Canal: Stuff to Bring

Things each person will need:

Bike (mountain or hybrid, not road bike... also, it can be cheap and crappy - my bike cost $120 at Walmart 6 years ago... note that bikes can also be rented pretty easily around here)

Panniers / storage for your stuff (you can buy/borrow panniers, a trailer, or just put your stuff into bags that you bungee onto your rack - there are many options that will work depending on how fancy you want to get)

Food (snacks and a few meals, and more if you don't want to do restaurants)

Tent (or space in someone else's)

Sleeping bag

Proper clothes (probably 2 sets of clothes, plus rain and cold gear - this is plenty. You can get "high tech" clothes or just wear old tshirts)

Inner Tube - in case you need it - chances are someone will have a flat



Things you probably want to take (or ensure that someone takes for you):
Flashlight
headlight/tailight (in case of night riding)
sunblock/bug repellent (I don't use it, but I take it anyway)
personal hygiene stuff
TP (not everyone needs a whole roll, but you don't want to run out)
spare change
bathing suit

Other things to maybe take:
Leatherman
duct tape
short rope
pump
matches
camera
pad and pen
"blue" plastic tarp
extra cords/straps
towel

I will be taking a whole bunch of bike maintenance stuff, but everyone needs to make sure that they have at least 1 inner tube for their bike.

The costs for the trip depend mostly on how fancy you want to get with the equipment. Bike rental is probably about 30 dollars a day (this is a guess) or you can straight up buy a passable bike at Walmart/Target for $125 (make sure it has mounting holes to mount a rack). Buying a bike rack (needed for most people) will cost you about $30. Transportation back to DC will probably be about $85 a person. Campsites are free, and the remaining costs depend on you - you guys already know how much a meal in a restaurant costs if you want to go that way (I highly suggest restaurants), and the equipment above ranges greatly in cost from nothing (if you borrow it or already have it) to big bucks.