What a wonderful day to circumnavigate our great city!   Cool with cloud cover and little wind.  A few drops of rain greeted us on our last half mile. 

Riders:  Jessica Hirschhorn, Linda Blackman, Marc Blackman, Mark Garrison, Mary Sattazahn, and Andrew Sommers. 

We started at 9 at the Bethesda Pool, and Loop de Looped using the following trails:   Capital Crescent, Rock Creek Trail, Detour around Ohio Drive construction, The Wharf, Douglass Bridge, Anacostia River Trail, NW Branch Trail, Rachael Carson Greenway (With a great mid ride stop at Vigilante Coffee in Hyattsville), Sligo Creek Trail and Parkway,  Beach Drive to Wise, and home. 

43 miles. 

Average speed 11 mph 

No mechanicals, one episode of leg cramps (cured with Pickle juice). We all stayed together and had a grand time. 

Leaders:  Rick Hagen & Lisa Petersen

Members: GloJean Gladden, Rick Hagen, Diane Harris, Lisa Petersen, Deborah Reynolds

Guests:  none

Route:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46951571  From the Waysons Corner Park & Ride, we headed east to Greenock Road/Route 259, then south on Brooks Woods to Bayfront Rd/Route 258.  North on Route 2 to Nutwell that takes us to Nutwell Sudley Rd south and back to Bayside/Route 258.  From there we took Swamp Circle Rd to Deale-Churchton Rd and the South County Cafe.  Then up the hill to Tracys Landing to Route 2, south to Jewell Rd just to McKendree and north to Bayfront Rd again.  West on Bayfront to Fishers Station, cross Route 4, and enter the Pindells.  We took Upper Pindell and Pindell past Jug Bay to the Route 4 Service Road to get back to the cars.

Weather:  Pleasant compared to the heat we’ve had recently, temps 75-82, 40% humidity, and wind out of the east 10 mph.

AMS:  13.4 mph

Mishaps:  none.

Report:  Our small group had an enjoyable ride in southern Anne Arundel County.  We zigzagged eastward to the South County Cafe where most of us bought bakery treats.  Afterwards, we took the slow climb up to Traceys Landing and south on noisy Route 2 to Jewell Road.  On quiet backroads again, we zigzagged our way westward to Route 4.  We carefully crossed Route 4, two lanes at a time.  We wandered through the shady & quiet Pindells, past Jug Bay to the service road back to the cars.  Our group stayed together even on the hills, and we finished the ride before noon.

Wildlife:  2 deer

Leader - Randy Schoch

Members - Donaro Gardner, Mark Garrison, Sharon Laws, Oswald Martin, Leesha Saunders, Gene Villiva, and Walt Roscello. 

Guests - None

Route - IHRT

Weather - Great, 70's, almost no breeze

AMS - Varied per/rider

Mechanicals/Mishaps - None

Report - A nice turnout of our regular Friday riders except for Jackie. She is with her family on the coast of N. J. for a "deep sea" fishing trip. Because it was such a beautiful day, there were plenty of trail users this morning. There were deer, squirrels, turtles, birds, dogs walking their masters, youngsters in carriages, walkers, joggers, bikers, skaters, and of course the ever-present trail Maintenance crew looking after the trail.  We had an easy ride to the White Plains Rest Area where we took our break. On the way back to the parking lot, we noticed all the blossoms on the Bumpy Oak Lake/Pond. It was worth a stop to take in the beauty of the flowers. This is a great ride and I look forward to it every Friday.

Leader - Joan Oppel 

Member - Diane Harris

Route - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47569226  First thing, climb Mt Pisgah, then Poorhouse and Burch to Rt 6, then 2 1/2 miles on Rt 6 until turning off for Welcome, Annapolis Woods, to take Hilltop back to 6. Another 3 miles on 6 to Bowie, Baptist Church and finally the Nanjemoy Community Center. The finish is simple - Ironsides, becomes Mason Springs, all the way to Chicamuxen.

Weather - Hot - on the bike the temperature stayed in the 80s for about 2 hours, then in the low 90's until about 20 minutes from the end. So considering riding time was a little under 3 hours, the temperature was tolerable.  

Mechanicals/Mishaps - None

Report - A third rider had signed up but did not notice the start time so Diane and I set off on what turned out to be a nice ride. Mt Pisgah is always a good opening. Ripley and Poorhouse were quiet. Traffic on 6 was fairly light for that stretch of 6 (only one jerky driver), and then we stopped to admire the longhorn cattle on Baptist Church. The diversion on Fire Tower and Annapolis Woods to add miles was pleasant. We had many stretches of light traffic where we could chat. The Nanjemoy Community Center was as welcoming as ever - what a great rest stop place, cold water in the fountain and air conditioning, nice chairs, clean bathroom....perfect.

Leader - Joan Oppel with Ellen Goodwin

Members - Linda Blackman, Suzanne Brown, Donaro Gardner, Harry Kidd, Steve Perakis, Janet Shipko, Tom Short

Route - Waysons Corner to Harwood, Cumberstone, Galesville & Brookswood. The first 6 miles were on Sands Road, which was mostly quiet (for Sands), then up Harwood to left on Rt 2, and on to Mill Swamp. Then Muddy Creek (adding the lovely Lansdale) to Cumberstone and Bayfields. On to Galesville and the Sudley, Nutwell Sudley, Nutwell, Brooks Woods, Greenock, Wrighton return - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39920721

Weather - Hot - on the bike the temperature stayed in the 80s until we left the rest stop in Galesville. Then it started climbing into the 90s and was 97 for the last half hour of the ride.  

Mechanicals/Mishaps - None

Report - We all set out as a group, though Tom Short said he was definitely going to cut it short. Within a couple of miles, Tom, Steve and Suzanne were off the front. We never saw Tom again*, we caught glimpses of Steve and Suzanne near Cumberstone and Galesville. The remaining 6 of us - had a great ride! Yes, it was hot, but we had more shade than not, we stopped to regroup a few times. In fact, I offered the group the opportunity to skip the out/back on Bayfiends Road (off Cumberstone) and they didn't accept the offer! 

We had a nice rest stop in Galesville - went to the (nice & clean) portapotty at the community park half mile before the end of the road, stopped at the Pirate's Cove Bar, where the staff could not be nicer. I asked to buy water, they said they would fill our bottles, I had a tip in hand when the bartender returned my full bottle, it was firmly rejected. We then proceeded to the lovely little park by the water. New benches and picnic table have been installed, GREAT place for a rest stop snack.

Less shade it seemed on the return but we made it back without any issues.

*Tom did email later that he skipped 7 miles and got back safely.

Members:  Joan Oppel, Pat Sanders, Darrell Meyers, Dave Van Aymaden, Alan Kurweil, Carol Torgan, Leslie Tierstein, Mary Scala, Don Gardner, Erin Counts, Jose Fuster, Eric Shuping, Andrew Sommers, Greg Acs, Esther Steward, Anne Wittenburg, Michael Murray, Sally Coella, Mark Garrison,  Karen Rosales, Carol Dreher, Mary Ann Owsley, Cathy Miller

Leaders:  Ellen Goodwin swept the ride and Joan assisted by staying in the middle of the group (at least until she helped with fixing a flat).

Report:  The large group of CC riders quickly split up into faster groups and slower groups.  The weather was very warm and humid in the beginning, and continued to grow warmer as the ride wore on.  Every one seemed to enjoy the front porch at Goose Bay, as there was shade, a breeze and cold water to be found there.  Several of us had a very hard time leaving the porch.  The cold watermelon at the end was a welcome treat!!  Everyone appreciated Jackie Schoch's expert and hard work at icing and slicing the melon!  Thank you Jackie!!

Incidents/Mishaps:  One rider had a flat about two miles before reaching the rest stop at Goose Bay.  Joan, the master flat fixer, stayed back with the rider to help with the flat tire.  Otherwise, no other known issues. 

AMS:  about 12.4 at the back of the group. 

On day 1, Seven Oxon Hill Club members (Deborah Bowman,  Gene Villiva, Robin Garnett, Deborah Reynolds,  Linda Bankerd, Ron Altemus)  and Three guests (Kevin Brahaney,  Terry Marquard, and Brian Teeters) joined Sherwood Byers (Ride Leader on a from Cleveland to Columbus, Ohio then to return on a very nice Sunday the morning starting from Lake Erie (Edgewater Beach House).  Kevin Brahaney (Guest) who was very instrumental in supporting me with  important planning information and data had met Ron Altemus and Gene Villiva last year on a bike ride in North Carolina.  They had learned that Kevin was an Ohio resident who lived near the OTET trail and was very familiar with it.  I was encouraged to speak to him since I was planning to ride to Lake Erie via the trail.

Kevin briefed us some about the trail and pointed out to the poison Hemlock (Poison Hemlock can easily be mistaken as wild carrot when young but the difference is it grows 8 to 10 feet tall, it has some different nick names such as fools parsley, deadly hemlock, spotted hemlock, and spotted parsley, it is the plant that is said to have killed Socrates) and led us from the Edgewater Beach House onto the trail and he and two of his riding friends rode with our group as guests.  The group rode mostly together before the pace had changed to fit each riders comfort level.  There were many regrouping points along the way to Akron.  After the midpoint to Akron we had stopped for lunch.

Once lunch was finished, we continued to Akron.  Kevin and his friends rode with us a few more mile before turning back to Cleveland.  They had wanted to do a metric century.  It had been a long day of riding and we were anxious to get to our hotel to shower and have dinner.  Luigi's was the choice to eat as many of the other restaurants were closed.

Day 2 of this tour it began with another group photo and then on on the pedals as scheduled.  We were to meet Kevin and his friends along the way to Massillon as they wanted to ride with us once more.

Day 3, Beryl was beginning his threat on our day.  Everyone is checking the weather to evaluate the day before the ride start.  Well, we beat Beryl!  Dodging the rain, the ride day began.  There were rolling hills, covered bridges, and trails (Gravel and Paved).

We managed to avoid the remnants of Hurricane Beryl on day 4.  We were affected only by a few showers.  At lunch time the winds were fierce and we thought we could not continue, but by the time we had eaten it was relatively clear and we were able to continue our ride to Mount Vernon unscathed.  Dinner was had at a local diner featuring old school artifacts and varieties of candies from yesteryear.  Some of us chose Whits Frozen Custard for dessert.  On the next morning all had breakfast before departure to Columbus.  This day was all trail and the weather could not have been better.  During lunch in the township of Sunbury, the ladies had lunch at one venue while the men chose another.  Everyone was happy to complete the first half of the tour and was looking forward to the the next day, the rest day.  Two riders elected to take a shuttle back to end their tour.

On the rest day, some chose to rest, to do laundry, or tour Columbus.  Georges Seurat's Sunday On La Grande Jatte - 1884 portrait was recreated as topiary.  A nearby library featured a grand Lego display. We were lucky enough to see Bat Man and the "Bat Mobile" passing by.

Our return to Independence started the next morning.

Again it was an all trail day where there was a Subway Sandwich Shop in Centerburg with a gazebo to rest and eat. Leaving the lunch stop we came upon a mural depicting the town's past.

On Sunday from Mt. Vernon to Millersburg,  just on the trail after leaving the Comfort Inn a short stop was had for a photo which seemed to be a popular fishing location where you could see fish in the water.  We knew this was going to be a long day without many facilities, so we stopped at a store in Danville at mile 15 where we purchased deli sandwiches, drinks, and desserts to eat later.  At the end of the trail at mile 27 in Glenmont we picnicked and then it was onto state road 520 where the state actually posts regulatory signs to drivers to maintain a minimum distance of  3 feet from cyclist(s).  At Killbuck it was back on the trail until we reached our destination in Millersburg.  Dinner was at Bags Grill, then fresh home made cookies provided by our personal Baker, Dani Villiva whose cookies are to die for.

Leader - Randy Schoch

Members - Janell Saunders, Mary Scala, Beth Merrick, Ed Reardon, Glo-Jean Gladden, Harry Kidd, Sue Henn, Dana Trevas, Cynthia Reynolds-Temple, Kurt Temple

Route - The Mt. Pisgah IH Century 25 miler

Weather - Very Hot approx. 100 degrees.

AMS - Varied per/rider

Mechanicals/Mishaps - None

Report - We started from the Indian Head Village Green with about 10 riders at 9am and it was getting hot. As we began our climb up the Mighty Mount Pisgah, two riders turned back. Being Sunday, the traffic wasn't too heavy as we rode the wide shoulder of Hawthorne Road up Mt. Pisgah. All the riders made the right turn on Ripley and again on Poorhouse. At the nearby Pisgah store, we kept straight on Bicknell all the way to Rt. 224/Chicamuxen Rd. Then turned left and made our way to Smallwood State Park for a rest break by the water side as we watched several fishermen ply their trade. After the rest break we made our way out of the park and returned to the IHRT to finish the 25+ ride for ice cold watermelon at the picnic area of the Village Green served by Jackie Schoch. Other than the very warm temperature, it was a very nice, pleasant ride with absolutely no problems whatsoever.