Leader: Ron Altemus
Members/Guests: Robin Butler-LeFrancois, William "Soup" Cambell, Oswald Martin, Diane Harris, Beth Ingalls (guest), Theresa Rowell, Lori Michaelson, Sherwood Byers Sr, Leon Wells, Robin Garnett, Steve Perakis, Susan Altemus, Esther Stewart, Lou Dall'Orso. Not pictured: Walt Roscello, longer routes RL, Catherine Ade, Steve Palincsar, Dave Van Ameyden
Route: From the Weis in Callaway, south on Piney Point Rd to Happyland, St Georges Church Rd, Flat Iron, Drayden, Cherryfield to the Drayden Schoolhouse. Retracing back to Drayden to Piney Point Rd and Lighthouse Rd to a rest stop at the Piney Point Lighthouse. Retracing back to Piney Point to explore St. George Island with out and backs on Thomas Road and Piney Point Rd. Return via Piney Point Road to Tall Timbers Rd for lunch at Dent's, then Piney Point Rd back to the start
Weather: Not as bad as feared! Temp range of low 80s to mid/upper 80; plenty of sunshine and blue skies; SW 10-14 mph breezes kept the humidity comfortable enough.
AMS: swept in the mid 12s. Others were faster.
Mechanicals/Mishaps: none
Report: to honor Juneteenth, we visited the Drayden African-American Schoolhouse in St. Mary's County. Our ride included explorations of Piney Point and St. George island. Several route options were available - 32, 42, and 49 miles. Walt Roscello led for the longer routes. Riders were able to chose how far to ride depending on how they were affected by the heat. A few retraced from our Piney Point lighthouse rest stop back to the start; others did a variation on the 42 mile route.
Per St. Mary's County Department of Parks, the Drayden School is "Known as one of the best-preserved African American schoolhouses in the country, this recently renovated (2018), one-room structure stands on its original site and has not been significantly altered. Built around 1890, it continued use until 1944. " Signage allowed riders to get a fuller understanding of the "struggle of the St. Mary’s County African American community during an era of segregated education."
Signboards provided information and though the schoolhouse was not open, we could peer through the windows into the classroom.
Photo credits to Robin B and Robin G
From the schoolhouse, we traveled to the Piney Point Lighthouse for a rest stop, then a tour of St George Island. In 1776 during the American Revolution, British troops tried to land on the island but were repulsed by Maryland militia. Years later, during the War of 1812, the British were more successful and occupied both the island and Piney Point. They felled numbers of the loblolly pines to ship back to England for use as masts and spars on British ships.
On the return, we stopped at Dent's market/deli in Tall Timbers for lunch. Not only was the food good, but the a/c was really appreciated. Thanks to all that came out for this ride.
