Leader: Steve Palincsar

Members: Anonymous User, Lisa Oken, Janell Saunders, Joan Oppel, Pat Colvin, Linda Bankerd, Patricia Sanders, Sherwood Byers and Ron Altemus

Guests: none

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26920630  28.2 mi, 696' elevation gain

Weather: Hot and humid, what else?  The day started off overcast, but by the time we reached the rest stop at Marshall Hall, what is usually a pleasant oasis was more like inside that device you see in a 7/11 where the hot dogs rotate, sweating out their grease as they slowly turn.

AMS: 12.2

Mechanicals/Mishaps: none

Report: We started out together, but by the time we reached the turn onto Fenwick we were strung out.  Some skipped Fenwick and stayed on Marshall Hall, others were on the way back. 

After a very pleasant trip down a meandering wooded lane with views of the Potomac we reached the end of Marshall Hall Rd.  Out in the sun it was too hot to take a rest stop there there, so those of us not already on the way back stopped in the shade at the end of Riverside for a break.

Some in the group had never been on Fenwick and Riverside, and really enjoyed the surprising rural seclusion and, of course, the shade.   It's always a treat to show riders these hidden delights for the first time.

Back in the cool of the shade on Barrys Hill and left on Old Marshall Hall, those of us who hadn't already come and gone and those who skipped the out-and-back, stopped at the Welcome sign for a photo op before heading back to the Firehouse, arriving, as promised, by noon.

Leader: Steve Palincsar

Members: Deb Bowman, Patricia Sanders, Lou Dall'Orso, Joan Oppel, Tom Short, Patricia Walthers and Harry Kid

Guests: none

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51732149

Weather: Overcast, cloudy, sometimes sunny, sometimes heavy dark clouds; very humid, temperatures in the 80s.  Seemed like there was rain all around us, including recently rained-on roads, but other than a few stray drops that could have been blown in the wind, we avoided the rain.

AMS: 13.8

Mechanicals/Mishaps: None.

Report: We could call this route "McKendree Detour #1," probably the first of many variations working around the closure of McKendree Rd between now and next spring.  Today we took Pindell and Wrighton to Bay Front and rode it, pleasantly surprised at how much shade there was, all the way to MD-2, then took Old Solomons and MD-2, again very happy to see how much shade, to a right on the official detour route on Jewell to Wilson and Sansbury.  A bit of a wait at the rotary, then across and down Walke at the restaurant to Old Solomons, past the Christmas tree farm to a rest stop at the Dash-In.

Climbing back past the tree farm after the break, we turned on Friendship and Boyd's Turn, then went left on 5th st into North Beach.  As you'd expect with this group of riders, we split into a fast group and a not so fast group with the occasional regrouping stop.  At North Beach the fast group didn't stop for the photo op, but rather went straight to Chesapeake Market under heavy dark clouds that looked as though we'd be rained on any second.

After a brief stop at the Market we climbed up Friendship and went down Fairhaven on to Town Point -- a bit of a running stream across the road, but not a huge pond like last time, when a rider went down in the water -- and up Leitch.  We regrouped at the top of the climb, then went left on Franklin Gibson back to Fairhaven Rd, right on Old Solomons, then pm MD-2 back to Bay Front for half a mile, right on Brooks Woods and another rest stop at Honey's Harvest Farm.  The Farm Store was open today, and after a visit to the store we debated route changes due to the very dark cloud right overhead and the occasional sprinkle. Since the next few miles had no alternatives, we decided to defer a decision on short cuts until we got to Southern Maryland Blvd at Lothian. 

It had obviously rained on Brooks Woods, and only moments before, but as we headed towards Lothian the sky cleared and the sun came out.  Forget the short cut: we all took the full route, Southern Maryland Blvd to Upper Pindell to Pindell, Plummer Lane and the MD-4 Service Road back, for a full 46 miles.

Unpromising weather yielded a comfortable ride, and a forced detour that put us on unfamiliar roads in seldom-ridded directions turned out to be a very pleasant route, and a worthy alternative to our more-frequently used variations.

Leader:  Jackie Schoch

Members:  Bob Rourke, Paul Adams, Ron & Susan Altemus, Fran Jezisek, Robin Garnett, Mark Garrison, Carl Hattery, Janell Saunders, Esther Steward, Gene Villiva 

Guests:  Jennifer Wampler from Richmond, VA.

Weather:  The weather was nice and cloudy but the sun came out toward the end, since the Ride Leader Jackie forgot to put on suntan lotion and got burned.

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  Paul Adams had a little problem with his new electric bike when he went to shift gears.  The problem wasn't electronic, it was his chain fell off. Easy fixed.

Report:  It was another Friday with a GREAT turn out.  We saw a deer, turtles at the beaver dam and of course squirrels.  It was great having Jennifer Wampler from Richmond, VA and she is a volunteer for the Potomac Heritage Trail.  She said it took her 1 hr 45 mins to get to the ride.  She said that she had heard a lot about our Bike Club.  I told her how we got started and that we are 53 years old.  After our ride Ron and I took her to the beginning of the trail.  She loved our IHRT.  Jennifer told us there will be a meeting open to the public at the St. Mary's Library in Leonardtown about  joining the Three Notch Trail and the IHRT Trail in October.  I am sure we will get more information about this.

Four of us - Tom S, Steve P, Patricia S and I - set out on a leisurely bike ride that began on mostly  shady roads, offering a comfortable and scenic  start. We all stayed together at a relaxed pace as we made our way to the first rest stop at St. Ignatius. The climb up St. Ignatius hill was tough, but the view and a sense of accomplishment made it worthwhile. While  we rested, Steve took some photos and mentioned he was on the lookout for butterflies. 

After a brief stop at our second rest point, The Dash In gas station, we began our return back to the starting point. Roughly 6 or 7 miles out Steve got a flat tire. Pat and I assisted  - though the first inner tube didn't hold, the second one did the trick. 

A kind couple couple stopped to check if we needed help, but unfortunately, they didn't have a suitable bike pump.

The final stretch - over four miles on a the Indian Head Trail - was especially refreshing. Tom initially unaware of the flat, had gone ahead. Pat gave him a quick call and he graciously waited for us at the parking lot to wrap up a great day of riding!

Leader:  Lou Dall'Orso

Members:  none

Guests:  none

Route:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51730263

Weather:  Hot and humid, but due to being morning, as well as the shade on a large portion of the route, (particularly Riverside), not as bad as the numbers might suggest. The closing miles on exposed roads with the sun overhead did get interesting. Overall not too bad.

AMS: 15.2 mph

Mechanicals/Mishaps: none (if you don't count dropping my box of raisins.)

Report:  Pushed down on the right pedal, then on the left one and just kept that up at a tempo pace on the flats and descents, and babied the uphills. Had to stop a couple of times to clear the glasses, and wipe some sweat.  

Met the CC group at the parking lot, and they invited me to go with them, but I wanted to get a feel for the route, so I declined. I did get to ride the first 100 feet with them, they went down the trail, and I turned right on Livingston. A big thank you to Steve Palincsar for his help with setting up and posting the ride. I'll probably will be posting this ride (or something similar) for the next few weeks. Looking forward to some company.

Leader: Steve Palincsar

Members: Catherine Ade, Donaro Gardner, Harry Kidd, Ray Luckenbach, Joan Oppel, Walt Roscello, Tom Short

Guests: none

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51597469

Weather: We had plenty of it today: everything from hot, humid and sunny to humid and overcast, light rain, thunder rumbling in the distance, and -- in the area, but either before we got there, or after the ride and just down the road -- heavy rain with flash flood warnings. 

Overcast and humid before we left North Keys Park, becoming sunny and humid, and then water on the roads, is that spray off the back wheel of the bike in front of me? no, that's definitely light rain, tapering off to overcast, then sunny and humid in Jug Bay.  Overcast on Duley Station, and going down Van Brady and up North Keys, thunder in the distance and light drizzle in the Park. 

Once we left the park and went 200 yards down the road driving home, we drove through a major storm cell with rain so heavy the wipers wouldn't keep up but were out of it by Brandywine Rd. and the flash flood alerts were all for somewhere else.

As far as we riders were concerned, the light rain at the start merely gave perspiration a head start and set evaporative cooling on High, and we had a great time.

For the record, temperatures around 85, winds ranging from 6-14 mph, humidity 75-90%. The forecasts this morning (I checked 7) ranged from 0% chance of rain (I think there's a problem with their API's) to 100%, with 30%, 40% and 65% scattered around at different hours.  I could have canceled, and I'm very glad I didn't.

AMS: 13.1

Mechanicals/Mishaps: none

Report: Hot and humid at the start gave way to overcast and then light rain as we rode north on Molly Berry.  When we turned onto Croom it was clear there had been heavy rain not long before, with ponding on Croom and wet pavement on Mattaponi.  The light rain stopped somewhere on St Johns Church, and damp clothes and nice breezes kept us cool, albeit somewhat sticky.  

We rode down Mt Calvert to the end of pavement, but found, as we feared the gravel road to the historic site was very soft and difficult to ride, so we turned back after a few hundred feet, climbed back to Duvall, turned on Croom Airport and went down Park Entrance Rd to the Jug Bay Visitors Center.  After posing for pictures around the google-eyed waste receptacle we climbed or took the elevator up to the observation tower and finally got a look at Mount Calvert. 

After climbing Park Entrance and Croom Airport we turned down Duley Station with a diversion down Bellefield, onto Cheltenham and Old Indian, across that awful railroad crossing onto Van Brady.  We could hear thunder in the distance as we turned onto Molly Berry, and once we turned on North Keys the thunder became louder and we could feel light rain in the air again.  It was almost a drizzle as we turned into North Keys Park.

The real fun began on the drive home once we passed Gibbons Church and entered the storm cell.  Heavy rain -- the sort of heavy rain that must have caused the wet pavement and streams running across Croom Rd early in the ride -- slashed down for maybe half a mile, clearing up by the time we turned onto Brandywine Rd.  The forecasts were fulfilled, and we managed to beat the heat, beat the rain, beat the flash floods, and got in a great ride.  Not a bad way to begin the week.

Leader: Steve Palincsar

Members: Chantal Briere, Deb Bowman, Joan Oppel, Justin Oliver, Sonja Newman, Patricia Sanders, Linda Bankerd, Dave VanAmayden, Catherine Ade and Walt Roscello

Guests: none

Route: There were two routes, a 47 mile route that started at Mechanicsville Elementary School at 9:30 and a 36 mile route that started from Baggett Park at 10:00.  The routes came together at the intersection of Laurel Grove & Kavanaugh Roads, staying together on the way to Leonardtown and back, only separating at Laurel Grove and the Three Notch Trail at the end, the 36 mile route going right to the park and the 46 mi route left on the Trail to Mechicsville ES.

Weather: Sunny, hot and very, very humid.  83 at the start rising to 88 by the end of the ride, but humidity ranging from 82% to 70% made it feel like 92 to 99 degrees.  Gentle 2-6 mph breezes didn't do much to help but the shade did, at least where there was shade.

AMS: 13.6

Mechanicals/Mishaps: None (quite the change from the last time we did a variation of this route in 2023) but at least one rider was really feeling the heat by the time we came to the rest stop at the Sandgates Inn.  Pitchers of ice water did wonders for us all.

Report: This was my birthday ride, and for once, it was on my actual birthday.  I'd led a birthday ride here in 2023, just over 54 miles (trying to hit my age in kilometers, but running a little over) and we'd really enjoyed the stop at Social on Fenwick. 

2024 was a disaster for me, and instead of a ride I had a birthday party at a Mexican restaurant in Del Ray in Alexandria, but this year I was back riding and eager to lead another birthday ride.  We're having a notably hot and humid summer, and I modified the route to make it a bit shorter, and also provided a 36 mi route that started in Baggett Park.

We had a little trouble managing the rendezvous with the 36 mile group due to a misunderstanding of the rendezvous location  -- as they say, Murphy's Law is always in operation and governs the universe -- but a quick phone call resolved the problem and things went well from that point on.  We rode through the Loveville Mennonite area on the "back way to Leonardtown" on Friendship School, Jones and Macintosh.  When we got to Hollywood Rd, Walt and Catherine explored an alternate way into Leonardtown on Cedar Lane, one I've been eyeing for years, but haven't been able to figure out the last mile across Rt 5.

As we arrived in Leonardtown, we discovered that our destination, Social on Fenwick, had moved its location -- fortunately, one immediately visible once you lined up for the turn from Washington St onto Fenwick.  Of course, those not going that way, or those who knew where it had been in 2023 went to the old location, but before long we all arrived at the right place. Happily, outdoor seating was all in the shade and quite comfortable, and we had a nice lunch; also happily for me, no Wearing of the Sombrero and no singing Happy Birthday.

Leaving Leonardtown on Fenwick it's a long downhill followed by a long uphill, and after merging onto Rt 5 a long downhill to the intersection with Rt 4 and another long climb up to the turn onto Fairgrounds Rd.  We'd gotten very strung out getting to Fairgrounds, but regrouped at the only scrap of shade on St Andrews Church before the turn onto Brown Rd. 

Most of us stopped at the rest stop at Bradford Market (some continuing on without stopping) before heading back to Macintosh, up to Clover Hill, across Three Notch Highway onto Sandgates.  It's a nice downhill run on Sandgates down to the Patuxent, some out in the sun and some patches of shade, but we were all feeling the heat by the time we got to the rest stop at Sandgates Inn.  Again, some continued on up the hill and onto Three Notch Highway without stopping, but most of us stopped for a while and enjoyed the pitchers of ice water they gave us. 

Refreshed by our break, we continued on up North Sandgates to Three Notch Highway, onto Loveville and up Kavanaugh and Laurel Grove Rd to the Three Notch Trail, where we bid farewell to the riders who'd started at Baggett Park.  The rest of us continued on in deep shade on the Three Notch Trail back to Mechanicsville Elementary.

Leader:   Ron Altemus

Members:   Gene Villiva, Robin Garnett, Donaro Gardner, Paul Adams, Esther Steward, Bob Rourke, Connie Quickstad, Fran Jezisek, Susan Altemus, Jackie Schoch, Mark Garrison, Carl Hattery



Route:   Indian Head Rail Trail, Livingston Road parking lot to White Plains trailhead for a rest stop, then return to the start

Weather:   alternating between sunny and cloudy, temps starting in the mid 70s rising to the mid 80s, some air movement out of the SW

AMS:   probably everyone in the 11s

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report: Good turnout for what was a nice ride.  As usual, some rode foast, some rode a bit slower, all had a good time.  Lots of conversations while riding.  We saw several small groups of other cyclists, one of which appeared to be family, another was all e-assist.  They all looked they were having fun, too.

Wildlife sightings included a couple of turtle rescues by Jackie:  one small, quarter-sized baby painted turtle; the other a slightly larger young box turtle.  Deer were also present including the what was probably the same stag seen Sunday on the IHRT's Watermelon Ride.  A couple of great blue herons were observed along the trail while Bob captured the picture below of a green heron in the beaver pond just west of the Livingston Rd parking lot.

Large numbers of butterflies are now present along the trail.  This year, it seems that zebra swallowtails are the most common, but sightings of black and tiger swallowtails are also frequent.  Paul photographed both a black swallowtail and a Monarch on flowers between Bumpy Oak and Livingston Rd.  The pale lavender flowers need identification - they might be some kind of Aster though three different books have not provided a positive match.

Ride Leader: Diane Harris 

Members: Theresa, Barbara, Janice, Rita, Michael,  Eric, Bruce, Lou, Riley

Weather: Clear, sunny, humid, starting temperatures ~75°

Mishaps: None. At the rest stop, riders were asked not to block access to amenities used by the customers of businesses

Report: After days of rain, threats of rain, high heat and humidity, this turned out to be a good day for the club's annual Watermelon Ride. My group of 10 riders did the 49 mile route which took us on the Indian Head Rail Trail to mostly lightly traveled rural roads of Southern Maryland. The rest stop was at the Goose Bay Marina and Campground where we took advantage of seating on the covered porch and indoor restrooms. There was a (what I call) a pop-up camper that reminded me of the one my dad used to take our family of 8 on a cross country trip from DC to Los Angeles, CA. Good times! Leaving the rest stop, a dropped chain separated the group, resulting in the guys getting ahead while the ladies rode together for the rest of the ride. Did you know there's a farm in Southern Maryland that has a herd of Texas Longhorns? I've got pics to prove it! The rest of the ride was uneventful, with a second rest stop at the Pisgah store before returning to the Indian Head Village Green for the much appreciated and enjoyed watermelon. Thanks Jackie!!

Although 19 riders initially signed up, only 13 rolled out with the 40 mile group.   We stayed together on the IHRT but spread out when we reached the climb on Bumpy Oak.   Walt Roscello joined us before we got to the rest stop at Goose Bay, as he was doing his own Franken-ride (combining features of both the 35 and 40 mile routes).  

We re-grouped when we got to Goose Bay, where we met up with the group doing the 50 mile route.  Eventually, the riders doing the 35 mile route came and joined us.  I don't think I've seen the patio that busy!  

A few of us decided to take the right out of Goose Bay onto Brentland Road and went down to Port Tobacco River.  At the end of the road, you get a unique view of St. Ignatius Church without having to climb the hill. 

On the way back to the Indian Head Village Green, we definitely started feeling the heat of the day.  We stopped and regrouped a few times to make sure we more-or-less stayed together for the rest of the ride.  At one such re-group at the church on Poorhouse right before you hit Mason Springs, a woman came out and gave us cookies (did we look that bad?).  She was quite apologetic that they were store-bought. 

Turning onto the IHRT, we ran into Sonja Newman and one of her riders waiting for a pick-up.  Pat W stayed with them so Sonja wouldn't have to ride back alone.  When we returned back to IHRT, we tucked into some ice cold watermelon, a well-deserved treat after our ride in the July heat.