We are really looking forward to a fun-filled weekend of riding and merry-making. Please come out and join us for both rides as well as for WGR's 50th birthday celebration after Saturday's ride! Be sure to RSVP to Paul if you can attend the party. Details follow.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009
"HI-LO," starting from Middletown Primary School, Middletown, Maryland. MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m. A delightful ride that scales the heights of Catoctin and South Mountains and plumbs the depths of Catoctin, Antietam and Conococheague Creeks. We'll head northwest in the morning with some beautiful ups & downs through the Middletown Valley, cross the Appalachian Trail, and enjoy a wild descent into Boonsboro. The next several miles through the Cumberland Valley feature bucolic farmland, as we continue north to our lunch stop at Tony's Pizza near the Hagerstown airport. In the afternoon we'll visit the Antietam Battlefield before the last significant climb over South Mountain. Finally, we head back to Middletown by way of lovely Bennie's Hill Road, which features a short stretch of hard-pack. They've finally repaired the bridge over Catoctin Creek and the road is once again open for travel!
Note: I will bring 10 copies of the cue sheet to the ride start, first come first served. If you plan to attend, please email me and I'll send you electronic copies of the cue sheet and map. If you are unable to print out your own copies, let me know and I'll be sure to reserve one for you.
Here are the 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 (restrooms available at store on right just before turn). In 0.3 mile turn left into school.
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PARTY-PARTY!
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
Bob Wagner is leading "ON AGAIN/OFF AGAIN," starting from Oregon Ridge Park, Cockeysville, Maryland. **MEETING TIME 7:45 a.m., FOR AN 8:00 a.m. RIDE START.**
Here's Bob's ride description:
"Here's a fun one. The NCR (North Central Rail Trail) is one of the best bike trails in Maryland, but its unpaved surface is not very well suited to long miles on a road bike. I developed this ride as a solution. On Again/Off Again rides on every mile of the NCR from Hunt Valley to York, PA with no more than 10 mile stretches on the trail. We drop on and off the trail north, then hit all the sections we missed on our way back home. This also means that there are many turnaround points all along the route. The trail is hard-packed and stable, but bumpy. The route gives you 40.5 miles of trail riding in 5 sections. I rode it on my 100 psi Grand Bois 28mm tires with no problems. The PA portions are more gravely and less bumpy, the MD portions are less gravel and more bump." Lunch at Genova's Pizza in York. 103 miles, with short options of 28, 49, 66 or 82 miles.
Note: The trail portions are flat; the road portions are quite hilly!
Leader: Bob Wagner bobwag@gmail.com
and directions to the start from 95N:
Crista
202-365-3738
