Leader:   Ron Altemus

Members:   Gene Villiva, Susan Altemus, Robin Garnett, Fran Jezisek, Leesha Saunders, Sherwood Byers, Sr., Oswald Martin, Linda Bankerd, Lester Jackson, Jr., Donaro Gardner, Joan Jackson, and guest Mark Martin (Oswald's son).  Not pictured:  Brian Mills, who was delayed but joined us at White Plains

Route:  the Friday Fav - Indian Head Rail Trail east from Livingston Rd parking lot to the White Plains trailhead.  After a rest stop, a westerly return back to the ride start.

Weather:   a nice spring day with seasonal temps (lower to mid 60s), sunny through a high white haze, winds out of the south 6-9 mph

AMS:   RL swept at 11 mph.  Everyone else faster...

Mechanicals/Mishaps:   none

Report:  good weather brought out the largest group for a Friday ride this year.  We were stretched our along the trail, mostly in pairs conversing as we rode.  First ride of the year for Lester and Joan and we hope to see them again in the very near future. 

Lots of other trails users, the majority of which were utilizing the eastern end of the trail.  Bald eagles sightings at the ride start, near Bumpy Oak pond on the return, and on the nest close to Livingston Rd.  Lots of other smaller birds and a hawk near White Plains; the various ponds had turtles sunning.

Leader: Joan Oppel

Members: Ron Altemus, Lou D'All Orso, Sue Gunter, Denny Miller, Tom Short, Pat Walthers

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48179152 Outbound on the trail, Bumpy Oak, Rose Hilll to Rt 6, Poorhouse to Masons Springs, rest stop at Pisgah Park, Smallwood Church, Chicamuxen, brief visit to Smallwood Park and return

Weather: Mid 50's for most of the ride, about 60 at the end, with a north breeze at 8-9 mph 

Mechanicals and Mishaps: None to the riders

Report: Two riders announced at the start that they would be doing the route straight through with no stops and we waved them off to do their thing. Five of us - Ron, Denny, Pat, Sue and me - rode more or less together, with a couple of regrouping stops. It was a quiet ride with little traffic except on Bumpy Oak, Rt 6 and Chicamuxen near Hawthorne - but miles and miles of very few passing cars. 

We did have one eventful and sad encounter: about halfway to Pisgah Park on Mason Springs, we noticed a young deer struggling in a ditch, obviously having been hit by a car. We stopped a couple hundred feet up the road and I called Charles County Animal Control, listened to a long menu, called out the most likely number to call. Sue dialed that and then got transferred to the Charles County Sheriff's department. About 10 minutes later, a sheriff's car showed up back down the road and he called out that he had spotted the animal. We left, knowing very sadly that there was no good outcome but at least we could help the animal out of its misery.

On the other hand, it was a gorgeous day for a bike ride, bright deep blue sky and lots of sun.

Luis and I, Tom Short, saw the struggling but hopeless deer.  We stopped at the entrance to Pisgah Park and called Charles County non- emergency number to report the deer.  We then continued riding in that any further involvement on our part would serve only to further terrify the deer.  The police you saw was likely there in response to our call to them. It was indeed a sad event.

Leader: Janell Saunders

Members: I was joined by  Sherwood Byers, Jr., Linda Bankerd and Pat Colvin

Route: the standard TDA 16

Weather: 60ish

Mishaps: a flat near the end of the ride.

It was cool and breezy but not nearly as windy as the day before. Linda was on her second ride after knee replacement surgery, so we kept to the standard route and had a relaxed ride.  

After descending Marshall Hall road, we decided to bypass the rest stop since it was a steady headwind. Linda's aim was to make it up Barrys Hill without stopping which she did (the little engine that could and did!) After that, we turned left to make up a couple miles heading toward Mayoene Reserve and view the 2 giant pigs at the farm along the way, they were snuggled up and napping. Sherwood was chased by a dog after making the turn ahead of us, but the owner was able to retrieve the offender before it got a hold of Sherwood.

On our return, your leader headed home and did not return to the start, but found out later that Pat had flatted after making the turn on Accokeek Rd W. The remaining riders teamed up to do the repair which was hampered by her e-bike configuration.  They did make it back to the start by 8pm.

13 riders joined me on Kent Island, a day that started with cloudiness and turned to wonderful sun!   We enjoyed the multiple out-and-backs to see The Chesapeake Bay Bridge, shetland ponies (thank you Susan for remembering to bring apple snacks!)  a community fishing pier, a stunning beach at a wedding venue, ospreys and nests, and the southernmost end lighthouse and picnic area for lunch. 

RIDERS:  Jessica Hirschhorn, Steve Palincsar, Walt Roscello, Catherine Ade, Ron Altemus, Susan Altemus, Barbara Butcher, Andrea Clayville, Robin Garrett, Susan Golonka, Lynda Honberg, Anne Wittenberg, and Gene Villeva. 

34.4 miles. 381'

Ride Leaders - Deb Reynolds, CC 35; Diane Harris, Ellen Goodwin, Catherine Ade, Walt Roscello, B/CC 41

Top Row: Sorting out the 35 and 41 mile riders; Bottom Row: 35 mile and Trail rides.

Leaders:  Ellen Goodwin (sweep), Catherine Ade and Walt Roscello (middle of the pack) and Diane Harris (fast group)

Members:  Ian Altendorfer, Karen Barnett-Mccain, Riley Bates, Chatal Briere, William Campbell, Luis Dall-Orso, Liam Healy, Larry Malone, Getachew Negash, Lisa Oken, Theresa Rowell, Mario Salazar, Bernard Steward, Bob Thompson, David Van Ameydan, David Whiteman, Pat Walthers

Report:  The ride started at 9:30am and it was chilly and cloudy at the start.  Quickly the group broke up with a fast group off the front, a middle group, and a more leisurely group in the rear.  The ride was quick to Goose Bay where the sun had come out to warm us for the return trip.  It was a very windy day and it felt as though every direction had a headwind.  The slower paced group decided to take a detour out of Goose Bay and took a right at the top of the Goose Bay hill instead of a left to go back.  We rode half  a mile or so to the end of the road and enjoyed the glorious view of St. Ignatius church and other beautiful things including geese from the end of the road.  That's a view worth taking in and I'm glad we took the time to do it.  

Mechanicals/Issues:  None that this correspondent is aware of.  

Leader/Members:   RL Ron, Janell Saunders, Gene Villiva

Route:   Village Green to Indian Head Rail Trail east to White Plains for a rest stop.  Return Westward Ho! to ride start.

Weather:   Partly cloudy becoming quite sunny with temps ranging from 53-59 degrees - cooler when the sun was hidden by the errant cloud.  NW winds 10-12 mph so noticeable on the return.

AMS:   mid 11s

Mechanicals/Mishaps:   none during the ride proper but...  Janell flatted on MD-210 in Indian Head proper.  She was a bit unsure as to how to cope with her thru-axles, so once photog Steve finished his official duties, he went off to assist as possible.  Initially encountering problems, they ended up taking the bike back to Janell's house and then had no issues fixing the flat.  Janell rode back to the trail via Livingston/Pomfret and met up with us near MM 12.

Report:   A nice day on the trail, especially as the sun warmed the air.  Numerous users but not as busy as might have been expected - perhaps others though the day had started a bit too cool  Wildlife sightings (visually or aurally) included frogs, turtles, wild turkeys and different types of smaller birds.  Outbound, an eagle was visible on the nest near Livingston Road while on the return trip, an immature flew diagonally across the trail in front of us below tree top level.  Bald eagles are big birds!  Shortly thereafter, a pileated woodpecker also flew across the trail in front of us.

Walking Home on Woodburn Hill

Leader: Steve Palincsar

Members: Ron Altemus

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50193221

Weather: Cloudy, low 60s at the start rising to the low 70s by 2pm, roughly 10 mph winds.

AMS: 11.5

Mechanicals/Mishaps: none

Report: While Walt and Catherine explored Golden Beach, Ron and I took the 3 Notch Trail to Thompson Corner, cutting through the Farmers Market parking lot, then went down Woodburn Hill and back, stopping briefly at the Clover Hill Dairy.  No crowds this time, unlike last week. 

From there we took Locke's Crossing to the 3 Notch Trail across from Mechanicsville Elementary.  We followed the 3 Notch Trail to Morganza Turner, taking that down to Laurel Grove to Baggett Park.  As planned, we met Walt and Catherine at the park, and followed them back on the trail.

It was a pretty nice day.  We're all still wondering, where was everybody?  Were they among the tens of thousands at the "Hands Off" rally at the Washington Monument?

Leader:   Ron Altemus

Members:   Jackie Schoch, Gene Villiva, Oswald Martin, Leesha Saunders, Donaro Gardner



Route:  Friday same old same old - Indian Head Rail Trail east from Livingston Rd parking lot to rest stop in White Plains and return

Weather:   mostly cloudy with some sun on the return; temps in the mid 70s; 8-10 mph air out of the NW

AMS:   swept in mid 12s

Mechanicals/Mishaps:   none

Report:  weather forecasts had thunderstorms/rain for the regular morning start so rescheduled to 1 pm and most everyone was able to accommodate the time shift.  All of us felt the need for a Friday bike ride, socializing/conversating with pleasant weather.

Enough other trail users today so we didn't feel all alone.   Saw one group of 6-8 mid route and they got to White Plains just before we departed.  Interestingly, they all started stretching having completed their ride.

Minimal wildlife sightings consisting of various birds and turtles, either on the trail or basking on logs in one of the numerous ponds along the trail.