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Aspen’s Wanderings
เข้าร่วมเมื่อ 18 ก.พ. 2023
My name is Aspen, and I love everything involving bikes! I have ridden my Surly Long Haul Trucker across the United States twice- once from Virginia to Oregon on the TransAmerica bike route, and another time from Canada to Mexico along the Pacific Coast. I have also completed several smaller bike tours, such as the Katy Trail in Missouri and the C & O and GAP trails from D.C. to Pittsburgh! I have very recently purchased my very first mountain bike, an Ibis Mojo 4, and am learning new things every time I get out and ride!
The GAP and C&O- PLACES to STAY, and MANY sights to see!!!
Planning to ride the GAP and C&O trails from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C.?? THIS is the video to watch! Check out my amazing adventure with my dad, as we rode from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. in May of 2024. I mention all the fantastic places to stay in this video, so this will help your itinerary planning! We stop in West Newton, Ohiopyle, Myersdale, Old Town, Hancock, Williamsport, Brunswick, and we even stay in one of the old historic lock houses right along the towpath before riding through the National Mall and checking out the Lincoln Memorial, Reflecting Pool, World War II Memorial, Washington Monument, the south lawn of the White House, the Capital Building, all before ending up at Union Station! We are both riding our Surly Long Haul Truckers and are using Ortlieb panniers!
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The Half Enchilada in MOAB- Am I in OVER MY HEAD?!?
มุมมอง 1.5Kหลายเดือนก่อน
Come along with me as I ride the Half Enchilada, located in Moab, Utah. This iconic bike trail is only half of the Whole Enchilada. Rated as a double black diamond, this trail contains lots of exposure and requires lots of technical riding, so this trail is not for absolute beginners. However, I have been riding MTB for a little over a year, and I was able to ride most of the trail with the exc...
Pacific Coast 101: The BEST Camping spots for BIKE TOURISTS!
มุมมอง 9123 หลายเดือนก่อน
No Turn Away Policy: www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/no-turn-away-bike-camping-policies/#:~:text=A no-turn-away policy,arrive at a full campground. Are you planning on cycling down the Pacific Coast? Be sure to check out this video to learn about some of the best camping spots along the entire coast! These spots have awesome hiker/biker spots for bike tourists that you do NOT want to m...
Pacific Coast: 101- One thing you MUST have with you!
มุมมอง 1.3K3 หลายเดือนก่อน
Planning a ride down the Pacific Coast? Check out my series, Pacific Coast: 101 for information on what sites you will see, information on campsites and places to stay, things you need to have with you, and much, much more!
Pacific Coast: 101- Is this the *most* BEAUTIFUL bike tour in AMERICA?!
มุมมอง 1.9K7 หลายเดือนก่อน
Pacific Coast: 101 Episode 1 Are you interested in bike touring down the Pacific Coast? Check out Episode 1 of my four part series! In this series, I will be sharing the logistics of cycling down the Pacific Coast. Information will include the iconic sites you will see, such as Puget Sound, the Columbia River, Mount St. Helens, the Oregon Coast, the Redwoods, the Golden Gate Bridge, Big Sur, an...
Bike Tour Safety: My TOP 9 tips...and a few will SURPRISE you.
มุมมอง 2.8K10 หลายเดือนก่อน
Are you going on a bike tour? Here are my top 9 safety tips to consider. Although the list could be endless, in this video, I cover the things that may not be so obvious, and a few of my tips could surprise you. Most people spend most of the time researching the gear they need prior to taking off, but it is vital to know what to do in some sticky situations. You never know what each day on the ...
The PERFECT Getaway: Van Life, Mountain Biking, & Chasing Waterfalls in BEAUTIFUL North Carolina!
มุมมอง 2.6K11 หลายเดือนก่อน
Craig and I spent a long weekend in Brevard, North Carolina. We had so much fun taking our van on its very first trip! We spent the weekend hiking to some amazing waterfalls, mountain biking in Dupont State Forest, and eating some great pizza! We camped at the Black Forest Campground, and loved every second of it!
Washington Parks Bike Tour: BEAUTIFUL Yakima Canyon!
มุมมอง 6Kปีที่แล้ว
The Washington Parks Loop is a bike route that goes through some of Washington State's most gorgeous places: North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, plus countless state parks. We began our ride in Selah, which is a town right next to Yakima, and spent our first day of our trip riding through the beautiful Yakima Canyon! If you are interested in bike to...
Going on a BIKE TOUR?! Here's what gear I pack!
มุมมอง 31Kปีที่แล้ว
Are you planning on going on a bike tour and aren't really sure what gear you need to pack? In this video, I break down every piece of gear that I pack on my bike tours- from tents to toiletries, this video will get you on the right track and leave you feeling confident when you pack up and hit the road! Bike: Surly Long Haul Trucker Racks: Tubus Tara and Tubus Cargo Evo Tires: Continental Tour...
Cycling the C&O Towpath and the Great Allegheny Passage: An ICONIC bike tour from D.C. to Pittsburgh
มุมมอง 54Kปีที่แล้ว
In July of 2020, my dad and I drove to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where we caught an Amtrak to D.C. and began our bike tour on the historic C&O Towpath and the Great Allegheny Passage. It was HOT, but we had a fantastic time!
SEDONA MOUNTAIN BIKING- Absolutely BEAUTIFUL Arizona scenery distracted us from some bike troubles!
มุมมอง 2.1Kปีที่แล้ว
We recently headed out west to Sedona, Arizona to do some hiking, and we decided that we had better take our mountain bikes too! I mean, who doesn't take their mountain bikes when visiting Sedona?! I've only had my mountain bike for a month, so I was a bit intimidated at first, but once we hit the trails, I had SO much fun! I can't wait to go back! Our first ride, we hit up Slim Shady and Templ...
CYCLING THE PACIFIC COAST from CANADA to MEXICO on my Surly LHT- A Bike Tour of a LIFETIME!!!
มุมมอง 109Kปีที่แล้ว
CYCLING THE PACIFIC COAST from CANADA to MEXICO on my Surly LHT- A Bike Tour of a LIFETIME!!!
MY FIRST MOUNTAIN BIKE! Ibis Mojo 4 from N+1 Bikes!
มุมมอง 2.4Kปีที่แล้ว
MY FIRST MOUNTAIN BIKE! Ibis Mojo 4 from N 1 Bikes!
Greetings, Aspen! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful video. I’m a long distance hiker and I’m looking into doing some bike packing with some hiking friends. This trail is right in my backyard. We may give it a go ✌️😀
Oh, for sure! It has to be the best rail trail in America- logistics are super easy too!
That was so inspiring and touching, made me smile and brought a tear to my eye.... I love that you made these memories with your Dad.
Awww thank you!!! I will always treasure this ride with my dad!!
This deserves a thousand likes just from me. Awesome adventure.
Awwww thank youuuu!!! It was an incredible ride!
I rode the GAP trail last year and C&O this year again but want to ride GAP again so badly especially after watching your video. Thanks 😊
I love the GAP! I started planning my next GAP ride while I was riding it! Haha!
@@aspenswanderings Sounds like me!! 👍
Aspen, could you explain how you got your bikes to that bike shop in Washington? Did you and your dad mail them there for pick up? How did that work? Thanks in advance!
We shipped them there! We went to a local bike shop near our home and had them ship them to the bike shop in Washington. We didn’t do any of the boxing or anything- just dropped it off at the local shop, then flew to Washington a week and a half later and picked up our bikes. Our local shop charged a small fee for disassembling and of course the shipping fee. I believe they ship them via Bike Flights for a fairly reasonable price. The Washington bike shop charged us for putting the bikes back together and giving them a simple tune up after being jostled around in shipping. The Washington bike shop was really kind and probably does this a lot- no issues at all. However, when we ended our ride in Chula Vista (near the Mexican border), I made arrangements two weeks in advance with a bike shop to ship our bikes back home and they bailed on me when we arrived and really messed us up. We had to find a local UPS store and had to do it ourselves. It cost us $900 to ship them back home via UPS vs. the normal cost of around $200 doing it through a bike shop. Yikes. Just make sure it’s a reliable shop. I’ve shipped my bike several times like this and have never had any issues other than the shop in Chula Vista.
Fantastic video; loved your positive attitude! Can’t wait to ride this!❤❤❤
Great tip!!
Thanks!
Great video! Great Trip! Great Dad!! DD
Definitely a great dad and great trip!!! :-)
I just completed the GAP portion and loved every minute! Doable and scenic beyond expectation!
Yes! It’s GOT to be the best rail trail in America.
Wow the Redwood were amazing!! I must addd those to my bucket list of rides.
Awesome ride. I envy you your youth and ability and desire to just GO. I can’t understand why you have only 27 followers. Maybe you need to take some more adventures. Best wishes to you in your future endeavors. I pray you share them with us. 😊
Haha I’ve got 3,000 subscribers, so it’s climbing. Not a lot, but I’ll take it! Be sure to check out my other videos if you haven’t already! Thanks so much for your kind comment and for watching!! :)
Great! Nice video & images & humor! Thanks.
Thank you!!
This is terrific. I've done 12 bike tours. I use the same Ortieb bags (red, tho). I agree that a good pillow is worth its weight in gold. Same with an appropriately warm sleeping bag. I FROZE in Grant VIllage in Yellowstone and in a USFS campground near Grand Teton. The fabric on the pad is genius. I am always sliding off my pad.
Thank you! And yes- that fabric is awesome and weighs hardly anything! On my first big tour, my sleeping pad got soooo dirty. The fabric definitely helps keep it clean! And I’ll never be ashamed of my pillow! Haha!!!
Congratulations!! I did both trails last year after a fail attempt the year before. They are so beautiful and very different. I can’t wait to do them again.
They really are great. I’m already wanting to ride them again in the next couple of years!!
Hello! Great video. Just a ? I'm not sure if you answered it already, but how many days was the trip? Thanks. I keep saying im gonna to the trip and next think you know its next year. 😅
This time, we took it easy and took 8.5 days. We were doing pretty low miles each day- averaging around 40 a day…some days we rode 50. Last time we rode it, we camped and it took us about 6.5 days. And yeah, I totally get what you’re saying! I’ve learned to just do it, even if the timing isn’t just right. Ha!
Those ramps on the Western Maryland Rail Trail are to bypass a tunnel that is closed to the public.
Yeah- I saw that tunnel! I wonder why they didn’t use the tunnel- maybe too much $ to fix?
@@aspenswanderings It's called the Indigo Tunnel. Supposedly several colonies of endangered bats live in the tunnel so it's closed to protect them. I took a ride on the Western Maryland Rail Trail back in April. Here's the video. I have a section where I talk about the tunnel. th-cam.com/video/oDWIjQHHS9M/w-d-xo.html
"We made it to the Super 8 in Hancock" Yes, that too was about the best thing we could say about the Super 8 in Hancock when we stayed there last week.😂 We did love the Bright Morning in West Newton and Market Inn in Ohiopyle. We just finished up our ride Sunday and I can't wait to go again.
Hahaha!! Yeeeeah.🤣🤣 lots of good places to stay, a few not-so-good. I will say, I’d stay in that Super 8 10x over staying another night in the Donges Drive In place…….😬😬hahaha!!
You rode West to East. After your ride, which direction to you think is best to ride. I am planning this ride this fall and wasn’t sure I would want to end in DC. Thanks for the video.
I definitely prefer west to east. I really enjoyed the 20 miles or so of downhill into Cumberland compared to riding it in the opposite direction. I honestly found ending in D.C. easier than finding my way around Pittsburgh. The trail isn’t signed very well when you get closer to Pittsburgh when heading east to west. And the C&O rolls really well riding west to east, as you’re losing elevation. It’s very slight, but makes a big difference.
Thank you for that information, it makes sense. I think I will follow your recommendation.
Very nice video of that trail, and nice voice and accent.
Thank you!! :)
Very good video. You are talented. My wife and I are going to bike the GAP up by Rockwood this weekend. 👍
Thank you!! Enjoy your ride! Fantastic trail system!!
Oh you two get along so well together and really did this trip together in such a nice way. The activities of biking are what makes my world go around- thanks for wonderful inspiration! Stay blessed you two! 🚴🏼♂️🌱🌿🧘🏼🙏
Yes- I love biking! Thank you so much for watching!
Hi! My wife and I really enjoy your videos. I’ve always wondered what the inside of a gate house looks like. That was special. Question: i noticed you and your dad use 2 different types of mirrors. We want to try them out. Would you share what brands they are. I’m guessing yours are quite sturdy….which would be one of my goals too. THANK YOU.
Great to see you both back 😊🇬🇧
Thank you for watching!! :)
Thank you for another great video!!
Thank you!! :)
Quick question... what bikes are you guys riding? Thanks for the videos!
We are both on Surly Long Haul Truckers!
Can’t believe the geese were that nice to y’all! We got “attacked” at Big Slackwater in April😮. Nice video!
Hahaha oh dear!!! I’m honestly surprised we didn’t get attacked, too!
hey, ya'll be staying in comfort!! we call that credit card touring. When i do it, i'll be camping every night. hard coring it!!
Haha yes! This was my first time crediting card touring! My dad had a quadruple bypass in October, so this was our first trip since then and decided to take it easy. I was worried it would feel like less of an “adventure” but it was really fun and I stayed clean! Haha!!
@@aspenswanderings Gives me inspiration... I had double bypass 2 yearsa ago and bought a bike as part of my rehab... looking to do some long rides soon.
awesome video! love your vids!! that was an awesome ride. please make more videos.
Thank you! Planning on more!! Thanks for always watching!!
We love you and especially we love your videos with your dad. ❤ Thank you for sharing.
Awww thank you so much!!!
That looks super fun! The biggest city I've ever rode in is Paducah, Kentucky LOL Great video - always enjoy your content!
Hahaha Paducah totally counts!!!
There’s a walking/bike path that goes up to the hotel in Brunswick.
Haha oh, I’m sure there was. I’m so done with Google Maps! LOL
That bike path is one of the best rides in America - on my bucket list
I totally agree!!
I love watching your videos, my mom and I did our first tour last year and we started on the GAP, at 2:13 the baseball field we actually took cover in the dugouts after a tornado warning and wind/rain was insane! So we stayed in that town, the hill going up into the town was insane and my poor mother way crying the entire way 😂. Then the next morning we had one of the best Omelettes we’ve ever had (perogi omelette, mashed potato/cheddar cheese inside, with kielbasa on the side).
Oh my!!! What an experience that would be! That’s crazy! I’m laughing about your mom crying going up the hill hahahaha. It’s a bad hill. lol! Nothing like a good breakfast while on a bike trip!! Thanks so much for always watching!!
Well done. My wife and I rode from Pittsburgh to Cumberland last May. Did the fire siren still wail at night in West Newton?
Haha, it actually didn’t, but there was a sign in the room warning us that it might and to not be alarmed. Haha!!
👍
Thank you!
👍
More great memories with your dad! I have so many great memories of the C&O and GAP trails. Two of my favs! We’re taking the van on its maiden voyage next Wednesday back to Pennsylvania, my home state! (I’ll have 2 bikes with me😊) We’ll bounce around for about a month before returning to CO. Thanks for sharing your journey!
So exciting about your van!!! I can’t wait to see more pictures of it!!
Thank you for sharing this magnificent video of your ride with your dad. I enjoyed living vicariously through your great videos.
Thank you so much for watching!!
I loved doing those trails! I hope you didn't miss the Great Falls in MD. There's a short path off the trail. It was my favorite part. I have some clips of the falls in my C&O video.
They’re pretty great! We actually did miss Great Falls. There was a severe thunderstorm headed our way so we had to skedaddle…but we saw it last time we rode it a few years ago! I’ll have to check out your video!! Thanks for watching!
Great video, once again! So cool that you get to ride and make memories with your father. Priceless. Thanks for sharing!
Definitely priceless! Thanks for watching!! :)
So Nice to see you and your Father out for another Cycling Adventure! I do not know how your Dad was able to ride without a Helmet, I feel naked without mine,. With over five decades and tens of thousands of miles of cycling touring under my butt, I can say the three times I have fallen I was traveling about three miles per hour and loose sand and wet clay allowed my front wheel to slip out. Each time I saw stars after my head hit the hard ground and was glad I had the Helmet on.
Yeah- he is pretty stubborn about it. I’m glad you are ok after your three falls. I always try to wear mine, but sometimes on rail trails I might take it off for a bit, even though I need to wear it 100% of the time. Thank you for watching!!!
I would be more concerned with being struck by a driver on a damn cell phone, while daily riding. I’m old school, ridden C&O and AP. many times. A helmet is okay, if so inclined. However, it’s really just more indoctrination from the nanny state that we have become.
What bike is your father using and is he happy with it?;
He is riding a Surly Long Haul Trucker. It’s the same as mine, but with the Surly Moloko flat handlebars. He loves it!
This was so cool thanks for taking us along it brought back memories of basiclly growing up in Brunswick at the campground about every weekend , as a kid I rode many a miles in that hilly town on my bike . I would so love to be able to take a trip like this I have two bikes , a Giant Sedona and a Giant Cypress , the Sedona has 26x2.1 tires so it would be my bike of choice the Cypress has 700c tires . I tow my dog behind the Sedona in his little pet trailer so finding places that alow pets overnight would be my issue and I would be doing it by myself so that wouldnt be as much fun either , anyhow thanks again this was so enjoyable .
Oh, I bet that would be a fun trip with your dog! I’d love to take mine. Several of the places allow dogs, but you could definitely camp with your dog. That Brunswick campground looked nice! And holy smokes- Brunswick is soooo hilly! Haha!!
Hello, this is Keith, along with my wife Cathy. You were so kind to post the picture of the four of us! Yep. LOL. We made it to Pittsburgh and then back to Cumberland via Amtrak. I have your video on pause while I'm typing. The video is great and has me thinking of doing the entire trail next year. I sent the video link to about 7 of my friends and family! Take care...Keith
Haha!!! I was waiting for your comment!! You guys really made my day! You should totally do the whole trail. A lot of people worry about the C&O being rough, but they have resurfaced a LOT of it and some of it is even smoother than the GAP. Hopefully they will have it all resurfaced in the next couple of years. Thanks again for watching and I loved meeting you and Cathy! I’m giving you a follow!!
Thank you very much for this great video and the interesting and wonderful impressions you saw and experienced on your tour. The landscape looks really fantastic. You must have enjoyed every kilometer of your tour. Bikepacking is a great thing, because you get to experience and see so much that you wouldn't otherwise see. RAGBRAI would be a great tour for you and your father. I'm sure there are lots of interesting and entertaining videos. I would also like to do a bike tour in the USA one day. Otherwise, I can recommend our continent of Europe. There are many wonderful cycle tours here. My favorite would be KATTEGATTLEDEN in Sweden Thank you very much and best wishes from Switzerland
Thank you so much! RAGBRAI is definitely on my list! If you do a USA tour, I highly recommend the TransAmerica route and the Pacific Coast route- they are fantastic!! Bike touring in Europe seems a little out of my comfort zone, as I’ve only been once, and it was about 17 years ago, but I think it would be amazing!
Great video, thanks for taking the time to film, edit to share it :)
Thank you for watching!! :)
Congrats on finding the zero mile marker for the C&O. It can be pretty tricky to locate and it would be nice if there was signage from the traditional path along the canal to the marker. I live in Northern VA so this spot usually signifies the end of the ride for me. I have never done the credit card tour along this route as I just really prefer to camp whenever possible. I also haven't been back to the trail since they re-opened the Pawpaw tunnel. I had to hike-a-bike over the mountain detour on my last trip, which was zero fun with a fully loaded bike. The ride down the backside was pretty fun though. I look forward to watching you next adventure.
Yes- that Paw Paw detour was what kept me from riding it again over them past few years. This was actually my first credit card tour! Honestly, I’ve always kind of turned up my nose to it, but it was actually really fun and I didn’t feel like it was any less of an “adventure”. Definitely more expensive, though. Dad had heart surgery in October, so we decided to take it easy on this trip. Thanks for watching!!!!
Superb video! Did the same(but DC to PIT) in May 2017….the week before Memorial Day weekend is an excellent time to ride it.
Yes!! I think it might be the perfect time. Last time we rode in July and it was miserably hot. I bet mid to late October would be great too!
Nice! Do you know if D.C. to Pittsburg on the trail is very slightly uphill? Or do the elevation changes east to west versus west to east even out, to make riding either way about equal? Just curious. I rode Wisconsin's Elroy-Sparta trail a few years ago, both ways, over one weekend, and was surprised to note how the gradual elevation increase one of the ways almost did me in after already riding for 25 or 30 miles before I hit the trail.....
Really nice video 😊
Thank you for watching!!!
👍👍❤❤👌👌🌹🌹
Thanks!!!
@@aspenswanderings 🌹🌹❤❤🌹🌹