Riley’s Lock to White’s Ferry via Old River Road

Pre-Ride

Some rides start quietly. Others begin with a soundtrack before the wheels even start turning.

I pulled onto Riley’s Lock Road and parked in the second lot near the boat launch rather than the lot closest to the trail. As I stepped out of the car, a familiar sound drifted across the park. The Sunday afternoon jam session was back.

A group of local musicians who look about ten years older than me gather here when the weather turns warm. Folding chairs, coolers, guitars, and a loose circle of players working through classic rock and country tunes from the 60s and 70s.

I had not seen them in a while, so their return felt like a reliable signal that spring had finally arrived.

As I pulled the bike off the rack and started getting my gear on, they launched into Folsom Prison Blues. Not a bad soundtrack for the start of a ride.

The day was about 70 degrees with overcast skies. A steady west wind around 10 mph with gusts pushing close to 20 was coming across the river, but the trees along the canal usually block most of it along the towpath.

For the ride soundtrack I started Mountain Grass Unit from WinterWonderGrass in Steamboat Springs on February 27.

Steamboat has always been one of my favorite ski mountains. Before we had kids, my wife and I used to vacation there with friends most winters. WinterWonderGrass is still on the list of festivals I would love to attend someday, but nugs makes it easy to drop into the show from home.

As I rolled away from the parking lot the set opened with John Harding’s Vamp in the Middle, a perfect little jolt to get the ride moving.

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Riley’s Lock to Edwards Ferry

Getting up onto the towpath required riding through a wide stretch of puddles and mud just past Lock 24. After that the trail conditions improved quickly.

The first major landmark along this stretch is the Seneca Aqueduct. I stopped briefly at the top to take a photo and look out over the Potomac. The river was running high, likely from recent rain.

Just past the aqueduct sit the Seneca Mill and quarry ruins. As I rolled past them a chorus of frogs started up somewhere near the water. Spring had definitely arrived.

Wildlife was active too. Squirrels were everywhere and several darted across the trail in front of me during the first couple miles.

The towpath itself was mostly dry with a few soft patches where the surface slid slightly under the tires. Nothing dangerous, just enough to keep you paying attention.

About a mile in Midnight Rider came on and the warmup pace naturally picked up a little.

The ride north passes a few familiar canal markers.

Horsepen Branch hiker biker campsite around mile 3.5
Sycamore Landing shortly after

A run of train themed songs showed up in the set list including Back on the Train and a jam built around Reuben’s Train, a nice nod to Jerry Garcia’s Reuben and Cherise.

Canal riding and train songs seem to pair well together.

By the time I rolled into Edwards Ferry I had about 8.3 miles in the legs and felt warmed up.

After a quick stop at the Chisel Branch campsite I crossed the canal bridge and turned toward River Road.

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Old River Road

Turning onto River Road brought an unexpected soundtrack moment.

The Cantina song from Star Wars popped up just as the gravel section began. It added a slightly whimsical feel to the transition off the towpath.

This is not the paved River Road closer to Potomac. This is Old River Road outside Poolesville, a gravel road that winds through farmland along the river valley.

The feel of the ride changes immediately. The narrow double track of the towpath opens into a wider gravel road with gentle rollers.

Riding under the forest canopy, Big River kicked in and the energy of that jam pushed the pace higher.

Then came an unexpected cover. The Beatles’ Get Back.

Mountain Grass Unit plays plenty of bluegrass inspired covers, including a number of Grateful Dead songs, but I had never heard them do the Beatles before. It worked surprisingly well.

Eventually River Road reaches an intersection where Elmer School Road heads right and River Road continues left. I stayed left, climbed a short hill, and rounded a tight right turn where a small roadside stand sits with a mailbox full of jars of local honey.

I always think about stopping to grab one but never quite know where I would stash it for the ride home. This time I settled for taking a photo and kept rolling.

Beyond that point the trees thin out and the landscape opens into farmland. The fields were empty this time of year, waiting for spring planting.

With the trees gone the wind became much more noticeable.

Traffic was minimal. One enduro motorcycle, a pickup truck, and a couple fellow gravel riders were the only vehicles during the five mile stretch toward White’s Ferry.

The road surface was mostly dry with occasional potholes filled with water. A mild washboard texture ran through much of the road. Not perfect conditions, but far better than riding it right after fresh gravel is laid down.

Eventually River Road ends at White’s Ferry Road, where the canal becomes visible again through the trees.

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White’s Ferry Stop

A short paved stretch leads down to the ferry landing.

I rolled down to the water and stopped for a snack. Distance at that point was about 13.5 miles.

From the landing you can see the White’s Ferry Iron Bridge, which crosses the canal to connect the farmland to the ferry landing.

The Mountain Grass Unit set closed strong with New Country Blues, followed by Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms with Billy Failing sitting in on banjo.

Not a bad soundtrack for a quiet afternoon along the river.

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The Ride Back

My legs had been tired most of the week. Still sore from the previous Sunday ride and a tough leg workout midweek.

Garmin had shifted my training status from maintaining to recovery and then to strained by Friday. Overnight HRV numbers had also been running low. Probably a mix of less sleep and the start of spring allergies.

Spring riding always brings a transition. Winter training usually means shorter daily sessions. Thirty to forty five minutes on the trainer or elliptical plus a few days of weights each week.

Outdoor riding quickly shifts that pattern toward longer sessions. Forty five to seventy five minutes most days and longer weekend rides pushing twenty miles or more.

Even with tired legs I did not feel dead. Just a little slow.

For the ride back I started Kitchen Dwellers – Set One from Deep Ellum Art Co in Dallas on February 27.

Cabin Pressure opened the set as I rolled back onto the towpath. The music settled into a mellow groove through the early miles.

Wise River came and went quickly before the band stretched into a long ten minute Stand At Ease jam.

That stretch of canal riding almost becomes hypnotic when the music lines up with the rhythm of pedaling. The jam carried me past Sycamore Landing and along the quiet towpath miles back toward Riley’s Lock.

The ride finished with If You Ever Get to Oklahoma just as I rolled back into the parking lot.

It was a mellow set and matched the pace of the ride perfectly.

Sometimes a quiet ride along the canal with good music is all you really need.

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