C&O Canal Lock 10

Sunday August 16, 2009
Today we hiked 11.1 miles in a little less than 4 1/2 hours. 4 hours was moving time at an average speed of 2.8 miles and we were stopped for 28 minutes so the overall average was brought down to 2.5 miles. Elevation on the towpath was only 86 meters. We hiked with 19 lbs on our backs today. We hiked an hour north and came back to Lock 10 and then hike an hour south and came back to Lock 10. David's blister was patched with mole skin and he was able to do alright after the initial tenderness wore off. David was trying out his new "camel back" water container - now I want one! It allows you to drink water without having to stop and pull out your water bottle. This might seem like a small thing but when you stop walking your rhythm is broken and the more tired you are the harder it is to get started again. (Similar to when you are riding a bike everything goes smoothly but when you stop you have to pedal harder to get the bike moving again.)
It was close to 90 degrees today and very humid so I have prickly heat on my chest, lower back, legs, feet and one arm. David has a rash only where the backpack shoulder straps cross his chest. I was calling friends and family from the trail to distract me from how much longer I had to walk! No wonder Kay said her Dictaphone became her crutch.
Lock 10 on the C&O Canal was the final stopping point for our C&O canal bike trip for our 50 and 55 birthday celebrations. We biked down from Cumberland on the tow path over 3 days - each going the appropriate number of miles for their years. Good place to do our first walk with a full pack.