A chat with Mary McGowan is the Rebel Without a Car. She’s a Delaware native now in South Carolina who went from a car-free bike commuter to bike tourist and has discovered a ton of adventure along the way.
Day 4 of the 4×44 GAP Loop came too quickly, but featured the ultimate payback for a day and a half of climbing… the giant downhill to the finish line.
Day 3 was sneakily the toughest of the 4×44 GAP Loop. Sure the hill wasn’t as steep as day 1, but this one was the full 44 miles long. Would the heat get the best of me?
Day 2 was, at least on paper, the most chill of the 4 segments—all downhill and the coolest of the remaining days. But with an unexpected state of affairs in Ohiopyle, will my chill day become the most stressful of the tour?
The GAP 4×44 Loop tour begins with some question marks about heat and hydration, and oh yeah… a 24 mile climb to the eastern continental divide. With no climbing in my bicycling since 2019, could I haul me and a fully loaded bike up that hill?
As I round the corner to my next tour of the Great Allegheny Passage, what are my biggest challenges? You know, other than the pandemic thing. The GAP 4×44 Loop tour preview has all the answers…
As we adjust to the new normal, can we bike tour safely and responsibly during a pandemic? On this episode, I share the thoughts of fellow listeners, a bike touring organization, and my personal recommendations for bike touring during COVID times.
With my proper trail bike in the shop but a real need to get out for an overnight, I turned to a C&O newbie… my trusty 12″ wheeled, very orange Brompton as my chariot to an urban(ish) stealth camping overnight. Would the trail chew up the Brompton? Would my orange gear prove too, well, orange for stealth camping? If you can’t get your adventure by the liter these days, may as well do it in sips…
Concluding my western C&O loop adventure! Day 3 began with a chilly, rainy start. The loop had to be closed, but would anything other than rain and tunnels stand in my way?
Continuing my western C&O loop adventure! On Day 2, I left the unique confines of Potomac Forks campground and looked to resupply in Cumberland and loop back. But would Cumberland offer me what I needed and would I get distracted from completing a full loop from where I began my day?