Ride Reports November/December 2005

Allegheny Highlands Trail
by Ann & Fred Abeles

Ann and I took a trip to Western Maryland Sept. 30 - Oct. 2 to see what progress was being made on the Allegheny Highlands Trail (Great Allegheny Passage). We drove our motor home to a private campground (Mason Dixon) near Finzel, Maryland and biked down the road for the 3 miles it took to get on the trail near Deal, Pennsylvania. On our way over where the trail crosses state road 2011 (McKenzie Hollow Road) we met some friendly and curious llamas. The trail goes slightly up hill for 3 miles to the Big Savage Tunnel (3,300 feet long), which is illuminated (though a few of the lights were out). A bike light probably would not be a bad idea. Then you coast down hill for about 12 miles where the resurfaced part of the trail presently ends at Woodcock Hollow Road. I estimate that Woodcock Hollow Road is about 100 miles by car from Frederick.

While we were standing at the trailhead, fueling up on bagels for our ride back up the hill, the Western Maryland steam train came around the bend and provided a great photo opportunity. The trail is in good shape and the shorter Borden Tunnel, a couple of miles north of the Frostburg trailhead, was paved though not lit. We were told the Big Savage Tunnel will be closed after Thanksgiving to prevent water and frost damage. The view from the south side of the Big Savage Tunnel is magnificent (2,375 ft above sea level) and you can see three states from the vantage point. In a week or two the fall foliage will make this ride truly unique.

Going north, it is about a 10 mile down hill ride from the Big Savage Tunnel all the way to about a mile before Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. Shortly before you reach the point where the trail temporarily ends (Glade City, due to the last missing bridge) there is an amazing ride over the road, river and train tracks on a just completed viaduct. Our understanding is that the Trail Alliance wants to move an old bow bridge into the last gap on the trail but funding for the job will have to wait until next year. However, we saw hardy souls trundling their bikes up and down the steep gravel sides of the gap. I estimate the distance from Woodcock Hollow to Glade City is about 19 miles.

The Last Wednesday Evening Ride of the Year
by Mike Procario

The Wednesday evening ride from Glade Elementary has been my introduction to the Frederick Pedalers, and it has been a very enjoyable experience. It is a friendly ride that is a bit different each week depending on who shows up. I would recommend it to anyone who has not done a group ride before.

Since I had almost missed the ride the previous week due to heavy traffic coming from work, I left extra early and I arrived around 5:40 PM. I found that George was already there, and Rick arrived soon after me. John the ride leader arrived next. The weather was perfect for a ride, but we were worried about the early sunset of 6:57 PM, so we left promptly at 6:00 PM. We took the reverse of the previous week's route heading west on Devilbiss Bridge Road toward Old Frederick. We maintained a brisk pace for a Wednesday ride and would average about 15 mph for the ride. After traveling north on Old Frederick we turned unto Utica and went over the covered bridge. We proceeded to Hessong Bridge Road. It would not be a Wednesday ride with a stretch on Hessong Bridge.

About 8-9 miles into the ride while we were on Angleberger Road, we saw Louise, Wednesday night regular, approaching from the opposite direction. She made a U-turn and joined us. She had arrived at Glade Elementary about 6:10 PM due to traffic on Route 15 and was following the previous week's route when we ran into her. We cut across Bottomley to Lewistown, then Old Frederick again, Links Bridge, Dublin, Links, and finally onto Glade which took us back to Devilbiss Bridge Road and the school. We finished the ride about 6:55 PM and had covered 14.5 miles. As we chatted after the ride, Doug pulled into the parking lot. He had also arrived late and headed off along the typical Wednesday route, but managed to not cross paths with either Louise or the group.

I am looking forward to next spring when this ride will start up again.

Frederick Pedalers Club Century
Comments from Various Riders

We very much enjoyed the ride. The roads were very low traffic, and the scenery was great. We saw two people floating down to the ground with parachutes, along with the usual farm scenery. Thanks to you and the Frederick Pedalers for a great ride. The cue sheet was right on, and the price, considering what we have been paying for rides this year, was a real bargain. We managed to stay dry for the entire ride, as it didn't start to rain until we got home. Hope to see you on another ride soon.
—Mike and Betsy LaPadula

I don't know if you keep track of who does what during the century, but I thought I would let you know that I did my first metric century. My computer showed 62.7 miles for the ride and a 14 mph average. I really enjoyed it.
—Mike Procario

Woodsboro-Cascade Loop
October 16, 2005 by Glenn Angus

On Sunday, October 16, 5 energetic riders met at the Woodsboro Community Park for a repeat of the Woodsboro-Cascade Loop ride, the one which we did in July [as it was requested by many to do this ride again in the Fall, when the temps would be less, and the colors would be out].

We left at about 8:45 PM, and headed up the hill on MD-550 for Bennie Duncan Rd, the beauty of which we savored as we coasted down that lovely, peaceful expanse of history. Our route took us through Walkersville, and on to the Utica Creek covered bridge, and then on through Lewistown, to a rest stop at the Visitor's Center at the Manor Area of Cunningham Falls State Park. We all enjoyed the aviary, which now features a Bald Eagle, as well as 2 different kinds of Vultures, a Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawks, and several Owls. Then, it was work time. We ascended Catoctin Mountain via the lovely and picturesque and idyllic Catoctin Hollow Road, and then, at the summit, continued up on Wigville Road, enjoying now the fact that the tar-and-chip from the summer had settled a great deal, and was much safer than before. We crossed MD-77 on Stottlemeyer Road, and continued up to the actual summit, where we were blown around severely by the wind, which was gusting at up to 35 mph. We enjoyed several panoramic vistas of many miles from the area along MD-491, and had lunch in Cascade. Then came the fun part -- that delicious 8-mile long downhill section on MD-550 into Thurmont. The wind, though, was quite formidable, and even though it seemed to be a tailwind, it was more from the right, and we were continually fighting for equilibrium. But all arrived at Thurmont safe and sound. And then, off to Roddy Creek bridge, and the Loy's Station bridge, followed by a lovely look at the LeGore bridge, and its following steep climb out of the river valley. The ride ended with a very fast 'blow' down MD-194, with the wind at our backs, and we arrived 64.2 miles later in Woodsboro, all of us exhilarated by the day's ride. The mountains to the west were especially clear and beautiful as we looked off across the valley.

Those riding were: Glenn Angus, Harry DeMoll, Martha Hardesty, Brad Taylor, and Nancy Wheeler. [Conspicuously missing, though, was Bill Preston, who rarely misses a Frederick Pedalers ride. His wisdom and riding expertise would have added so much.] Those who missed this ride would have enjoyed the vistas, the clear air, and the colors, as well as the camaraderie of the other riders, a most congenial bunch this day. I hope to see you all next year.

Almost A Straight Shot to Emmitsburg
by John Munns

We had a day of sunshine in between the rainy days, and took advantage of the break to ride the "Almost a Straight Shot to Emmitsburg". John Fauerby, Lynne Rosenbusch, and, Vicki Crum joined the leader John Munns for this classic 50-mile ride. The mountains still could be seen from Emmitsburg, and we added a couple of hills in the end to come through the newly developed roads and enter Whittier through the back way.