All systems go! What a difference a few days makes, and we're going to
take advantage of it this fine weekend. We have two beautiful rides on
tap and I hope you can join us. **Don't forget to turn your clocks
ahead one hour on Saturday night.**
SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2009
"NO UNGER, NO UNGER," starting from the C&O Canal National Historic
Park, Sharpsburg, Maryland. MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m. How this ride got
its name: A few years ago we were riding the very scenic "Hunger for
Unger," planning to have lunch at the little country store in Unger,
West Virginia, only to find that Ma & Pa Unger had retired and closed
the store. Although you may still be able to find Ma & Pa sitting on
their front porch, we have chosen NOT to go to Unger on this ride.
After a flat beginning along the C&O canal, we climb up to Sharpsburg,
then travel on some cute little twisty-turny, squirmy roads back down to
the C&O Canal, and then crawl back up Tommytown Road on our way to
Williamsport. Then we'll take the Western Maryland Rail Trail into
Hancock. The 10.7 miles on the trail will be one of only two flat
sections on this ride. When we get to Hancock we'll cross the Potomac
River into West Virginia and climb up onto Horse Ridge. We'll ride
along the ridge for 5 miles and then a very fast and steep descent will
take us down into Berkeley Springs for lunch. Leaving town there's no
way to go but up, so we'll climb over Warm Springs Ridge. There will be
lots of great views and lots of steep ups & downs as we work our way
over to Sleepy Creek and eventually pick up Dave Berning's old 300K
route along River Road. We'll follow that oldy but goody route more or
less all the way to Shepherdstown and then cross the Potomac River back
into Maryland, finishing with a fast steep descent back to Canal Rd and
the ride's end. 100 miles, with short options of 78 and 94 miles.
Don't know what the elevation gain will be, but we WILL be climbing over
several ridges.
Directions to the ride start (take your pick!):
C&O CANAL NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK, Sharpsburg, Maryland
From DC Beltway, go north on I-270 to Frederick (approx. 32 miles).
Take exit 32 to merge onto I-70 West toward Hagerstown.
In 4.3 miles, take exit 49 for US40 Alt. toward Braddock
Heights/Middletown
in 0.2 mile turn left onto US40 Alt. West; continue on Alt. 40 through
Middletown and over South Mountain.
In 14.3 miles turn left onto MD34 Potomac Street in Boonsboro.
In about 9.5 miles turn left onto Canal Road (sign to C&O National
Historic Park) (before bridge over Potomac River).
In 0.5 mi. turn left into the parking lot. Porta-john available!
OR:
From DC Beltway, take I-270 north approx. 32 miles to Frederick.
Take exit 32 onto I-70 West, toward Hagerstown.
In 1.3 mi. take exit 52 onto US340 West, toward Charlestown/Leesburg.
You will pass through Virginia and into West Virginia.
In 21.3 miles, turn right onto WV230/Shepherdstown Pike.
In 8.8 miles turn right onto S. Princess Street in Shepherdstown to
remain on WV230.
In 0.1 mi. turn left onto E. German St. to remain on WV230.
In 0.3 mi. turn right onto N. Duke Street/WV480.
In 0.5 mi. cross bridge over Potomac River and enter Maryland. Becomes
MD34.
In 0.4 mi. take first right (sharp turn) onto Canal Road (sign to C&O
National Historic Park).
In 0.5 mi. turn left into the parking lot. Porta-john available!
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SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2009
"OVER THE HILL WITH DOCTOR DISC," starting from Monocacy Middle School,
Frederick, Maryland. **PLEASE NOTE LATE MEETING TIME 8:00 a.m., EASTERN
DAYLIGHT TIME** -- to soften the blow of losing an hour of sleep.
This little gem of a ride was originally designed to celebrate Chuck's
60th birthday. Even though he's been "over the hill" for a "few" years
now, we still love the ride and will continue to offer it at least once
a year until we're both so old and feeble that we can no longer get OVER
THE HILL. The ride heads east from Frederick, with an abundance of
scenic views, turns, sweet and squirmy little one-lane roads, and HILLS.
Lunch at Tony's Cafe & Pizzeria in Taneytown. Rest stops in Union
Bridge and Libertytown. 100 miles, with several short options.
Directions to the ride start:
MONOCACY MIDDLE SCHOOL, FREDERICK, MARYLAND, 8009 Opossumtown Pike,
Frederick MD 21702
From D.C. Beltway (I-495), take I-270 north 31 miles to Frederick.
Continue north on US15 3.7 miles. Take Exit 16, Motter Ave exit (sign
for Frederick Community College). Turn RIGHT at the traffic light onto
Opossumtown Pike. In about 1.5 mi. turn RIGHT into Monocacy Middle
School parking lot (just after Frederick Community College on the left).
Crista
Work 202-662-4557
Cell (weekends only) 202-365-3738
**NO EMAIL ACCESS ON WEEKENDS**
