Are you suffering from the between-the-brevets blues? We have just the antidote for you this weekend. Saturday will provide a nice tune-up for the big cahuna on the 13th, and on Sunday we'll do a tame ride (and only 80 miles!) to the Cirque du Cyclisme.
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009
"FEAST AT FLANNERY'S," starting from Middletown Primary School, Middletown, Maryland. MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m. Beginning with the relatively benign climb over South Mountain on Arnoldstown Road, we'll be heading northwest over rolling terrain through the Cumberland Valley to Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, where we'll enjoy a nice lunch at Flannery's Tavern. See their menu at http://www.flannerystavernonthesquare.com/. The return route features a really nice covered bridge that's closed to automobile traffic. After the last rest stop in Cavetown, we'll enjoy traveling south and mostly downhill for several miles on Crystal Falls Drive before the climb back over South Mountain and some noticeable ups and downs on the way back to Middletown. 100 miles with an 85-mile short option.
Directions to the ride start:
MIDDLETOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL, 403 Franklin Street, MIDDLETOWN, MARYLAND
From DC Beltway, take I-270 north approximately 32 miles to Frederick. Then take I-70 west 3.5 miles to Exit 49/Alt.40. Go left/west on Alt.40 for about 4 miles to Middletown. Turn left onto MD17 Church St. in Middletown. In 0.1 mile turn left onto Franklin Street. In 0.3 mile turn left into school.
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SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2009
"CYCLE TO THE CIRQUE," starting from Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, Maryland. MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m. Nothing new under the sun on the route in itself, but the close-in ride start should appeal to many, and the highlight of the day will be attending the Circue du Cyclisme at the Loudoun County Fairgrounds in Leesburg! See http://www.cirqueducyclisme.com/schedule-of-events.html. The route passes through Potomac and Poolesville, then we'll take the
General Jubal Early Ferry across the Potomac River (see http://canal.mcmullans.org/whites_ferry.htm). From there it's a hop skip and a jump to the Cirque, where riders can hang out for as long as they like. In the afternoon, we'll head back to DC via the W&OD and Custis Trails. We'll cross Key Bridge and wend our way through Georgetown and Palisades, finally returning to Glen Echo. Haven't finished the cue sheet yet, but total mileage will be about 80 miles or so. Remember the toll troll at the ferry, plus an admission fee at the Circue (looks like it's only $5.00).
Directions to the ride start:
GLEN ECHO PARK, GLEN ECHO, MARYLAND
From Maryland, take DC Beltway south toward American Legion Bridge, Exit 39, MD190 (River Rd) east toward Washington. Continue 2.2 miles to a right onto MD614 (Goldsboro Rd). At MacArthur Boulevard, make a right then a quick left into parking lot for Glen Echo Park and Clara Barton House.
From Virginia, at Maryland end of American Legion Bridge, take exit 41 onto Clara Barton Parkway east toward DC. In 1.5 miles, bear right on ramp leading to Cabin John overpass. Turn left onto overpass to MacArthur Boulevard. Turn right and continue 0.7 mile to lot for Clara Barton House and Glen Echo Park on right.
From downtown DC, go west on Massachusetts Ave. At Westmoreland Circle, continue on Mass. Ave into Maryland. Turn left onto Goldsboro Rd at the T, then in ½ mi. turn right onto MacArthur Blvd, then quick left into parking lot for Clara Barton House and Glen Echo Park.
Crista
Work 202-662-4557
Cell (weekends only) 202-365-3738
**I DO NOT HAVE EMAIL ACCESS ON WEEKENDS**
