Good sleep right out in lights. Bfast & a treat of a Sunday morn paper over a 2nd cup of cold brewed coffee. Left in time to arrive @ jamboree just after registration opening at 9:00AM. I scored a front row parking spot.
It turned out that I did not fall back last night & I was an hour early. Somehow I was introduced to the club pres, the club founder, and a skilled 63 year old rider who was to be my ride leader. I learned a few things from each of them.
Big parking lot filled up. Lots of riders in the hundreds to ride on this big former Dupont estate. First time for me to participate in a big non race party ride. Rode with like 21 riders at start until group split out, still group was about 13. Different riding styles depending upon whom I was behind. Silly riders on hard tail 29ers: their lines are forced, a rear suspension carves a tighter and more varied line. Great trails, tread mostly smooth and added in some interesting tight trails. Shared with horse riders. Chilly w/ brisk wind. Riding in forest crunching the fallen leaves. Like 20 miles in 2 1/2 hours and almost 2000′ vert. The climbs are all short and almost constant: little knibbers up and downs.
Was given some future ride ideas. Founding pres, Ken, winters in FL and he gave me several ride suggestions.
Plan was to ride Patapsco outside Baltimore on Monday. Needed to figure out a road intersection to plug into the GPS. Sort of succeeded. Incredible route: I picked shortest route and I saw scenery that only the locals know about. Nuts on also.
Found a quiet office building parking lot, parked beside a large box truck. Nice to be off main highway for no traffic noise. Parked last row away from building. In Am cars started filling the rows closest the bldg. Needed to time my departure to cync with ebbing commute traffic. Re located Patapsco ride location & plugged it into GPS and headed out. Again, what a route and right on.
The park visitor center was closed so a park map was not obtainable. I decide to bag the ride and drive further to Frederick, MD to ride the watershed. I found a bike shop address and plugged it in to gps. Arrived right at doorstep. Listened to a shop person describe a ride and I bought the map.
Drove up a mountain to about 1200′ on a rocky ridge. I was told that the ride would be rocky. Yes, there were rocks and then there were rock gardens and then there was a hike a bike rock garden. I failed my first garden. Using clipless pedals and being clipped in does allow for a panic foot plant to prevent a body fall slam so I usually chicken out before I might have been able to finesse the move. Getting better at it. Practice track stands and riding in slow tight circles to develop balance and confidence. Some rocks I ride up to and compress the fork that stops forward momentum but the momentum overcomes the compression and I move forward. I still lack the snap for an uphill power stroke. 10.35 miles in 1 3/4 hours.
Plan then was to camp at Grambill Camp Ground (XG) and take a shower. Darn, it was closed, put a hole in my plans. Parked in a grocery store and did internet research for WVA rides. Parking spot looked like I might have been able to pull off a successful sleep but decided that I could find a better one further West where I was heading anyway. Drove into Hagerstown following GPS directions to hospital looking for a dr’s parking lot. Found an unnamed lot near the hospital across the street from a local watering hole. Might get loud tonight.
Shortened daylight hours make finding a spot to crash earlier in the day. The trick is to wait for the business to close, slide in, fix dinner, do internet stuff, sleep, fix bfast, clean up and dash before the business opens. And not get rousted.
Tomorrow is West Virginia: Country Roads Take Me Home.
Drove by Antietam Creek and Harper’s Ferry road.
No pictures taken as the forests appear the same.