Rest stop at Elizabeth Dixon Park on the West River at Galesville

Leader: Steve Palincsar

Members: Donaro Gardner, Harry Kidd, Chantal Briere, Dave Van Amayden and Steve Perakis

Guests: Ellen Silver and Jerrold Keilson

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41526134 34 miles, 1400' elevation.  The route takes Sands to Bayard, goes up South Polling House (and it's been a really long time since we did that!) to Polling House, then MD-2 and Mill Swamp down to Muddy Creek heading for Galesville, with significant side trips on Lansdale (the old alignment of Muddy Creek, I think) and Cumberstone, a thoroughly delightful narrow winding shaded lane bordering on the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. 

After a rest stop at the Elizabeth Dixon park in Galesville, the route goes up Galesville Rd, which becomes Owensville Rd, turns on Ownesville Sudley and heads back to Polling House, Bayard and Sands.

It's not Nanjemoy, but it is very shady and scenic, and was an excellent choice for a day like today.

Weather: 80 when we started, rising to 88 or 89, with 65-52% humidity that made the Washington Post, and 10 mph breezes.

AMS: Around 13 mph

Mechanicals/Mishaps: None

Report: A lovely route, with scenic views and lots of shade made much tougher than it would have ordinarily been by the heat and the humidity.  It was wonderful to have guests. I think they enjoyed themselves, as did we all.  I always marvel at how thoroughly lovely Cumberstone is: basically just a long out-and-back, a pleasant twisty downhill in the shade, and a surprisingly gentle climb back up, with nothing to see but the views, and worth every one of its 3.4 miles. 

Galesville too is a treat as always, and the climb up South Polling House and the descent down Polling House provide an unusual treat as well.

On a beautiful weekend in Cockeysville, Maryland, 14 Oxon Hill Bike and Trail Club (OHBTC) members met together in Cockeysville, Maryland for a tour of the Torre C. Brown trail and Heritage Rail trail (HRT) en route to York, Pennsylvania.

The tour began with a remembrance of Randy Schoch, past president and one of the OHBTC founding members. Randy is also to be thanked for arranging our secured parking at the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons.  After introductions, a pre ride briefing, and a group photo, the tour began.   There were regrouping stops at Monkton Station, the Mason/Dixon Line, Hanover Junction Station, the York School of Civil Engineering, and the end of the HRT trail in York.   The group stopped in New Freedom, the midway point of the tour,  for lunch.

Tour participants stopped throughout the ride taking photos to remember their experience.  Here are some of mine.

The weekend weather was good, but hot.  The trails offered plenty of shade comforting us.

New Freedom, the high point along the trail was a welcomed relief from the gradual but challenging climb as the trail was all "Downhill" from there to the hotels.

(More to come)

The group at Pisgah Park, being surveilled by an FPV drone

Leader: Steve Palincsar

Members: Lori Michaelson, Chantal Briere, Sonja Newman, Ray Luckenbach, Ellen Goodwin, Charles Williams, Joan Oppel, Patricia Walthers, Dave Van Amayden

Guests: none

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37944348 As planned, 49 miles, 1680' elevation gain.  For those of us who skipped the out-and-back to the end of Liverpool Point Rd, 47.3 and 1661' (per my Garmin)

Weather: Partly cloudy, hot and humid.  83 at 9 am rising to 90 by mid-day, with 7-8 mph breezes and humidity at 45%.

AMS: 13.6 for the trailing group, probably around 15 for the fast group.

Mechanicals/Mishaps: none

Report: A hot and humid one for the first day of summer, but the route was shady and the breeze helped keep us cool.  Nanjemoy is a great place to ride on a day like today, and the design of the route (thanks, Joan!) kept us in the shade, and on the shady side of the road, for almost the entire distance. 

The groups separated into a fast group and a less fast group almost before we left Pisgah Park, and by the time we turned on Annapolis Woods the lead contingent was well out of sight.  We found them waiting at our first rest stop at Friendship Farm Park, didn't see them at King James Church and sighted them again at Liverpool Point Rd, as they were returning from the out-and-back.

We stopped at the Nanjemoy store at around noon for lunch, some heading there directly and others going down to the end of Liverpool Point Rd (muddy with puddles, Joan said, and you had to view the river from a driveway since it was too hard to get down to the fishing spot) before the store.  As Joan predicted, those of us who went straight to the store skipped the out-and-back to Liverpool Point.  The stop at the store was terrific.  We enjoyed canine company for lunch, visible at the far left in the photo.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a better route for a hot summer day than this one.  We had everything you need for an excellent time: water at the Nanjemoy Community Center; food, water and sodas at the Nanjemoy store; shade everywhere; a light breeze to evaporate our (copious) perspiration; a great group to ride with; and a dog for company at lunch. 

Route:    Friday Indian Head Rail Trail, Livingston Rd parking lot eastward to White Plains trailhead.  After a conversational stop, westward ho! back to the start.

Weather:   We started the ride at 9 AM instead of 10 because of the heat.

AMS:   varied by rider;  We had a new rider that rode in the low 11s.

Mechanicals/Mishaps:   none

Report:  It was great to be leading a Friday ride again.  I have to say it was strange without Randy because he always wrote the ride reports.  There were a lot of bike riders,  walkers and runners on the trail enjoying the early morning wonderful temperatures.  Wildlife sightings included deer, squirrels, and turtles.  I rescued one turtle on the way back to the parking lot and left my water bottle. So I got in the car and drove to White Plains to find my bottle which I found and it added 10 miles to my total for the day.  While I was riding I saw a real pretty bright colored box turtle and she was digging a hole to lay her eggs.  That was great to experience.    No eagles visible on the nest near Livingston Road.

I had pictures but I couldn't get them added to the report.  Can someone help me with this?

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.

Leader: Walt Roscello

Members: Steve Palinscar, Catherine Ade, Diane Harris, Theresa Rowell, Dave Van Ameyden, Sherwood Byers, and some others registered with the other group

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51291575

The route as described by Ron, with a few extra out-and-backs after the school and on the island, then touring the neighborhood past Dent's store.  All but Steve, Catherine, and I went straight back on Rt. 249, whereas we skipped the last out-and-back but took Rt. 244 and Chingville Road which was a good route.

Weather: As Ron said, not as bad as feared.  In the morning (1 hour earlier start) there was still a bit of cool air to be found in the shady forested areas.  We were fairly comfortable until the last seven miles or so.  Still, the car said we had hit 95 degrees by the end.

AMS: Around 15 mph with some casual riding in the neighborhoods

Mechanicals/Mishaps: none, though there was a stop to check after Sherwood and another rider rode over a piece of metal on the shoulder

Report: See Ron's report and the comments above.  The fact I most noted at the schoolhouse is there was no public high school at all for African Americans in St. Mary's county, so some went over to Pomonkey in Charles County or attended a Catholic school.

At the Piney Point lighthouse pier, we observed a group (school?) of skates, and Catherine and I even saw them go into a spiral formation briefly to hunt something.

In addition to the good fresh food available, it was much appreciated that Dent's has crushed ice and a water dispenser on their soda dispenser, so we were able to enjoy ice cold water for a bit while there and afterwards.

Leader:   Ron Altemus

Members:   Robin Garnett, Susan Altemus, Esther Stewart, Jackie Schoch, Fran Jezisek, Gene Villiva, Leesha Saunders, Carl Hattery



Route:   Fav Friday Indian Head Rail Trail, Livingston Rd parking lot eastward to White Plains trailhead.  After a conversational stop, westward ho! back to the start.

Weather:   high overcast but still sunny; temps starting in the mid 70s rising to the mid 80s; not much in the way of air movement; lots of humidity

AMS:   varied by rider; sept in the low 11s

Mechanicals/Mishaps:   none

Report:  Nice to have Jackie back triking.  Since it was a bit hot even early on, not too many other trail users, and their numbers seemed to drop as the temps rose.  Wildlife sightings included deer, squirrels, a young rabbit, turkeys, snakes and turtles, along with countless smaller brown something birds seen, others unidentified and only being heard.  No eagles visible on the nest near Livingston Road..

Leader: Joan Oppel

Member: Pat Walthers

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37926433

Weather: Sunny, mid 70's to start, mid 80's and higher in the direct sun at end. Bonus stat - Low humidity! 

Mechanicals/Mishaps: None

Report:  This ride was posted late on the prior afternoon so no surprise that attendance was meager. But the route traced some of the roads for the Rural Legacy, in the opposite direction of its routes. And thus we paid attention to opposite side road surface issues as we biked, to report them to the folks who will mark some significant road hazards before the event.

We went to the Jug Bay visitor center this time instead of to the Pavilion and - with the observation tower, where the view did not disappoint.

On a Tuesday morning when the weather forecast was "Iffy" at best (Humid, Possible showers, etc) Ron  Altemus, Robin Garnett, Oswald Martin, Donaro Gardner, and Linda Bankerd Joined Sherwood Byers, Ride Leader for a ride to Great Falls Park.  Two of the riders had never been Great Falls, nor had they never ridden the C &O Canal.  I was a bit concerned due to it's not so kind gravel trail, but they did just fine.  The ride started on time and continued to Fletcher's Boathouse for our first stop.  After a short respite, we continued our trek.  There was a short detour about 2 miles from Fletcher's, but was easy to navigate through it.  Not mush wildlife to be seen but there was a deer in the water in the canal eating the vegetation (Personally, I have never seen a deer in the water).  Someone thought he was stuck in the mud, not the case at all.

A short stop at lock 6 for a photo op and quick visit of the lock house for rent we continued.

Continuing to Great Falls we stopped at the overlook where a lot of time viewing the falls and taking photos as some had never seen Mother Nature's work. 

A visit to the parks visitor center we rested for a while then continued up the trail for a little exploring the condition of the trail for further use.  It was time to turn around and retrace the route to the ride start but a decision was made to deviate from the Memorial Bridge to get away from the work being performed in preparation for the Military Parade.  The fencing everywhere made it difficult to ride.  it was thought that we could cross the 14th Street Bridge to make the passage easier, no it did not. The fencing was everywhere.  After crossing the bridge, we were in "Happyland".  Smooth riding to our vehicles.

No Mishaps or Mechanical issues were reported me during this ride.   The weather was perfect.

I wish to thank all of the riders who joined me today.        

Leader:   Ron Altemus

Members:   Susan Altemus, Esther Stewart, Astrid Caldas, Robin Garnett, Walt Roscello, Carl Hattery, Leesha Saunders, Fran Jezisek, Raul Adams, Gene Villiva, Donaro Gardner, Bob Rourke.  Not pictured:  Pat Colvin



Route:   Fav Friday IHRT - Livingston Rd parking lot to White Plains and return

Weather:   temps starting in the low 70s warming about 6 degrees, mostly sunny with still a high smoky haze from Canadian wildfires, 3-5 mph SSE air movement

AMS:  varied greatly between individual riders,  Swept in the low 10s

Mechanicals/Mishaps:   none known

Report:   quite the turnout with at least one rider doing their first ride of 2025.  Numerous small groups or pairings rode at their preferred rate of travel allowing for the ultimate in casual conversational cycling. 

Conflicting accounts as to the number of other trail users as some commented that the trail seemed busy while some thought it rather deserted.  But since we were widely spread out, it's possible both viewpoints were equally valid.

Not as many wildlife sightings as the previous week:  one eagle visible on the nest near the ride start, a single turtle noted alongside the trail while many others sunning on logs in the various bodies of water, plenty of small birds flitting by too quickly to be identified and lots of bird sounds.  

Robin captured the triptych below of a turkey crossing the trail, probably to get to the other side.

P