Original Version, Oxon Hill Club Jersey

Leader:   Ron Altemus

Members:  Karen Barnett-McCain, Astrid Caldas, Janell Saunders, Gene Villiva (sorry, no picture)

Route:   from the Indian Head Village Green, over to the Indian Head Rail Trail via Mattingly and then east to the White Plains Trail Head.  After a short rest stop, return westward ho! back to watermelon at the Village Green.

Weather:   High thin overcast so no blue skies but plenty of hot sunshine; temps starting in the low 80s, rising to the upper 80s by rides end; definitely humid but not oppressive; 3-6 mph air movement out of the SW

AMS:  ride leader swept in the low 12s; a couple of riders where faster

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:  the IHRT is always a nice ride and today was no exception.  Long stretches of shade  prior to the noon sun reaching its zenith overhead and on the return, the headwind breeze was kind of refreshing.

Plenty of other cyclists and a good number of walkers, mostly between Middletown and White Plains.  Jackie didn't ride with the group but did want to get some miles in prior to tending to the watermelon.  She encountered a tree down just past Randy's bench near Mile Marker 6 which she could not get past with her trike so returned from there.  By the time our contingent arrived, others cyclists (I assume) had managed to clear most of it from the trail, as shown below.  We didn't have to traipse through poison ivy as some of the on-road rides had to at various points.

Not too many wildlife sightings:  a fox, turtles, and a couple of deer.  The lack of rain is starting to dry up some of the marshy areas along side the trail.  The beaver pond just east of the Livingston Road parking lot is very low.  Unfortunately, its low level, coupled with the high temperatures  of the past several days has resulted in the water becoming too hot for aquatic life, resulting in fish perishing.

We met up with the 26-mile riders just west of Livingston and rode with them for a bit, arriving back at the Village Green for the ice cold watermelon Jackie had awaiting.  A great way to end a Watermelon Ride - thank you, Jackie!

Riders: Ron Altemus, Mark Garrison, Carl Hattery, Joan Oppel, Gene Villiva, Jackie Schoch and late riders were Connie Quickstad, and Donaro Gardner.

Route:  Indian Head Rail Trail, heading east from Livingston Rd parking lot to rest stop at White Plains trailhead, and then returning westward to ride start.

Weather:  It was very hot.  We started early at 8:30 and it was 85 but felt like 92.

AMS:  mid 12.4 mi/hr 

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  None

Report:  It was a very hot day for a ride.  Even starting at 8:30 AM it was already 85 degrees and felt like 92 degrees.  There were a lot of bike riders on the Trail that started before we did to bet the heat.

Not many animals out today saw some turtles, MD Rat Snake in the shade on the trail and a small lizard.

Sorry Connie and Donaro I couldn't add the picture you send me.

Leader: Joan Oppel

Members: Donaro Gardner, Patricia Sanders, Pat Walthers

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55891516

Weather: Around 77 to start, ending 89 - lovely breeze, enough shade to help with the heat.

Chicamuxen now has large bike signs on the shoulders. We saw 4 between Marbury Run and Hawthorne. Workmen were laying others on the other shoulder (heading toward Smallwood park) as we passed. The signs seem fine where there is the wide shoulder but that shoulder narrows a lot past Smallwood State Park as it gets closer to Riverside. 

Report: A lovely ride, good company, oustanding rest stop in Smallwood State Park under the tree canopy with a breeze.

• Leader: Lou Dall'Orso
  
  Members:  Denny M, Connie Q,  

  Guests:  none

  Route:  ridewithgps.com/routes/51730263

  Weather:  Not too bad at the start, getting progressively warmer and more humid towards the end of the ride. rising to the high 80s or so.

  AMS:  Around 14 mph

  Mechanicals/Mishaps:  None
  
  Report:   Fun ride with Denny and Connie, kept everyone within sight most of the ride and ended together. Shade is good. 

Well we just squeezed in the LAST decent day before a week of HOTNESS arrives. 

We had a simply wonderful ride on Mason Neck, riding the Mason Neck 28 Counter clockwise route. Everyone stayed together and we enjoyed the shade of the State Park out 'n back as well as the water views and remarkable lack of traffic. 

RIDERS: Peggy Alfonso, Suzanne Allan, Ron Altemus, Jim Cavanaugh, Erin Counts, Jessica Hirschhorn, Lynda Honberg, Ron Honberg, Annette Koklauner, Joseph McKenzie, Lisa Oken, Allan Rogers, and David Van Ameyden. 

No injuries, no mechanicals.   

It was a GREAT DAY to be riding our bikes.  

Average speed 11.7

Leader:  Ron Altemus

Members:  Maureen Flynn, Gene Villiva, Jackie Schoch, Peter Stelman, Oswald Martin, Mark Garrison, Conne Quickstad, Don Gardner (Not pictured:  Paul Adams, Bob Rourke)



Route:  Indian Head Rail Trail, heading east from Livingston Rd parking lot to rest stop at White Plains trailhead, and then returning westward to ride start.

Weather:  High overcast so filtered sunshine; temp range mid 70s to low 80s; humidity increasing but not too bad; 5-7 westerly air

AMS:  mid 11s for RL - faster riders were faster

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  rider stung by bee (or other flying insect)

Report:  9 a.m. starts pay offer as the temps climb and the humidity rises.  Seems like there weren't that many other trail users but maybe just caught up in the moment of riding and didn't notice them.

Plenty of wildlife today:  turtles in the various ponds and at least one box turtle alongside the trail; eagle on the next near the ride start while great blue and white herons seen in the ponds; deer, kamikaze squirrels, chipmunk, and wild turkey also present.  Last but not least, especially given its length, is this healthy Eastern Rat snake more commonly referred to as a black snake, photographed by Gene.

Leader: Connie Quickstad

Members: Chantal Briere, Bob Thompson

Guests: None

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40595109

Weather:  Mid 70’s – 80’s

AMS: Average was 13.3

Mechanicals/Mishaps: None

Report: Had a nice ride with Chantal and Bob this morning.  Traffic was light, temps not bad.  We enjoyed the first half of the ride better because it was more scenic.  We skipped the rest stop at Port Tobacco River Park, wasn’t much there and made our way up to St Ignatius Church, where there were spectacular views.  Had a look around the cemetery and pondered Dr Mudd’s history.  Gift shop was closed and they have portable restrooms, seemed to be doing some renovation in the area.  Made our way to La Plata and enjoyed the rollers on Fairground Rd.  Last rest stop was at the Dash In, and for the record, Bob did not have a hot dog!  Once we made it to MD 6 for the return trip the last 8 miles were not scenic, there was a fair amount of traffic so thankful for the wide shoulders.  Overall, it was great to get a ride this week with some fellow members.  See you next time!

The rumor of rain was just that!  We hemmed and hawed and mulled and worried over the dueling APPS, some that showed rain rain rain some that did not.  My pathological optimism won the day, and we were a GO.  And.... NOT A DROP OF RAIN!   We had a simply terrific ride on a beautiful day in Frederick, MD. 

RIDERS:  Suzanne Allan, Brad Boekerloo, Jim Cavanaugh, Stanley Drake,  Jessica Hirschhorn, Renee McCullough, Allan Rogers, Doug Van Zoeren, and Anne Wittenberg.  Stanley, Allen and Doug were my former Kaiser colleagues, so we were covered with orthopedics, gastroenterology, and public health! 

Our 35 mile plan turned to 40 miles when we encountered an unexpected closure of Glade due to emergency tree work.   But the detour was unexpectedly stunning, with farmland, silos, barns, growing corn, amber wheat, and soybeans thriving.   Almost no traffic.  

We stopped at Loys Station Covered bridge, with a longer stop at Roddy Road Covered Bridge, and decided to fly through Utica Bridge as it was so close to home. 

We all stayed together and had a simply wonderful day.  Two of our group felt that the ride was a bit much, and turned back after 12 miles.  They texted me when they arrived safely back at Utica Park. 

Leader:  Ron Altemus

Members:  Mark Garrison, Sue Estes, Debby Bowman, Chantal Briere, Bob Thompson, Cindy Halliday, Joan Oppel



Route:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49615056  30.4 miles 735' elevation change.  Regular Tour de Accokeek routing to Bryan's Road and then exploration of the Timber Ridge subdivisions working our way back to Marshall Hall Road.  Following a thrilling descent of Marshall Hall Road, an out and back on Fenwick prior to a rest stop at Marshall Hall Landing.  Return featurd an exploration of River Rd before resuming the standard TdeA with the ascent of Barry Hill Road.  After cresting, a short excursion left on Old Marshall Hall Road before retracing and returning to the start.

Weather:  partly to mostly sunny with temps starting in the mid 70s, climbing to the mid 80s sans humidity.  7-8 mph breezes out of the west.

AMS:  swept in the low 11s; faster group was faster

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:   Summer solstice feeling fine making for an enjoyable, relatively flat ride.  First time for several members visiting the subdivisions in the Bryans Road area plus the out and backs on Fenwick and River.  Vehicular traffic was light - for some of us, no cars either way on Livingston outbound nor climbing Barry's Hill.

A bit of confusion re start time caused us to split into two groups.  The faster cyclists (Bob, Chantal, Cindy, Sue) left at the appointed time while the others waited for our errant friend.  We met on Fenwick at a small farmer's market, riding together down to Marshall Hall landing and onto River.  The final push up Barry's Hill resulted in regroupings into fast and slow.  A good ride for all.