Yesterday Pete and I drove the girls up to my sister’s house to stay for five days. This is the same trip they took in both 2007 and 2008, wherein they go to the camp that my sister is the director of, while Pete and I try to remember what it’s like to live in a child-free Jenworld. (Less laundry, fewer dishes, not so many American Girl dolls lying around.)
Getting the girls ready for their adventure was almost an adventure in itself. We packed and packed and packed. Then we packed more. The girls had to decide which stuffed animals to take, which was a far more selective process than the NFL Combine. The girls had to decide how many to bring and then remember which ones get along with each other and … blah blah blah … I tuned out the rest of Webkinz Draft ’09. Beyond the stuffed animals, we needed to pack books, by golly, because of course my sister, who is an elementary school reading specialist, would have NONE in her house. So yeah, we put a 20 pound bag full o’ reading material in the back of the car too.
But then there was packing for the Man and me. Because we decided to go an EPIC ADVENTURE after we dropped the girls off. Okay, maybe not epic, but it was an adventure all the same. We brought along Bubbles and Pete’s Un-named Man Bike (because Real Men don’t name their bikes) (but their daughters do and the Man’s bike is apparently Bubba) and went for a long, long, l-o-n-g ride on the towpath along the C & O Canal, which is on the Maryland side of the Potomac River.
[As an aside, let me tell you how I prepared for our Tour de Canal. I packed Bandaids in varying sizes to cover everything from blisters to major road rash. I had antibacterial ointment too, plus stuff in case one of us got stung by something. Pete gathered extra tire tubes, tools, and a frame-mounted air pump. And I foraged enough snacks and water to feed the Lewis & Clark Expedition. We were SET, I tell you.]
We started off at Point of Rocks, Maryland and headed toward Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which I vaguely thought might be 7-10 miles away. Um, NO. It’s almost 12.6 miles, which I now know because of that handy-dandy computer thingy that Pete put on Bubbles for me so that I could track every mile I pedaled and at what speed. (Around 11.5 mph going and around 10 mph coming back.)
Since the canal hasn’t been used for water-based transportation in many years, most of it looks like this:
But mostly the trail was shady and quiet like this:
We eventually made it to Harpers Ferry, which is at the intersection of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers:
And the town itself is as cute as a Civil War era button:
We walked around and stretched our legs, visited a mercifully non Civil War era bathroom, had some ice cream, and headed back.
The trip back was uneventful. Unlike the outbound leg, when the trail was full of bikers and walkers — and people, let me just remind you, if you’re on a trail like that, please don’t be like the jackasses who didn’t yield to other bikers and the dumbasses who did not wear helmets — the return was quiet and almost jackass- and dumbass-free. Glory be.
I would also like to mention that, while Bubbles came equipped with a super-cushy seat, the extra-padded gel seat cover that I got for her was very much appreciated, if you know what I mean. Suffice it to say that the only thing aching at the end of the 25 miles was my lower back.
We finally reached our car, loaded Bubbles and her boyfriend Bubba, and headed back to Jenworld. And you will never guess what we saw on the way:
Can you even believe that? One of my blog readers decided to do a shout-out on her car!
So that was Day 1 of Life Without Children in Jenworld. I think that we’re somehow going to survive the trauma of a child-free week.
I’m over at Mamarazzi today, talking about how boring celebs have been lately.
You look pretty sassy on bubbles. What fun!
I am totally impressed. I know I would have cried most of the way home!
Very well done – and I am surprised you didn’t mug that driver for her number plate.
Yay Jen!!! Congrats on the long ride!!!
Seriously impressed by your adventure and exercise hutspa.
Enjoy
Yay, Jen! That ride looks splendid and leafy and wonderful.
Love the kayakers in the river–so cool!
Hey, I was there in 2005! We visited Harper’s Ferry, had ice cream, and I took that very same picture of the river. And congrats on your expedition!
Glad you two are having a little fun couple time–and glad you and Pete are bonding too;) That wasn’t YOUR SUV on the highway?
Your description of the girls getting ready to leave had me CRACKING UP! Webkinz Draft ’09!
Fun! A friend and I did a 25 mile in the (very freakin’ big) hills along the CT and NY border yesterday. Sadly, no gel seat for me so things are sore that should never. be. sore.
Glad you had fun!
I’m very impressed by your bike ride. I don’t think I’ve done one that far since I was about 16!
I’m so glad you got the pic of the license plate.
I saw a sign that I thought Pete would like. I took a pic to send you but alas it was wiped off the memory stick during the epic computer/camera fail last weekend.
It said “MAN CAVE”
Way to go Jen! What a great place for a ride!
I miss my 25 – 50 mile bike rides. We used to bike out to Lake Superior and back when I was in college. Unfortunately my hubby is a decidedly non-biker like you were! Maybe I need to get him to start reading so he’ll get in on it.
And…my hubby used to live in Harper’s Ferry! Okay, just outside of it. He ran the KOA there for a bit. Small world, eh? (I, however, have not had the good fortune to visit…yet.)
What an amazing day you both had! How I would love something like that. What probably made it even more enjoyable was knowing your girls were also having fun. Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your week!
The empty nest CAN be fun!
Wow, looks like quite a ride. Maybe after your kids grow up and leave you’ll become some uber athlete.
No? Okay, maybe you’ll just get to try new things more often.
Neat! My hubby biked the C&O when he was a teenager. I’m not sure how far his family biked, but it was at least a week trip for them. Crazies.
We’ve ridden that trail!
OMG how this post took me back! I grew up skating and biking on the C&O canal (tell me there are still some working locks Pleeeease). We must have gone that same route a zillion times as there is small defunct ferry nearby that was owned & operated by my Dad’s family since the dawn of time and our pilgrimages always included Harpers Ferry. I believe I am a little envious of your weekend right now.
What a beautiful ride!
What beautiful scenery and what a lovely day. when I visit this summer we’ll do it together!
Looks like a wonderful ride. I admit that I sometimes do trail rides like that without my helmet….but I am extremely polite on the trail and road.
This nearly made me homesick! Loved the C & O Canal & trips to Harper’s Ferry when I was growing up. It’s been at least 20 years since I’ve been there, and your photos made me so happy! Glad you and Pete had such a wonderful day!
YOU are looking good!
Wow, you’re a bit of a bike-riding badass now! That’s pretty cool.
Also cool that you & Pete are now sharing in what seems to be a hobby of his (at least based on other posts over the past few years). Aww.
What a neat adventure! I would love to do something like that. And what a neat shout out treat on the way home! Enjoy your child-free week!