Ride leader: Steve Palincsar
Members: Joan Oppel, Mary Scala, Patricia Sanders, Lou Dall'Orso, Walt Roscello, Lois Lightfoot
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52926144 37 mi, 1870' elevation gain
Weather: Sunny, breezy, mid-50s at the start rising to the mid-60s by early afternoon. This felt like real fall weather, and I think we -- most of us, anyway -- have our thermostats still set on late summer.
Mishaps & mechanicals: none
AMS: 12.2
The club's involved in planning a history-oriented ride for PG County for next year, and today's ride gave us a chance to preview some of the roads and some of the attractions we're thinking about including.
After heading right from North Keys Park (something we've done only a few times this year) we took North Keys to Old Indian to Cherry Tree Crossing and Cross Road Trail, making a big circle around to North Keys. The pavement on Cross Road Trail was bad the last time I rode it earlier this year, and it's only gotten worse in the absence, but the climb -- oh, yes, the climb! -- at least warmed us up as it took our breath away.
We took Molly Berry and Mattaponi to St Thomas Church, then went down Croom Airport to Park Entrance and a rest stop at the Jug Bay Visitors Center. I sent scouts down to the Farm Life Museum to evaluate the road and the attractions, and I think if the climb back up Park Entrance doesn't seem too difficult, we could create a very scenic "family ride" that explores the paved half of the Critical Area Driving Tour, Selby's Landing, the Airport and the roads in and out of Jug Bay and the attractions down at the Jug Bay Visitors Center.
We took Duvall to Mount Calvert up to Croom, then rode four miles on Croom, turned left on Nottingham and left again on Fenno to a second rest stop at Merkle. Reluctantly leaving Merkle after a lengthy, relaxing break in the warm sun, we took Candy Hill to Martin.
This was Lois' first time up the hill at Martin, and several in the group had prepared her: oh, it's terrible; be sure to use your lowest gears; and so on. At the top she asked me, "Is this where I'm supposed to say 'That wasn't too bad'?"
A pretty route and a lovely day. Now if only I can get recalibrated for the change of seasons!
