Leaders: Lisa Petersen and Rick Hagen
Members: Ron Altemus, Robin Garnett, Tom Short
Guests: none
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50948813
Weather: Sunny, 70 to 80 degrees, no wind. Very nice day!
AMS: 11.2 mph
Mechanicals/Mishaps: none
Report: We started at the Glenn Dale Community Center in Glenn Dale Md. where there is plenty of parking, bathrooms, water and vending machines (unlike the official trail parking lots). We rode southwest from there on the Washington Baltimore & Annapolis trail to a pond, then turned around to go northeast to the other end of the WB&A in Odenton. The full length of the trail is now 13 miles thanks to a new bridge over the Patuxent River that just opened on May 26.
This was once a railway line, nice and straight, except for a dogleg near the middle to go over the new bridge. The trail is all nicely paved, about 10 feet wide, and passes through forest, along marshes and power lines, runs past peoples’ backyards, goes over rivers and mostly over and under roads (short tunnels). Ron was particularly impressed by the extensive trail markings on the pavement! Elevation gains are gentle except for the hill north of the new bridge that switchbacks up a half a mile at a 5% grade. This hill was an enjoyable slalom ride down when we came back. We stopped at Rieve’s Deli in Odenton for some food and conversation at an outdoor table in the shade.
Wildlife: a deer at the side of the trail not bothered by the 5 of us passing within about 10 feet on bikes, many turtles on logs in the marshes, some woodchucks
