with a bag and/or panniers. We ride our mountain bikes. Most of us

use our regular off-road tires. A computer for speed and distance is nice.

A camel back for water is necessary. The C & O has water and restrooms.

We are planning on t-shirts and Cindy will be taking up money for food and gas.

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