Nobody wore green today for the ride. For shame! Neither did yours truly. I have no green gear.  Next year I must be prepared!  Ride leader, Charles "Michie" Sidwell, was joined by Diane Harris, Michael Blaine, Blake Altman, John Giglio, and David Kemp, who met up with us along the route.  We started the ride by discussing the politics of gasoline taxes.  The jury still isn't out, and everyone had their own opinions.  We picked up the pace a bit on Chicamuxen Rd on our way down to Riverside Rd.  We breaked at the store on Liverpool Point Rd.  David and Mike decided to break off from there and head back.  Blake, Diane, John and myself continued the ride. We rode on a little known road called Smith Point Rd.  I'll be sure to include this road in more future routes.  It is a nice, charming little country road.  We picked up the pace again on Ironside Rd and Mason Springs Rd.  Blake broke off at the Pisgah Store to head back to his home in LaPlata.  Diane, John and myself went the rest of the way.  We took the IHRT back to Indian Head.  We saw lots of cyclists and pedestrians enjoying the trail.  So nice to know people are utilizing this county treasure.  The pizza place wasn't open for some strange reason.  No one was really up for pizza after the ride anyhow.  Couldn't ask for better weather for cycling. Wish it could be that way all the time! [Photos]

Leader Holly Carr. The Clan included Al Manley, Richard Harrington, Herb Pruitt, Mike Bivens, Jan and Ron Tucker, Randy and Jackie Schoch, Janell Saunders, Kenny and Jake Mundy, Danzie Seaward, Mike Besche, Jim and Jane Hudnall and a few others I can't spell.  We left the Gwynn Park HS; weather was perfect.  The trees were in bloom and it was beautiful.  The deli has a beautiful back yard with a fountain.  Lunch was great.   We all toasted to the Irish. [Photos]

Well, the Class D riders must have been out doing a jig or celebrating the wearin’ o the green because none showed up at the ride! So ride leader, Judy Mutty, took herself, her shamrock socks, and her new Trek FX 7.3 on the ride. It was a bit overcast but Spring was bursting. It was a lovely ride down to the Bladensburg Waterfront Park, along the new 1.5 miles extension along the Anacostia River, back to College Park, by the College Park Airport and around Lake Artemesia. Fear not, Class D’s, there will be an encore of this ride. Stay tuned.

Ride leader Jane Hudnall with Jim Hudnall, Steve Palincsar, Richard Harrington, Jay Lewis, Thomas Short, Ken Williams, Dana Middleton, Sonja Newman, Jim McDermott, Norm Lisy, Mike and Regina Saizan, Sam Perry and Diane Harris. The B riders gathered with the CC group led by Joan Oppel at the Brandywine Fire Station parking area for a great ride. Diane arrived late but caught up with the B group.  We headed down Van Brady by Mattaponi Creek and then back up North Keys to Ashbox and Cedarville. The B's met CC's for a rest stop at the Wawa on MD-301 and then headed down Danville and up Floral Park to finish the ride. The weather was perfect! Five days ago we started with balacavas and booties; today we wore shorts and sunscreen.
 

This version of the regular Thursday ride was somewhat impromptu.  Ride leader Joan Oppel posted a note to the e mail list on Wednesday (and added the ride to the schedule).  Lots of people wrote back with enthusiasm about a slower shorter version.  Joining up with Joan to make a great group were Jimmy Bartlett, Bernie Cohen, Calvin Conyers, John Early, Jack Hammond, Randy Schoch, Dana Trevas, and Pat Walthers.  We did a 27 mile loop, meeting the faster group at the WaWa on 301.  Our group stayed together and enjoyed a beautiful warm (hot?) day with low humidity (a treat!).  

Ride leader Joe Montminy. We had 16 riders for the first Wednesday evening  Casey's ride of the year. The 82 degrees at start time was a definite factor in the turnout despite having to start at 5:00 pm. Club members riding included: Jan Tucker, Ken Meridith, Rich Lear, Drayton Reese, Josh Hettel, Brad Renter, Jeff Lagana, Michael Blaine, Blake Altman, Brad Fransico and guests Andrew Harris, Mike Petrakis, Paula Martino and Rob Golding. We had a couple of flats on the return trip but overall an excellent first ride.

Ride Leader Jane Hudnall with Jackie Schoch, John Riconda, Peter and Jeanne Ulrich, Celeste and Calvin Conyers, Richard Harrington, Herman Young, Shane LaBrake, Kristin Watts and Mike Bivens enjoyed beautiful weather on the first Tour de Accokeek of the season. Mike rode from home to get a few more miles. Spring has arrived early in southern Maryland - a delight for everyone who rides a bike. Even the bass fishermen were out enjoying the great weather at the rest stop on the Potomac.

Leader Ron Leak was joined by Reginald Smith, Ken Meredith, and Brad Renter on a ride down the IHRT.  The weather was great.  So off we went.  Approaching Indian Head, it went from Sunny to Sunny with drizzle.  As we turned around, we saw a rainbow.  The rain stayed with us until we hit Bumpy Oak. The reason this ride is captioned with “and Surrounding Roads” is due to foot traffic on the trail.  It was a great day to ride.

March 13 - Southern Exposure: Mattawoman Creek Water Views   Leader: Steve Palincsar

Three days ago winter came calling; today it was early summer.  Clear blue skies, breezy, low 60s as Norm, Darryl and I rode down from Accokeek, but it was 77 by the end of the ride and most definitely was shorts and short sleeve jersey time. 

In the group today were Randy and Jackie Schoch, Jimmy Bartlett, Thomas Short, Larry Peed, Linda Bankerd, Richard Harrington, Norm Lisy, Mike and Regina Saizan, Darryl Lowery, Jim Hudnall, Mike Bivens, Jay Lewis, Miche Sidwell, Joan Oppel and David VanAmayden.

The route, found at http://ridewithgps.com/routes/973442 came down Chapman's Landing, jogged over to Potomac Heights on Glymont, then followed the IHRT to Mattingly.  We went left on Mattingly almost to the end (well, the cue sheet turned around at Mattingly Park, but only the leader actually followed the cue sheet, everyone else going all the way down to the end of the road and the very bottom of the hill) for a spectacular view of the Mattawoman Creek.  We then retraced on Mattingly and followed Strauss to Hawthorne, Bicknell and Sweetman to a rest stop in Smallwood Park, with another view of Mattawoman Creek.

 After the break we took a loop around the park up past Gen. Smallwood's house, then took Smallwood Rd. to Mason Springs and a second rest stop at the Pisgah store.  From there it was Pisgah Marbury, Chicamuxen, Hawthorne and over the hill on Livingston back to Bryans Road.  Total, 38 miles and 1224 feet of climbing, Lanterne Rouge finishing with a 14.0 average.

On a sunny, but breezy afternoon with the temperature in the mid 60's, five riders (Richard Harrington, Jimmy Bartlett, Mike Bivens, Dana Trevas, Theresa Jackson and trip leader Walter Carr) set out on the familiar Tour de Acokeek.  After a rest stop at Marshall Hall Landing watching the returning fishermen, we returned safely to the firehouse via the infamous Berry,s Hill Road.  No unusual events (flats or falls).