Day 2

Hancock departure

First time sleeping on my brand new hammock, and may I say, it was life-changing for bikepacking. Not feeling any lumps on my back was perfect. I’m not sure if I’ll ever go back to a tent and a sleeping bag—well, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit—but the comfort was undeniable. I have no idea why I hadn’t tried this before.

After enjoying oatmeal with a banana one of my favorite breakfasts for the past 10 years, I quickly took down my hammock and packed my dishes to start day two of the trip. Not having to break down and pack up a tent is great; I could sure get used to this.

I cannot stress enough how much I enjoy cycling by the Potomac River. On the second day, despite partly cloudy skies, the conditions were ideal for a ride. We stopped to take a photo at one of the many dams along the C&O Canal. Shortly thereafter, as it started getting darker, we prepared for some rain, as afternoon showers were expected. While riding along, we stopped at a water pump—one of the many perks of the C&O Canal, although not all are operational. Luckily, we found a functioning one, filtered water to top off our bottles, and aimed to reach the campsite before we got soaked.

Upon arriving at Huckleberry Hill campsite, we quickly pitched our tents, and successfully avoided getting wet. I must admit, whether it's a hammock or a tent, I always try to find a spot facing the river; sleeping to the sound of flowing water is nice.

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