It was fitting to leave for a ride on the C&O Canal Towpath from Gravelly Point. The sound of airplanes overhead from the Reagan National Airport was quite the opposite of the peace and serenity of the towpath on a “near spring” day in March. With snow left on the trail we rode north on the Mt. Vernon trail connecting to the Capital Crescent Trail and then a short time later to the C&O Canal Towpath. Talk about full circle – crowded jogging paths turned city-scape turned dirt and mud. From one extreme to the other as once we reached the wilds of the towpath we encountered fewer people and quiet.

I’ve gotten a few questions on my choice of footwear for bikepacking. I wear Keen sandals for bikepacking year-round. When the weather turns foul (cold or rain or both) I add a pair of Showers Pass Waterproof Crosspoint Crew Socks. This combination provides incredible flexibility. My feet stay warm and dry no matter the weather. SEE LINKS BELOW.

These Keen sandals make the perfect all around bikepacking shoe. With SPD cleats you can quickly go from clipped in on your bike, to forging a stream, to hiking a trail. They provide solid footing when off the bike that drain and dry quickly. So no need to pack an additional pair of shoes saving you weight and space in your pack.

The Showers Pass waterproof crew socks are well constructed and actually work. Did you hear that? Waterproof socks that actually work. On a recent trip in the fall in PA we suffered 3 days of rain and unseasonably cool temperatures. Everyone had waterproof socks, but mine were the only ones that worked. I didn’t remove them for the full 3 days and not only did they keep the water out, but my feet were dry since they allowed my feet to breathe. Magic? Maybe. But most likely just technology that works.

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