Album is private.

Whoops! The password is:

password

...but, I'll pake the entire album public, also.

Cool pics.

So is that detour to the dam necessary? Are you not allowed on the bridge on Pulaski? Or is it just more scenic that way?

-D

The Hatem Bridge on Route 40 is 1 of 3 bridges in Maryland on a "Route" or a "US" designated road that bikes and pedestrians are not allowed to cross. The other two are the Bay Bridge and the Nice Bridge (down in southeastern MD). Other bridges, like the Francis Scott Key Bridge are on a prohibited interstate, so via proximity, bikes and peds are prohibited, as well.

For a small fee, Biller's Bike Shop in Havre de Grace will drive you and your bike across, but I wanted to be self-sufficient and get some bigger miles in my legs before July.

I never had any problems using a TransIt seat post rack; it never budged, and held whatever I wanted to put on it. (I'm sure I never came close to the 25-pound limit, though.) I think the key is to get the bolt-on kind, not the quick-release kind -- I have read of complaints about the QR version not staying still. And I was able to sit it right on top of my seatpost collar, which may have helped, too. I gave it up for a traditional rack so I would have the option of panniers; also, the struts (right word?) of the rack make a fine place to mount a couple of taillights.

NoRacer, I've been toying with the idea of a trip to OC by bike for quite a while now . . . from where I live, though, I'd probably head south and get myself hauled across the Bay Bridge. And I'm not hard-core enough to do it over just a weekend! :D I'd need at least a few days of lying collapsed on the beach in between the trips. I might do it later this year -- now that plans for another week-long trip have collapsed, I have some extra vacation time.

Drive up to Essex and come on along ($12/day for the room for extra persons beyond 2)! My neighborhood is quiet. Vehicles are safe.

Anyway, there is some rest in there... the schedule is:

- Thursday - @daybreak, ride to OCMD and check in to motel

- Friday - up for coffee and watch the morning boardwalk bike riders and joggers; late morning ride to Assategue (maybe) or late morning ride with "G" Shoemaker (female racer) and her friend Lolo or just a ride between lounging around on the beach; catch the fireworks displays in the evening.

- Saturday - up for coffee and watch the morning boardwalk bike riders and joggers; late morning ride to Assategue (maybe) or just a ride between lounging around on the beach

- Sunday - @daybreak, ride back to Essex, perhaps checking out Henlopen State Park on the way.

I won't be "racing" any of the rides (unless I'm out on my own and play "bridge the gap" on Coastal Hwy with the "rec" riders--hehe :innocent: )

Man that looks like a sweet trip. Maybe next year.

-D

Maybe I should start making this an organized annual BBC ride with me as the ride leader. :D

I just updated the cue sheet, today. It's located in CueSheetCentral when you search for Essex cue sheets. The file is a .zip file that contains a very high level map, cue sheet/pack list, and a GPX file of the (whoops! last year's) ride. Hmmm...might have to fix that.

New this year, if more than me going, I'm bringing 2 hand-held radios to keep in communications. Unfortunately, I don't have headphone/mic headsets for them.

Yeah, well, even your "not racing" is gonna be warp speed compared to my turtle-on-a-bike impersonation, LOL! Hmmm . . . perhaps I could drive over the bay and leave my car somewhere in Elkton or Chesapeake City, and you all can wave as you pass me by . . . :) And I'm sure I could get away with using the Airborne instead of the 520 . . . all right, you've really got me thinking about this now! I'll have to check the office leave situation for Thursday. (Friday is a holiday for us slacker government workers.)

Warp speed! LOL! I kept my pace under 15 mph average for the ride to Chesapeake City. In fact, it was probably closer to 14 MPH. I didn't want to get myself into a cramping situation again. :notamused:

I'm taking a vacation day on Thursday, but Friday is a holiday for me, too.

I haven't heard anything from Barry--don't know if he was really serious. Another someone from DC Randonnuers said she's going to Seatle, WA for rides that give her credit toward her R5000 award (I believe this is for riding "certified" randonnuer rides that total up to 5,000 km), so she can't come. Derath -might- do it next year.

So, so far, Maxine, you're the only one that is seriously considering it.

It would be a sweet trip. My thinking is that next year the kids will be the age that they might like a trip to the beach. So I could bike and meet them there or something.

-D

So next weekend I will be making a trip out to Cambridge MD to do some riding. Wanted to see if anyone will be out their and would like to ride with me and a friend? It will be saturday weather permitting and I would like to do around 50 miles if not more.

So anyone interested in meeting up out their?

I stand corrected:o I had the QR kind. I didn't know there was a bolt on type. Are you commuting these days? I've looked for you in the park and ride but no cyclist except mnt bikers.

All that effort I put into figuring out a route, and I have yet to actually ride to in on a weekday! :mad: Work has been hell on wheels lately. With all the extra hours I've been working, and the lengthiness of my potential bike commute, I figure I'd have to be in bed by about an hour after I got home! (I've been working a fair number of weekend days, too, which is *very* unusual for me, so my riding, in general, has really suffered this year.) I'm hoping things will calm down soon. If not, maybe I'll opt at least for the drive-part-way-and-park strategy.

I've also let myself get sucked into too many after-work commitments -- the'yre fun stuff, but the scheduling and logistics are draining the life from me, LOL! I'm gonna put my foot down when all that's over, sometime in August, I believe.

Assateague Island National Park "Q"

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...ue-Island-Park

Is anyone familiar with Bayberry Rd? It seems to extend south from the Verazzano Bridge to the MD/VA border. I'm just wondering if it's a paved road or trail?

I'm almost certain that it's paved. I seem to recall riding on it for a bit some years ago. And it shows up on my 2006 version of Microsoft Streets & Trips, which generally doesn't display unpaved trails (or even paved MUTs, for that matter.)

If you don't have any luck, feel free to swing by our group ride in Easton at the Bike Doctor on Sunday at 8 AM. It starts with a modest pace in the 17-22 MPH range then ramps up around mile 25 or 30, depending on the route. Some folks usually split off when we start hammering and take an easy lap back to the shop, but if your legs are feeling good, stick around and do the last 20-25 miles anywhere from 20-30 MPH with attacks, circular pace lines, King of the Mountain challenges (best as one can with so little elevation gain), the works. The group is relative small due to our schedules, but there are typically around 10 riders, sometimes more.

And we love new folks. Seems like every week brings a new face.

Thanks, Maxine. I've only been on the northern end of the island. Going south may be worth seeing and taking pictures of.

Thanks again,

--
Isaias

Howard County born and raised, although I've been in Brooklyn for the past five years. I miss those Columbia bike paths though, I had no idea how novel they were and just took them for granted growing up.

Greetings and thanks for saying hello!

NoRacer: I don't think it goes that far. It goes for a ways then gets sandy. I recall not being able to cycle all the way down. I don't remember if it was the sand or 'no bikes below this point' that prevented me from riding it. I kinda think both were an issue. It was a few years ago. I was only able to go a short distance. I bailed and went swimming. I have a map of Delaware bike routes and a DelMarVa bike route map. You are more than welcome to borrow them. Delaware riding is really sweet, so many options and back roads. If you want the maps we can set up a meet this weekend. Charlie

Charlie,

Thanks for the offer.

Speaking of this weekend, I want to do a long, slow ride with loaded pack. I'm thinking of doing this:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...-outbound-only

If anyone is interested in meeting me along the way and riding out with me, let me know. I haven't decided how early I'll start yet, but I'm going to try and average 14-15 mph and since it's suppose to be H O T out, I'll probably start just before sunrise (5:30am ?). This should put me in the city by 6am or so.

Some of the loops are redundant or were for sightseeing (i.e., the one at BWI near Sawmill Creek Park, and the one just before the park). I'm sure that I'll not do the loop by Sawmill, but will follow the Overton portion of the trail.


I'll upload a picture to this IMG tag, when I have left:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ivestarted.jpg

Hey NR I assume you are talking about Saturday??? That is my sons last day home before he heads back to Pendleton. Doesn't mean he wants to spend it with us though:D I might be able to meet you early near BWI/B&A, ride for awhile, then head back. I know I can't make Thomas Point tomorrow. If it is early enough I should be able to squeeze a ride to Annapolis. Let me know if it is Saturday and your ETA at BWI area. Charlie

Yeah, I definitely didn't ride all the way down, either, but like Charlie, I can't recall for certain whether it was lack of pavement, or pavement covered by sand that was the obstacle. The sand can most definitely kick up down there if it's been windy. I recall one Seagull Century where just getting into the big parking lot after the bridge was tricky; a lot of sand had blown in, and it was deep enough to give most of the skinny-tire roadies some trouble.

What Charlie said! :) I won't know until later tonight whether Saturday or Sunday can be my "main" ride day this weekend, but if I can I may try to meet up with you guys at BWI.