Dear Friends,
I have two new RUSA permanents, "Splendor in the Blue Grass" and "Many Mountains from Monterey to Middletown (MMMM)." The two routes together are mostly based on (but not identical to) my "Devil's Wicked Stepmother" 400K Permanent route.
"Splendor in the Blue Grass" is 141 miles (227K). It travels from Middletown, Virginia through Hardy and Pendleton Counties in West Virginia to Monterey, Virginia, passing through the towns of Wardensville, Moorefield, Brandywine, Sugar Grove and Blue Grass. Highlights include climbs over Little North Mountain, Great North Mountain, Sandy Ridge, South Branch Mountain, Hoover Mountain, Brushy Mountain and Monterey Mountain. In addition to all that climbing, there are some lovely and long tranquil stretches through Sweedlin Valley and the scenic Thorn Creek Wildlife Management Area. But perhaps the most precious jewel of this ride is Highland County's beautiful Blue Grass Valley.
"MMMM" is 135 miles (216K) and travels from Monterey back to Middletown, beginning with a series of climbs over Jacks, Bull Pasture and Shenandoah Mountains before heading north through the Shenandoah Valley. The route passes through McDowell, West Augusta, Swoope, Churchville, Bridgewater, Singers Glen, and Columbia Furnace.
A small group of us plans to ride both permanents on September 11 and 12, and we welcome additional participants. "Splendor in the Blue Grass" will start from the 7-11 in Middletown at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 11. On Sunday, September 12, we'll have breakfast at High's Restaurant in Monterey at 6:00 a.m. and start "MMMM" at 7:00 a.m.
If you'd like to join us, please contact me off-list as soon as possible, but no later than Monday, September 6. You must be a RUSA member and be officially registered for the ride, and you'll need to make your own reservations for the overnight stay in Monterey. Lodging is available in Monterey at the Montvallee Motel - http://www.montvalleemotel.com/,
and the Highland Inn - http://www.highland-inn.com/.
I can't promise that rooms will still be available if you procrastinate :-)
Crista
