The rumor of rain was just that!  We hemmed and hawed and mulled and worried over the dueling APPS, some that showed rain rain rain some that did not.  My pathological optimism won the day, and we were a GO.  And.... NOT A DROP OF RAIN!   We had a simply terrific ride on a beautiful day in Frederick, MD. 

RIDERS:  Suzanne Allan, Brad Boekerloo, Jim Cavanaugh, Stanley Drake,  Jessica Hirschhorn, Renee McCullough, Allan Rogers, Doug Van Zoeren, and Anne Wittenberg.  Stanley, Allen and Doug were my former Kaiser colleagues, so we were covered with orthopedics, gastroenterology, and public health! 

Our 35 mile plan turned to 40 miles when we encountered an unexpected closure of Glade due to emergency tree work.   But the detour was unexpectedly stunning, with farmland, silos, barns, growing corn, amber wheat, and soybeans thriving.   Almost no traffic.  

We stopped at Loys Station Covered bridge, with a longer stop at Roddy Road Covered Bridge, and decided to fly through Utica Bridge as it was so close to home. 

We all stayed together and had a simply wonderful day.  Two of our group felt that the ride was a bit much, and turned back after 12 miles.  They texted me when they arrived safely back at Utica Park. 

Leader:  Ron Altemus

Members:  Mark Garrison, Sue Estes, Debby Bowman, Chantal Briere, Bob Thompson, Cindy Halliday, Joan Oppel



Route:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49615056  30.4 miles 735' elevation change.  Regular Tour de Accokeek routing to Bryan's Road and then exploration of the Timber Ridge subdivisions working our way back to Marshall Hall Road.  Following a thrilling descent of Marshall Hall Road, an out and back on Fenwick prior to a rest stop at Marshall Hall Landing.  Return featurd an exploration of River Rd before resuming the standard TdeA with the ascent of Barry Hill Road.  After cresting, a short excursion left on Old Marshall Hall Road before retracing and returning to the start.

Weather:  partly to mostly sunny with temps starting in the mid 70s, climbing to the mid 80s sans humidity.  7-8 mph breezes out of the west.

AMS:  swept in the low 11s; faster group was faster

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:   Summer solstice feeling fine making for an enjoyable, relatively flat ride.  First time for several members visiting the subdivisions in the Bryans Road area plus the out and backs on Fenwick and River.  Vehicular traffic was light - for some of us, no cars either way on Livingston outbound nor climbing Barry's Hill.

A bit of confusion re start time caused us to split into two groups.  The faster cyclists (Bob, Chantal, Cindy, Sue) left at the appointed time while the others waited for our errant friend.  We met on Fenwick at a small farmer's market, riding together down to Marshall Hall landing and onto River.  The final push up Barry's Hill resulted in regroupings into fast and slow.  A good ride for all.

Leader: Diane Harris 

Members: Liam Healy

Route: Allen Pond To Deale, A/B, 54 miles 

Weather: Beautiful, sunny, clear, breezy at times, temperatures from low 70s to mid 80s 

AMS: 13.2

Mechanicals/Mishaps: None

Report: Starting at Allen Pond in Bowie, we traveled the backroads of 3 counties (Prince George's, Anne Arundel, and Calvert) to get to one of my favorite rest stops, The South County Cafe in Deale, before returning to Prince George’s County. Along the way, we stopped at a farm for treats (an expensive granola bar!), rode along a fairly busy road with a very nice lane-width shoulder, past fields of corn, on one of my favorite roads (Leitch to Franklin Gibson), and enjoyed an iced coffee drink at the café. A perfect way to spend my Saturday! 

Leaders: Joan Oppel and Pat Walthers

Members: Ron Altemus, Debbie Bowman, Chantal Briere, Lou Dall'Orso, Karen McMillan, Denny Miller, Dave Van Ameyden, Pat Walthers

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41603248

Weather: Nice day, beautiful clouds/sky, sunny, surprising wind on the return. Temperature in the 80s with moderate humidity

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:  There was a slight mix up about the start time, so, by agreement, most of the group took off with the leader bringing up the rear and two riders joined up at the first rest stop at Scotts Store.

It was a lovely day for a bike ride and we all enjoyed the low traffic roads and relatively pleasant temperatures and humidilty.

Leader:  Ron Altemus

Members:  Peter S, Maureen F, Connie Q, Esther S, Mark G, Oswald M, Philip m (guest), Robin G, Carl H, Gene V, Don G



Route: Indian Head Rail Trail, heading east from Livingston Rd parking lot to rest stop at White Plains trailhead, and then returning westward to ride start.

Weather:  cloudy giving way to partly sunny, temps starting in the mid 70s rising to just about 80, air movement out of the SW

AMS:  swept in the low 12s so figure others were faster

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:  couple of non-regulars joined us today:  Joan returning to cycling after having a procedure or two and Oswald's son Philip with us during a visit with the 'rents.

Good number of other trail users varying from cyclists to couples walking to some baby strollers and one female bladester moving swiftly behind a bicyclist (thanks to a convenient handhold).

Wildlife sightings included deer, many types of turtles, eagle(s) on the nest near the ride start, numerous other birds, and a ~14" green snake.

• Leader: Lou Dall'Orso
  
  Members:  Chantal B, Joshua G, Connie Q,  Jackie S, Bob T.

  Guests:  none

  Route:  ridewithgps.com/routes/51730263

  Weather:  A nearly perfect weather day for a ride. Mostly sunny with a few white puffy clouds and light winds. almost 70 degrees at the start climbing to a comfortable near 80 towards the end.

  AMS:  14 to 15mph, maybe?....

  Mechanicals/Mishaps:  None, (other than my attempt at a group selfie at the Nanjemoy store).
  
  Report:   I was happy to see a good group of club members show up for the ride representing several classes.  I think everyone enjoyed the ride, and the group was never more than a few minutes apart, often within sight, regrouping at intersections and the rest stops. The route is essentially a big loop around Nanjemoy, and is well suited for mid summer rides as many of the roads are canopied and close to the water which help with the heat. I will be posting this (or a similar) ride weekly in the coming weeks. I encourage anyone interested to come on out, the pace will be tailored to the group that shows.

Leader:  Ellen Goodwin

Members:  Chantal Briere, Bob Thompson, Dave Van Ameyden, Josh Garrison, Ron Altemus

Report:  I really wanted to ride after volunteering at the Rural Legacy yesterday.  Wow it was a hot one. This was a 41 mile route starting from Pisgah Park, stopping at Goose Bay Marina, then the Nanjemoy Store.  Back to Pisgah Park via Mason Springs.  The group stayed together for the most part which was nice.  By the time we left the Nanjemoy Store everyone was hoping that the ride would end quickly as the temps rose to 95 degrees.  This is a pretty good route for a hot day as most of the ride is in the shade.  The rollers at the end on Mason Springs back to the park were fun and offered some welcome breezes!  Thanks to everyone who came out to ride today!

Mishaps:  None

What a GREAT PICNIC we had today!  361 Registered, 285 checked in + 45 volunteers, all thirsty and hungry.  That's a total of 330 folks who were hydrated and well fed. 

CO Chairs = Jessica Hirschhorn and Kathy King 

VOLUNTEERS (with whom this would NOT happen - thank you! ) 

Bruce Black, Gail Black , George Martin, Diane Harris, Lois Lightfoot, Sonja Newman, Linda Bankhart, Sara Clement, Walter Roscello, and Dennis Miller

We split into 3 shifts starting at 9:30 and ending at 2:30, but a lot of these amazing volunteers stayed for the whole time.  

Basing our logistics on previous picnics and extensive instructions, we set up tables, drinks, and hot coffee , and covered the tables with light blue gingham tablecloths. 

We served pickles/pickle juice, 5 kinds of sandwiches from NY Deli, chips, cookies from Costco, and juicy sweet watermelon.  

Drinks were water, gatorade, iced tea, lemonade, and hot coffee. 

And the riders kept coming.  And coming.  And eating.  And drinking.   Pretty soon we ran out of 3 kinds of sandwiches, leaving too many vegetarian and Italian combos.  We even ran out of PLATES, serving folks on paper towels.  They did not seem to mind, and stayed with their friends for a long time at the tables, in the shade, with a mild wind blowing.   

The afternoon shift were CRACK efficient, emptying garbage bags, clearing tables, collecting left over unopened food and produce for the local Food Bank as well as the local volunteer Fire Fighters, and packing everything up in Dennis Miller's pickup truck, to be taken back to the storage facility.  We were hoping that the gigantic pile of stuff did not fly off on the way. 

All in all, a very successful and well received picnic. 

Next year?  Order more GOTTI sandwiches and fewer  NY Yankees.  And bring more plates. 

Leader:  Ron Altemus

Members:  Jackie Schoch, Maureen Flynn, Peter Stelman, Debby Bowman, Connie Quickstad, Mark Garrison, Don Gardner, Gene Villiva, Carl Hattery



Route:  Indian Head Rail Trail, heading east from Livingston Rd parking lot to rest stop at White Plains trailhead, and then returning westward to ride start.

Weather:  Acceptable, thanks to the 9 am ride start.  Temps in the low 80s rising to the upper 80s under blue skies and warm to hot sunshine; 6-8 mph winds out of the west, and noticeable humidity but not sweat city.

AMS:  ride leader swept about 12ish.  Others were faster

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:  Trail was underused today, possibly because of the forecast high temperatures or just maybe because we started an hour early.  Non-regular Friday rider Debby joined us and fell right into the conversational/social atmosphere of these rides.

Wildlife was in abundance slightly before ride start with the beaver pond just to the west of the parking lot entertaining seven (7) white herons/common egrets, three (3) great blue herons, and numerous turtles.  A few pedal strokes farther west, a large  snapping turtle lurked by the trail along with several small painted turtles.  Other birds included an immature eagle visible on the nest just past Livingston Road, and a Canadian Goose adult pair with eight (8) goslings, rapidly growing and now almost as big as their parents.  Connie's picture of same follows:

A simply glorious day on Kent Island.  

RIDERS:  Jessica Hirschhorn, Karen Dickey (she lives on Kent Island and is an Ironman Triathlete!  What a great addition to our club), Lynda Honberg, Ron Honberg, Renee McCullough. 

We did the usual 8 out 'n backs Octopus ride, plus an additional few miles to Metapeake Pier, a really beautiful landmark. 

Our small group stayed together, and enjoyed the water views, view of the Bay Bridge, Fishing Pier, Wedding Venue, and Crabber marina ("Bloody Point") with lighthouse. 

Total 40 miles. 

Weather was perfect and the sky was spectacular.