scott L R
01-05-07, 09:39 PM
Planning a ride from Pittsburgh Pa. to Ocean city Md. How do I cross the bay? Bum a ride from someone in a truck? Any ferry crossings? Thanks.
Touring - Crossing cheseapeke bay.
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jamawani
01-06-07, 04:14 PM
I presume that you are using the ATA and the C&O into Washington.
There is a ferry possibility by taking the Cape Lookout cruise to Smith Island then to Crisfield.
There hasn't been ferry service in the Annapolis area for 50 years since the bridge opened -
Plus bikes are prohibited on the bridge.
The state has offered shuttle service off and on saying that it is a courtesy even though ISTEA requires multimodal access. Some years the state hasn't even done that and you have to use a taxi at about $40. It really sucks. If you are doing the ride before the Cape Lookout cruise starts up then you really have to find a way across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Back to the cruises:
Daily afternoon service from Smith Island to Crisfield - -
Limited, seasonal service from Point Lookout to Smith Island.
Call them:
http://www.smithislandcruises.com/daycruise.html
Departure from Point Lookout State Park 10:30 AM Wed. thru Sun.
June 17 through September 3, 2006
Pre-season dates: May 27, 28; June 10, 11
Post-season dates: September 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24; October 7, 8, 14, 15, 2006
Also - it's tricky getting out of Washington heading east. Southeast DC ain't a place you want to hang around in. The Mount Vernon Trail on the Virginia side is really sweet - but you have to find a way across the Potomac River to Marshall Hall (where there is a county dock). I hitched across before or you can call nearby marinas and see if someone will give you a lift.
Otherwise - my advice is to take the Metro from L'Enfant Plaza (bikes permitted during off-peak hours) to the end of the line on Branch Avenue. From there use Old Branch Ave and Brandywine Road to Cedarville State Forest where there is camping. (Camping is hard to come by in this area.) Then it's a moderate day's ride to Cape Lookout and camping.
On the Eastern Shore there is camping right outside of Crisfield at Janes Island - even better camping at Pocomoke State Park - stay on the west side / not US 113. At Berlin you can head out to Assateague Island. The State Park is more of a carnival than the National Seashore - plus the latter has walk-in remote sites which are some of the best in the region.
Have a good ride - J
PS - Check out the WABA website
There is a ferry possibility by taking the Cape Lookout cruise to Smith Island then to Crisfield.
There hasn't been ferry service in the Annapolis area for 50 years since the bridge opened -
Plus bikes are prohibited on the bridge.
The state has offered shuttle service off and on saying that it is a courtesy even though ISTEA requires multimodal access. Some years the state hasn't even done that and you have to use a taxi at about $40. It really sucks. If you are doing the ride before the Cape Lookout cruise starts up then you really have to find a way across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Back to the cruises:
Daily afternoon service from Smith Island to Crisfield - -
Limited, seasonal service from Point Lookout to Smith Island.
Call them:
http://www.smithislandcruises.com/daycruise.html
Departure from Point Lookout State Park 10:30 AM Wed. thru Sun.
June 17 through September 3, 2006
Pre-season dates: May 27, 28; June 10, 11
Post-season dates: September 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24; October 7, 8, 14, 15, 2006
Also - it's tricky getting out of Washington heading east. Southeast DC ain't a place you want to hang around in. The Mount Vernon Trail on the Virginia side is really sweet - but you have to find a way across the Potomac River to Marshall Hall (where there is a county dock). I hitched across before or you can call nearby marinas and see if someone will give you a lift.
Otherwise - my advice is to take the Metro from L'Enfant Plaza (bikes permitted during off-peak hours) to the end of the line on Branch Avenue. From there use Old Branch Ave and Brandywine Road to Cedarville State Forest where there is camping. (Camping is hard to come by in this area.) Then it's a moderate day's ride to Cape Lookout and camping.
On the Eastern Shore there is camping right outside of Crisfield at Janes Island - even better camping at Pocomoke State Park - stay on the west side / not US 113. At Berlin you can head out to Assateague Island. The State Park is more of a carnival than the National Seashore - plus the latter has walk-in remote sites which are some of the best in the region.
Have a good ride - J
PS - Check out the WABA website
NoRacer
01-06-07, 05:55 PM
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) oversees the management of the bridge. As a courtesy, the Authority offers the following service:
For the Hatem and Chesapeake Bay bridge, a private professional service is available, for a fee, to assist cyclists over the bridge. It is suggested that you contact the service at least 24 hours in advance of your crossing to verify the location and time of pick-up. For information, contact the MdTA at 410-974-0341.
Reference: http://www.sha.state.md.us/exploremd/bicyclists/oppe/Bicyclists6.asp
For the Hatem and Chesapeake Bay bridge, a private professional service is available, for a fee, to assist cyclists over the bridge. It is suggested that you contact the service at least 24 hours in advance of your crossing to verify the location and time of pick-up. For information, contact the MdTA at 410-974-0341.
Reference: http://www.sha.state.md.us/exploremd/bicyclists/oppe/Bicyclists6.asp
joeprim
01-06-07, 06:09 PM
Post here exact date and ~time lots of us cross on business.
Joe
Joe
SMN21601
01-06-07, 08:48 PM
When are you thinking of doing this trip / what is your preferred point of crossing? I have family in Pittsburgh and I live on the Eastern Shore of MD...might be able to help you out with a lift across the Bay. I've had my eye on this exact trip for about a year and now that the trail from PGH to Cumberland has been finished...I hope to do it sometime in 2007 myself.
-Scott
-Scott
gpsblake
01-06-07, 10:15 PM
Mass Transit runs several buses a day across the bay to Kent Island.
http://www.onelesscar.org/TopLevelDi/comminfo.php
and
http://www.ci.annapolis.md.us/info.asp?page=3275
If you're not going down to Washington via the C&O canal, you can chose not to cross the bay at all. Cross the Susquehanna river on US 1 then swing down the Elkton and ride the Eastern shore to OC.
http://www.onelesscar.org/TopLevelDi/comminfo.php
and
http://www.ci.annapolis.md.us/info.asp?page=3275
If you're not going down to Washington via the C&O canal, you can chose not to cross the bay at all. Cross the Susquehanna river on US 1 then swing down the Elkton and ride the Eastern shore to OC.
edtrek
01-07-07, 06:21 PM
There was a fellow last year (Ben) who flew from San Francisco into PIT on a red-eye, then rode PIT - Rehobeth. He posted questions and a report on the Yahoo group, and his report of Pittsburgh (Boston, actually) to DC is here:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Great_Allegheny_Passage/message/1817 and his report of DC-Rehobeth is here : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Great_Allegheny_Passage/message/1865
I'm sure you've seen the Yahoo Groups for the GAP and the C&O, you might also want to pose questions at the BikeWashingtonDC yahoo group. (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BikeWashingtonDC/)
Please let us know how your research goes, I'm a Pittsburgh rider planning a trip (http://www.thirdwave-websites.com/bike/chesapeake-bay-tour.cfm) around the Chesapeake Bay (Elkton-Baltimore-Yorktown-Norfolk-CapeCharles-SnowHill-Elkton) for next June, I'd be glad to hear any insights about the area.
I'm sure you've seen the Yahoo Groups for the GAP and the C&O, you might also want to pose questions at the BikeWashingtonDC yahoo group. (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BikeWashingtonDC/)
Please let us know how your research goes, I'm a Pittsburgh rider planning a trip (http://www.thirdwave-websites.com/bike/chesapeake-bay-tour.cfm) around the Chesapeake Bay (Elkton-Baltimore-Yorktown-Norfolk-CapeCharles-SnowHill-Elkton) for next June, I'd be glad to hear any insights about the area.