After arriving May, 2nd at our Hotel in Cumberland, we grab a bite to eat.  It was a bit cool, and most of us walked down to a place that sells irregulars, and  grabbed sweats just in case.  After breakfast at the hotel, its time to start down the Canal path.  Because of job and family constraints, I am not in the shape that I was this time last year, but its time to put up or shut up, so here we go!  This would be a Great Day!  There are really two groups of us. A group from central West Virginia and a Group from Northeast Tennessee.  Its kind of odd how we all hooked up, but for most of us, this would be our second trip down this trail as the same group.  Last year, there was a group camping and a group staying Motels. This year we would all  stay in Motels. The pictures below are simple documentation of the first day.

Sometimes, our Mules can be just as stubborn as the real ones

The Highlight of day one!  This tunnel is over 3,100 feet long.  You can't appreciate just how long that is, until you start to ride your bike through it.  And believe me, its dark as night about 60 feet into it.  One amazing work of engineering marvel, considering it was built in the  1800's.

Just how steep are those steps??

The end of day one.  ZZZZZZZZZZZZ