I biked 333 miles alone on the C&O Canal and GAP Trail in five days this October.

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  • Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
  • As I’m learning how to record myself while biking, manage video storage, color correct, edit, find music and more, I’m realizing that I am comparing myself to other RUclipsrs who have been doing this for years and possess skills that they’ve crafted over time. I’m reminding myself just to post- I don’t have to make things perfect, because if I try to, I will never post anything at all.
    So cheers to a mostly silent film. Cheers to figuring it out along the way. Cheers to listening to the sounds of nature rather than overlaying each clip with some random music. Cheers to keeping things simple, learning to be okay with mediocrity, and becoming comfortable with being flawed.
    I biked the entire C&O Canal and GAP Trail in 5 days with three nights of solo camping (one of which was wild camping) and one Warmshowers stay until I arrived in Pittsburgh. My first host offered to drive me back to DC since she already was planning to go there later that week, which ended up extending my trip by three days.
    I spent a great portion of my trip thinking about Israel, Palestine, genocide, antisemitism, colonialism, bullying, harassment and sexism. I had a great deal on my mind during this trip, none of which I knew was coming my way until I was bombarded with online harassment and the news from the attacks on Oct 7th. Bikepacking is one of those wonderful things where there is nothing to do aside from bike from Point A to Point B. This leaves ample free time just to think. To wonder. To listen to podcasts. To talk to friends (albeit, only when there is service and the wind isn’t too loud). To question your beliefs and understanding of the world. To wonder why some people take one side while others take the opposite side.
    I learned a lot on this trip, and not just about how beautiful biking is in October.
    MY SOCIALS:
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    MY (GENUINE) FAVORITE PRODUCTS (yes I do get a small commission if you purchase from these links ☺️)
    Outer Shell (the first brand to ever support me- San Francisco based company that makes high quality bike bags for commuting to bikepacking): use code LIVINGBYBIKE for 15% off your purchase
    Ortlieb (they make durable and reliable bike bags for bikepacking/bicycle touring): bit.ly/47g8Csw
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    #bikepacking #biketour #biking #solotravel #travel
    Music: *Just a Taste*
    *by [Beat Mekanik](freemusicarchi...
    source (Free Music Archive) and license type (CC BY)

Комментарии • 60

  • @BOTGRINDER
    @BOTGRINDER 2 дня назад

    Fantastic video, thanks for taking the time to set up all the shots!

  • @mhernandez4576
    @mhernandez4576 7 месяцев назад +1

    SOOOOO glad I happened upon your channel.....Looking forward to catching up on your adventures! Awesome narrating BTW...And yes...Keep sharing your heart!!!

  • @FollowThomas
    @FollowThomas 9 месяцев назад +3

    I rode C&O and the GAP Trail this year too. Loved it. Good to see familiar places

    • @livingbybike
      @livingbybike  9 месяцев назад +1

      It’s such a good little ride!

  • @BretSchnitzer
    @BretSchnitzer 8 месяцев назад +1

    I’m listening to your interview on bikepacking adventures and subscribed to your RUclips. Enjoying the video. Beautiful views. Thank you😊!

  • @greenwaybikexploring
    @greenwaybikexploring 9 месяцев назад +2

    I love seeing you stopped in at Beans. I had such a nice visit there while on a work trip. I wasn't biking, but I had time to explore from northern VA between customer site visits.

    • @livingbybike
      @livingbybike  9 месяцев назад

      yeah it was a really cute place!

  • @alanwilliamson6421
    @alanwilliamson6421 9 месяцев назад +2

    Great bike packing adventure 😊

  • @ecocentrichomestead6783
    @ecocentrichomestead6783 День назад

    I stopped hiking and skiing in my early 20's because I had noone to go with me.
    I'm 49 now and just got an ebike. When I get more battery power I plan to go exploring.

  • @pedalingthru2719
    @pedalingthru2719 5 месяцев назад

    Great video. Thanks for taking the time to edit and upload it.

  • @Rino-bicycle
    @Rino-bicycle 6 месяцев назад +1

    Very nice video, I hope to do those trail one day, congratulations from new-Brunswick,Canada

  • @Janespony
    @Janespony 5 месяцев назад +1

    So, I watched you make the same mistake I made when using those pumps. Washing my dishes at the grate there at the pump returns the dishwater to the well. It’s the reason that these wells cannot be potable water. The river when it floods has the same effect.

    • @livingbybike
      @livingbybike  5 месяцев назад

      Did not know that! Thank you for sharing

  • @alvink566
    @alvink566 4 месяца назад

    Good stuff! I rode 40mile Sunday, and my hip and legs are DEAD.

  • @toddrossauthor
    @toddrossauthor 8 месяцев назад

    Thanks for the very nice video. I agree, the world is so F'd up. There is nothing new under the sun. History shows that a state of peace is the exception. The older I get, the more I marvel at how violent the world is, how much greed there is, how little humanity there is, and how special kindness is when one finds it, especially given how little it costs. The wounds that people feel are very close, though. I understand that, as well. Biking, alone, sometimes, gives one some peace. I am very thankful for cycling.

  • @mateovncnt7411
    @mateovncnt7411 2 месяца назад

    leaving on a 333 mile adventure in Oregon from Portland to Ashland

  • @backyardrailroader
    @backyardrailroader 4 месяца назад

    A little update on my plans.
    I was going to spend 6 of the 8 day vacation in the area of the Great Alleghany Passage Trail and the C&O Canal Trail. Four of them would be riding along the trails starting at one point and going a certain distance, pausing at many locations to enjoy what is around me. Sure, I would only be on around 75 of the 330 miles of the route, but I never biked three days in a row. My leg joints are going to love me for it.
    Anyway, I cut it back to 3 days of biking. It would be a total of 110 miles of biking on those three days before heading on home. That would be on only 55 miles of the 330 miles of the bike route.
    I am hoping after a day of rest to bike on 34 miles of the Delaware and Raritan and the Delaware and Lackawanna Canal loop later in the week

  • @gustavoa3342
    @gustavoa3342 9 месяцев назад +1

    Man wish I had access to trails like these looks so relaxing. it's really hard to get away from cars where I live.

    • @livingbybike
      @livingbybike  9 месяцев назад +1

      Yeah this is the only really nice trail near me (require a 1.5 hour commute to get to). I’m really glad to have it somewhat nearby

  • @mikeandrews1899
    @mikeandrews1899 3 месяца назад

    Oh my God 🙊

  • @SamWestby
    @SamWestby 9 месяцев назад +1

    I gotta ride this trail

  • @jeffmpvd7689
    @jeffmpvd7689 9 месяцев назад +2

    Work is dumb.. but someone had to build the bike your riding, the infrastructure your riding on, make the clothes your wearing, grow the food your eating, develop all the technology your using.

    • @livingbybike
      @livingbybike  9 месяцев назад +1

      Read the book "bullshit jobs" by david graeber. Of course some jobs are necessary. But a massive portion of the jobs we have today are not. With the rise of technology and automation, we were predicted to have shorter works weeks. Now, we still have 40 hour work weeks, and a growing work force, with women working, and child labor laws being loosened in many states. We need to eliminate the bullshit jobs that plague our society, destroy our culture of hyper-individualism, and rework society where we can have shorter work weeks. Countries abroad have been experimenting with 4 day work weeks and have found them to increase worker productivity and happiness. Work is a necessary part of life, however capitalism is forcing us to work longer and harder to less pay. We need to restructure our society and approach to life. We should not have to work this hard. We should not live to work.

    • @jeffmpvd7689
      @jeffmpvd7689 9 месяцев назад +3

      @@livingbybike I'll take a look at that book. Of course a better work life balance is needed. The point I was making is that it takes a huge amount of people to get up every day and go to work to make the life you're living possible (and mine too) and we should not take that for granted. Thanks for the wonderful video!

  • @bikebob66
    @bikebob66 9 месяцев назад +1

    Great video young lady! I can totally relate to your opening rant on life. I usually bike alone and most of my rides ,I end up solving all of the world's problems in my head! As a vegetarian butcher by trade with a fine arts degree, my views an opinions tend to run a huge spectrum! Not to mention the differences of opinions among friends and associates. I know I tick off some of them but I have to be ok with wearing the liberal hippie badge that I have pinned on myself. Keep speaking up! Everyone doesn't have to agree with you but they have no right to keep you quiet! Ride on! Om Yo!!

    • @livingbybike
      @livingbybike  9 месяцев назад +1

      Hell yeah!!! Cheers to us and our “wild” opinions. Proud liberal hippie over here :)

  • @CargoBikeCowboy
    @CargoBikeCowboy 9 месяцев назад +2

    New to your channel, found you on Instagram. Your doing a great job! 🤠

    • @livingbybike
      @livingbybike  9 месяцев назад +1

      Awesome! Thank you so much!!!

  • @daivapetrikaite
    @daivapetrikaite 9 месяцев назад

    Nice trip 😊

    • @livingbybike
      @livingbybike  9 месяцев назад

      It was! Thank you for watching!

  • @dickjohnson4919
    @dickjohnson4919 9 месяцев назад

    You look so happy when riding.
    I think you might have pushed yourself a bit hard to make up the miles, but still enjoyed the journey.
    I wish you could get out into the open and riding away from traffic easier.

    • @livingbybike
      @livingbybike  9 месяцев назад +1

      I was physically fine with the number of miles I had to do in my short time (I was meeting up with a friend on saturday and had to make it in time) but I wish I had had more time to simply go slower and take more time to appreciate the nature. Physically, I was totally fine. Mentally, also fine, but wished I could have relaxed more. It's a beautiful place to be.

  • @joshomalley4852
    @joshomalley4852 4 месяца назад

    Awesome video, do you happen to know the name or mile marker of that first campsite

  • @regbillings4955
    @regbillings4955 7 месяцев назад

    Great video of your bicycle/camping tour. I always zip tie my panniers to the frame, I always worry they may get stolen when i'm on a long tour and have to go into a store etc. lol. I also bring bear spray, not so worried about the bears, more the bold coyotes. :) That idiot online, i'd block his dumb ________ :)

  • @hunter-street-travelogue
    @hunter-street-travelogue 9 месяцев назад +1

    Fuuck those are some nice views. I need to go further. Alls i saw when i did the C&O was gravel and i probably stopped at the first lunch table before turning back. Sucks when you're the only one that likes biking long distances.
    What kinda drone do you have? easy to pack?

    • @livingbybike
      @livingbybike  9 месяцев назад

      it's so so worth doing the whole thing. and I got a DJ SE mini from some person on facebook- it was small and discounted, so that's why I got it!

  • @BikesAndBanjos
    @BikesAndBanjos 9 месяцев назад +1

    Don't short change yourself. It looks like you rode both trails for a total of 300 plus miles

    • @livingbybike
      @livingbybike  9 месяцев назад +1

      oh you're right- I got the numbers mixed up!

  • @backyardrailroader
    @backyardrailroader 8 месяцев назад

    Not fit enough to do what you and others have done... ride the whole trail. I'm looking forward to doing sections of it this year.

    • @livingbybike
      @livingbybike  7 месяцев назад

      You got this!! Adventure comes in many many forms

  • @leroygee2902
    @leroygee2902 8 месяцев назад +3

    There are tons of idiots on the internet and the guy that wants you to be quiet is one one them. You have to ignore idiots like him!!

  • @terryperry6491
    @terryperry6491 9 месяцев назад +1

    Really really. Screaming at you in you DMs 🤦🏻‍♂️.

  • @cdg-hzg
    @cdg-hzg 8 месяцев назад +2

    To have to start your trip dealing with an insensitive comment on your feeling w.r.t. the Gaza crisis really touched me. It's amazing that people we have zero contact with can attack us for having feelings of empathy to Palestinians (note I did not say Hamas) because of the terror they are being subjected to today. Now we're two months on, and the terror escalates every day. To oppose the unrelenting attacks on Gaza is seen by those with far too narrow a view as either pro- or anti-Israel when it is neither. Feeling empathy and compassion for the families of those killed and captured by Hamas on 7 Oct should not be any different from feeling empathy and compassion for the families of those killed by the Israeli government's heavy handed response. Certainly, war is a heavy handed exercise. But, to wage war on Hamas with extreme force showing seemingly little regard for the lives of innocent Palestinians is also not acceptable. You have a right to feel as you do. You should know that many in the world feel as you do while harbouring zero anti-Semetic feelings.

  • @hallowed45
    @hallowed45 6 месяцев назад +2

    i was looking forward to watching your video until you started off with the crying and your political views. thats not what i wanted to watch because im not interested in your opinion as im sure you dont care about mine

    • @livingbybike
      @livingbybike  6 месяцев назад

      Lmao okay thank you for sharing your thoughts?

    • @hallowed45
      @hallowed45 6 месяцев назад

      Cool@@livingbybike

  • @custodialmark
    @custodialmark 8 месяцев назад

    ' i a greed.' Lakota know of such. wounded knee . i helped aim, we are now part of us. but not agree with the tresspassers of our sacred black hills. not for sale, bad extreamists on both sides. generaly most all just want to live and get along. i held my toung. family friend fled nazi. he books movie shaped my life. gave us bikes to tour. hunt agats now bro owns shop, i hope to get on another ride.

  • @gannon3816
    @gannon3816 6 месяцев назад

    Great video and FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸 shoutout to you for standing on your principles 👏

  • @djquiz6425
    @djquiz6425 9 месяцев назад +2

    You should be blaming Hamas for the deaths in Gaza. If you are blaming Israel, I agree with him, you don't know what you are talking about and should study the history of these people that have been trying to destroy Israel since its conception. There is a reason why none of the dozens of Muslim countries will accept any Palestinian refugees. Study the history of the PLO. No one criticizes any other countries of how they treat and ignore Palestinians, but will criticize Israel.

    • @larsengstfeld6744
      @larsengstfeld6744 9 месяцев назад

      "There is a reason why none of the dozens of Muslim countries will accept any Palestinian refugees."
      There are several countries surrounding Israel, who took in hundrets of thousands, if not millions of palestinians like Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, just to name the tip of the iceberg. I hope the irony does hit you with full force, telling other people here to study and educate themselves while being full of sh*t and far off from reality yourself!
      Yes, there is genocidal rethoric coming from many muslims, from islamic theocraties like Iran, and from hamas towards Israel. That is reality, and it needs to be condemned. But there is also genocidal rethoric and action from israeli settlers towards the palestinian people in general and not just hamas, and it has been backed by the hawkish, radical israeli goverment for quite some time now.
      The children, israeli or palestinian, are innocent, like many ordinary people too. But a rethoric like the one you are choosing here right now, is built to perpetuate this horrible conflict. Your behaviour is disgusting!