RAILS TO TRAILS ORG DEVELOPING ROUTES FOR BIKERS AND RUNNERS FROM WASHINGTON STATE THROUGH WASHINGTON D.C.

RAILS TO TRAILS ORG  is doing some exciting projects to create a bike path across several states called THE GREAT AMERICAN RAIL TRAIL - Washington DC to Washington State - all off street - 3700 miles!

This site is fabulous.  You can search for trails by state and will get a full description of the route.

THE GREAT RIDE : A 335 MILE BIKE TRAIL ALONG AN OLD CANAL PATH - FROM WASHINGTON D.C. TO PITTSBURGH

 

YOU CAN WATCH THIS FILM FROM THE WEB/ YOUR LOCAL PBS STATION

or an alternative such as YouTube

I had no idea that there ever was a canal system that went from Washington D.C. area to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, so this film was a surprise to me. Bikers from all over the world do some or all of this ride which connects two "towpaths.  One is the C and O Canal Towpath that goes from D.C. to Cumberland Maryland, and the other is The Great Allegheny Passage, which takes the riders into Pittsburgh.  The ride includes encounters with three rivers including the Casselman, Youghiogheny, and the Monongahela. The Allegheny Mountains have over a hundred species of trees and wild flowers. Riders go through much Colonial History territory, cross the Mason-Dixon Line, and wind through beautiful scenery - mountains and rapids.  They can stop to rest, sleep over, or eat in many a small town.

A towpath is the path aside the canal, which holds water and the boat, from which, be it by humans. horses, or vehicles, the boat is towed - when needed.

The history of the canal is that it was used by boats to move products before the railroads and trains took over.  Then it was forgotten. However, it was once vital to shipping and so along it lived many a "lock keeper." Since the Great Ride trail opened and bikers from all over the world are giving it their best, businesses in small towns have become more vibrant.

Some parts of The Great Ride are fairly level and not difficult, other's more rugged. 

You'll go from Harper's Ferry to Canal National Historic Park to Potomac River falls into Cumberland, Maryland, eventually reaching Ohio Pyle, West Newton, and into the city of Pittsburgh and Point State Park.

The Great Ride happened because

DESCENDENTS LIVING TODAY OF LEONARDO DA VINCI IDENTIFIED THROUGH RESEARCH

NBC NEWS DA VINCI DESCENDENTS IDENTIFIED !  by  Denice Chow

Excerpt: Vezzosi and Sabato scoured historical documents to identify the living relatives through an unbroken male line from da Vinci's father, Ser Piero, and half brother Domenico.  The living descendants range in age from 1 year old to 85 years old....

....  Very basically, this is a traditional research that may lead to genetic and DNA studies based on the Y (male line) chromosome. 

SUMMER

Summer is here and the Covid-19 closures are slowly opening up. 

In my area the city library opened June 1st with limited hours and is closed weekends.  It's clear that in the future there may be no need for a library at all, that is providing you have a home computer that is kept up to date. Luckily there are some good genealogy and history oriented databases loaded for library users.

Fourth of July was riotous but not as bad as last year when it came to illegal fireworks being shot off in my neighborhood.  My dog still shook and she peed the bed...

I have yet to step food in a shopping mall.  I still very rarely order anything over the internet and have never ordered from Amazon. I used my stimulus checks for necessities.

I'm not checking the news as often as I was during shut down.  I'm not listening to PBS news hour, my favorite, every evening any more.

My local coffee house was always open, the owner and staff all anti-vaxers, but I started going to it and sitting outside in the sun with my dog.  Don't know if I will do this for long, but having conversations with strangers is allowing me to be my more social self. 

My friends tell me they are totally frustrated with trying to get in contact with governmental offices such as Social Security.

It's been a month since I sent a e-message to the National Archives with a questions.  No answer yet.

No response from Italy for my client who wants her Italian citizenship.

I'm eating less and walking a little more and have actually lost a couple Covid-19 shutdown pounds... My pants aren't so tight!

The beach is crowded and the traffic to the beach is worse.

A July 5th picnic I attended which is held my a friend's union was crowded and absolutely no one but the food service were wearing masks.  I had a burger and got that "I can't believe I ate the whole thing" feeling.

My local charity thrift store has stopped taking donations... too many people have cleaned out their closets!

OH SAY CAN YOU SEE

 

 

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