USNA 1973 Ride-2-Remember

Day 58, 30 September: Cumberland, MD

Most of the day was getting ready and rested for our final push. Mark did the final servicing on our bikes. I did laundry for a second time after a syrup packet leaked all over my pants and shoes at breakfast. I did some admin stuff including closing out the lodging spreadsheet for Ron, Tes and me – this is our last night as paying roommates, rotating between solo and shared rooms for the last 2 months. 

We all decided to get Covid boosters today, since we’re headed for some big crowds and travel next week.  Sally drove Doug, Tes and Ron to the nearest CVS; Dave and I tried to get an Uber and discovered they don’t operate here.  There’s only one taxi service that took over 40 minutes to respond, so we missed our appointment time. Fortunately, it didn’t matter and they took us on arrival.  Unfortunately, Ron wasn’t able to get his without his Medicare card, so will try to get it on our Arlington day off.

Cumberland is a picturesque but struggling post-railroad, post-steel boom sort of town.  Tes took a walk yesterday to try to find some cheese to go with our wine and found it pretty rough just 2 blocks away. We ate at the Crabby Pig again today and the European dessert place next door – not many other options within reach.

We held quarters and honored Mike O’Shaughnessy (the Big O), another larger-than-life classmate who left us too soon, and Ross Springer who I did not know. Tomorrow I ride for Rich Griffin and Tes has Gary Miller.

The C&O Canal starts right outside our hotel, there’s a high-and-dry canal boat next to it and a sign that tells us we have 184.5 miles on the towpath to the end in Georgetown.  It really is getting short.

We have two nights in campground cabins before Fort Myer, which will be a nice way to wind up our time on the road together.  Mark and Tes are planning a pasta feast tomorrow in Hancock, and I heard from our former neighbors in Fairfax who now live in Winchester and are meeting us with a cherry pie – apparently Sally gave them a heads-up.

The final push begins.

Bill Montgomery