Leader: Catherine Ade and Walt Roscello

Members: Steve P, Anon. User, Ray L, Barbara B, Patricia W, Linda B, Eric N

Guests: None

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51508438

A route we don’t ride often!  North on Sands, South/East on Harwood, Down Owensville-Sudley Road, down to the Water at Franklin Manor. Two short pootles by the Bay before a welcome stop at South County Cafe in Deale.  Short pootle to aid digestion preceded the climb out on Bay Front.  We turned onto Brooks Woods, taking it to Greenock, eventually flying down in the shaded comfort of Wrighton, Pindell and the Rt 4 Service Road.

Weather: Clear skies, between 80-90F for the ride.  Cooler in the shade

AMS: Varied between riders.  ~14.5 for the ride leaders overall.

Mechanicals/Mishaps: None

Report: 

When coming up with this ride, there were several aspects we wanted to include.  In no particular order:

a.)  Keep the ride between 35 and 45 miles

b.) Ride mostly in the shade

c.) Minimize the climbing (or at least keep most of the climbing in the first half of the ride)

d.) Have a spot to eat lunch

e.) Ride to the water (preferably places with good views)

f.) Be finished with enough time to allow riders to celebrate with their families/avoid celebratory events and/or avoid the debauchery spilling out on the road 

 We started out at 9am, which turned out to be pretty perfect; not too hot, and late enough to allow riders ample time to get to the start site.  The ride out on Sands and Harwood was mostly in the shade, which felt slightly chilly when descending (not a complaint, just an observation).  Going this direction in the relative coolness of the morning, the climbing seemed reasonable.  Perhaps this author would feel differently in the beginning of the season (or on a scorching hot afternoon), but in these conditions it was… dare I say… fun? Tolerable, at the very least.

We stopped at the 7-11 at the end of Harwood.  For future reference, they have water and ice from the soda fountain, and a variety of snacks for $1.   Also, the restrooms were clean.  

We spent the next 16 miles winding down to the water-front neighborhoods.  This ride featured 4 distinct water views– three in a ‘stem-and-flower’ configuration (which I believe was new to a lot of the riders), and the pier at the corner of Chesapeake Dr and Hartford St.  Four riders stayed to take in the sights on the pier while the rest of the group headed to South County Cafe.  After taking pictures, relaxing, and trying to figure out what wooden structure used to be out in the water (old pier?  Sunken ship?) the four remaining riders joined the rest of the group.  

After our lunch break, we took a meandering two mile loop around Masons Beach before heading back up Bay Front.  This was probably the first time we started feeling the heat and sun beating down on us, being exposed on the open shoulder of Bay Front (or was it because some of us in front were chasing down a tandem?  The world may never know…). When we turned off of Bay Front onto Brooks Woods, the shade was welcomed.  It is always fun taking this way back to the Park and Ride at Waysons; Brooks-Woods and Greenock are fun in this direction, and it is a shame we don’t go this way more often.  We got back to the cars around 1:30pm, which gave us ample time to chat and reflect on the day.

Overall, I would say this ride achieved what we set out to do.  We rode mostly in the shade, keeping the hardest climbs to the beginning when our legs were fresh.  We had ample opportunities to look at the water, refuel, and rest-up if needed.  We also took some roads we are not as familiar with, either because they are rarely utilized or because we usually ride them in the opposite direction.  I think this ride could be a go-to when planning a sensible, shady ride for those days when you don’t want to hurt yourself. This route is also amenable to modification based on desired length, purpose, and rider interest.

Big thanks to Steve and Walt for designing this route and suggesting these specific water-views.  

Riders:  Donaro Gardner, Robin Garnett, Mark Harrison, Denny Miller, Connie Quickstad, Ester Steward and Jackie Schoch.  Charles Williams signed up but was no show.

Weather:  PERFECT  You couldn't ask for better weather no humidity and only in the low 80s.

AMS:  This ride is a ride at your own pace so AMS was different for everyone.

Mechanical/Mishaps:  None

Report:  This was one of the perfect days for riding after having so many days in the high 90s.

The trail was really busy with bike riders (a lot) walkers with dogs, and runners.  Everyone was enjoying this beautiful July 4th.

Wildlife we saw was a deer, turtles and a crane.

Leader: Steve Palincsar

Members: Harry Kidd, Tom Short, Deb Reynolds and joining us on St Marys Ave in La Plata, Walt Roscello

Guests: none

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51435867  As ridden, 31.1 mi, 1074' elevation gain.

Weather: The heat wave continues, around 80 at the start rising to just under 90 by noon, with humidity at 88% at the start, leading to a heat index of 96 by noon.  Hot and humid, and it felt like it.

AMS: 13.8

Mechanicals/Mishaps: none

Report: It was shady and pretty comfortable on the IHRT, up Bumpy Oak and down Rose Hill, and also up Locust Grove and into La Plata.  We were pleasantly surprised when Walt Roscello joined us on St Marys Ave.  He would stay with us all the way back to the parking lot at Livingston Rd. 

We stopped at the Dash-In in La Plata, and then took Kent Ave to Hawthorne across US-301.  The plan was to follow Hawthorne to Quailwood, but Walt showed us a new way to get there by turning almost immediately onto Magnolia, trading the shoulder of Hawthorne for pleasant tree-lined residential streets that eventually linked up with Quailwood.

But then we turned onto Rt 6 and left the shade behind.  6 down to a low point at Rose Hill, and then up past Shirley Blvd and the Charles County Government building out in the open, broiling.  By the time we got to Burch and turned back into the shade, we were really starting to feel the heat. 

When planning the route earlier in the week, I'd originally extended it on Strauss to Blair with a return on the IHRT adding another five miles or so, but heading down Mighty Mount Pisgah on Hawthorne I was glad we were only doing 31 miles, and I'm confident I wasn't the only one.

Members:  Tom Short, Linda Bankerd, Sherwood Byers, Steve Palincsar, Dave VanAymaden, Lois Lightfoot, Pat Sanders, Walt Roscello, Ellen Goodwin, Liam, Luis Dal Orso

Leader:  Ellen Goodwin

AMS:  12.6 at the back

Course:  42 miles including stops at Goose Bay, Friendship Farm and Nanjemoy Store.  

Mechanicals:  One flat tire

Report:  The ride started at 9 am under thick cloud cover and very high humidity.  Fairly quickly the group split into a faster group and a slower group.  About 2 miles before arriving at Goose Bay, Sherwood had a flat tire and about 7 of us stopped to help or just talk about helping.   While we were stopped to resolve Sherwood's flat, Tom Short rolled up who had arrived a little late at the start after the group had already left.  

We had a pleasant rest on the porch of Goose Bay.  After we started back up it drizzled on us minimally, which wasn't enough to cut the humidity or the heat.  We stopped by Friendship Farms park to use the porta potty, and found that the porta potties at Friendship Farm have been moved to a parking lot further down the road.  So, FYI, the porta potties at Friendship Farm are further away than they used to be.  

Shortly before we arrived at the second store, the Nanjemoy store, the sun had fully come out driving the heat further up.  We all rested and had snacks and a nature break at the Nanjemoy store.

We arrived back at the parking lot at the full heat of the day.  It reached around 90 degrees by the end of the ride.  The group stayed together for the most part, except for a few faster riders, and most of the group finished together.  

Note that the road to Friendship Farm and Gilroy Road have recently been regraveled, covered with a too-generous top layer of loose gravel.

Everyone seemed to have a great time even though the ride was very hot.  Finally, I should note that this is the first ride posted using the newly unveiled ride posting form.  The ride leader filled out the new ride posting form, sent it to the club, and the ride was posted on the calendar faster than you can say "Wild Apricot"!  Hopefully others will take advantage of this easy way to post a ride!!!

Leader:  Ron Altemus

Members:   Esther Stewart, Robin Garnett, Susan Altemus, Donaro Gardner, Sue Gunter, Fran Jezisek, Connie Quickstad, Mark Garrison, Oswald Martin, Carl Hattery

Route:   Friday Fav - Indian Head Rail Trail, Livingston Rd parking lot east to White Plains.  After a rest stop, westward ho! the bicycles back to the start.

Weather:   Cool as temps started at 68, reached 70 at White Plains before the rain started, dropped to 67 in the rain, and returned to 70 at the end.  Yes, it rained from White Plains to Bensville on our return heavily, then a light rain back to the ride start where it stopped.  SW breezes 7-10 mph.

AMS:  swept in the mid 11s.  With the rain hastening riders back to the start, several posted new land speed PR's!

Mechanicals/Mishaps:   none other than getting wet

Report:  a nice turnout with cooler temps than prior in the week and none of us thinking rain.  Everyone seemed to pedal in pairs up to White Plains for our usual rest stop, with wildlife sightings along the way including trailside deer, turtles, and turkeys.  

At White Plains, weather forecasts via cellphones were consulted and it was announced rain was expect to start also immediately.  It did - we pedaled through a heavy rain to Bensville where it slackened and became a light rain for the remainder of the ride back to the start.  

Afterwards, a few thoroughly drenched riders remarked that they had never ridden in the rain nor thought that they would want to do so, but it had actually been fun.  And as noted above, there were several Personal Records set racing back to the cars.

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.

After a long day of riding, we arrived at the hotels safely.  All wanted a shower and a rest before meeting for dinner.  When we returned to the hotel, Dani Villiva had baked some delicious ginger and chocolate chip cookies for us to enjoy.  Thank you Dani.

All had agreed to be on the pedals at 9 AM for the day 2 return.  We were to meet another rider at the trail head as he road up to York earlier Sunday morning to complete the tour in one day. 

Again it was hot.  We did meet the other rider and after a short greeting we continued.  A photo op  was taken at the large bicycle just short of the next regrouping point (Hanover Junction).

Continuing to New Freedom for lunch, most had stopped to refuel at the many various eateries (Paesano's Pizza, Vortex Grill, etc.).  It was sad to learn that 2 of the favorite eateries had closed.  It's a good thing that we were at the "Hight Point" of the trails because again it was all downhill from there as one of the "ebikes" had not had its battery recharged.  Also  one rider had run over a stick on the trail and was caught in the chain causing it to drop its chain.  A navigation aid was dislodged from there bike which I recovered and returned to its owner.  One rider was sagged, not being able to continue. Also the ebike rider with the dead battery accepted a ride back to the tour start.  No other mishaps were reported to me.

At this time, with the high humidity and  temperature rising, and all were beginning to get exhausted.  This was a successful tour with all enjoying themselves.

Thank you to all for joining me on this tour...Sherwood

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.