LocktoberfestDC: Biking Tour #2 - A Tale of Two Canals

From our starting location, it is a very short ride to the Navy Yard Terminus of the historic Washington City Canal. From there we proceed as closely as possible along the path of the historic canal. We stop at Canal Park, a three-block stretch of 2nd St. SE which has several interpretive signs and historic photographs. From Canal Park, we ride around a section of the original path of the historic canal which was overtaken by what is now the Southeast Freeway (Interstate 695) and CSX railway. Along this detour we make a surprise stop at a place that predates the historic canal. Back on our bikes, we return to the historic path of the Washington City Canal on what is now Canal St. SE and ride to the Lockkeepers House. Along the way, we see the Washington City Canal memorialized at Freedom Plaza. Then we make a brief stop to see artifacts of the historic Washington City Canal discovered when the National Museum of African American History was under construction. We make another brief stop at the German American Friendship Garden. At the Lockkeeper's House the house docent will explain the history of the house as well as the massive project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create West Potomac Park and East Potomac Park. After departing the Lockkeeper's House, we ride along a route approximating the path of the C&O Canal Extension to C&O Canal Mile 0, a stone marker at the C&O Canal's southeastern terminus. Here we see the ruins of Tide Lock A that connected the C&O Canal to the Potomac River. From there the final leg of our ride takes us to C&O Canal Locks 3 & 4. There we will see a working lift lock, where a replica canal packet boat will be docked near the National Park Service's Visitor Center in Georgetown. From here, participants are encouraged to attend our LocktoberfestDC Celebration, our pay-as-you-go Bavarian-style Oktoberfest at Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten which runs 3:00PM-5:00PM. Sauf Haus is located about one mile from the end of the tour.