Ride Reports September 2007

Ride For a Lifetime
Wednesday August 29th, 2007

"Seeing death as the end of life is like seeing the horizon as the end of the ocean."
-David Searls

It was with great sadness we learned of the passing of Mike La Padula on Saturday August 25th, 2007. He and his wife Betsy though living in Monrovia, were honorary residents of Walkersville for all the time they spent cycling from Glade Elementary School and on so many Wednesday Night Rides with the Frederick Pedalers. So, it seemed only natural that on today's ride we celebrated Mike's life by sharing our fond memories of the time we spent with him.

We began from Utica District Park as has become the norm for 2007 and rode over to Glade Elementary School. In that parking lot where we had met so many times before, we gathered our bikes in a circle and joined hands for several moments of silent reflection. Many thoughts were certainly of Mike and the numerous rides he'd both led and attended with the club. Other thoughts were of Betsy and the love they shared both for each other, and for cycling.

We then shared stories and memories of our times with Mike, which were rarely without Betsy by his side. Stories of his rambling nature when it came to cycling, of how he couldn't choose a route that went for more than a few miles without turning to explore new directions and extend the ride 'just a little further'. Recollections of how he liked to push the pace because he couldn't wait to see what the road ahead had in store.

We also affirmed that life is short and Mike showed by example that you can't wait around and just let life happen. You have to venture forth and see for yourself. So we did.

We left Glade Elementary and chose a well traveled route that we had done so many times before with Mike and Betsy. Along Glade Road, over to Dublin and up Links Bridge to Old Frederick. In a nod to Mike's need for speed, we split up and the rabbits headed out Old Frederick Road to Creagerstown while the remaining riders made their way back to Utica at a more earthly pace. Toward the end of the ride, we noticed a cloud formation in the shape of a bicycle seat. We agreed it definitely wasn't a 'comfort saddle' and that it must mean there is a new rider off the front of heaven's peloton.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike, Betsy, and their families - for strength, for hope and for love.

CornQuest
August 4, 2007 by Vicki Smith

Well, I doubt we could have had a much hotter day for today's ride. My thanks to Harry DeMoll and Beth Brown for helping to lead the full ride. I opted to start in Pleasant Valley - with only 1000 ft of climbing - plenty for me. Without my "captain", I'm pretty much out of shape to do long or tough hills right now. Taking a couple years off the single has left me pretty wimpy - and in my "prime", I always climbed very slowly. I guess I need to get lower gears?

Four of us were brave enough to go for the meal - myself, John, Jen Eberhart, and Harry. George Ruszat, Chuck Wilson, Mike Procario, and Beth opted for the icy refreshments or just liquids. I limited myself to just one ear - knowing that if I ate too much, I would regret it by the time we crested the first hill. Wise choice, because just after the first climb, I wished I had gone for the shaved ice instead. Luckily, the sensation passed.

My thanks to John, Jen, and Harry for waiting for me on the return trip - though I'm sure they appreciated the extra rest. Did I say it was hot, really hot?

When I stopped by the school to drop off Mike, all the other vehicles were gone. Beth phoned me that the rest of the group made it back to Union Bridge in good shape. I'm sure it was a tough ride back in the heat.

No matter what distance anyone did today - kudos. It was a tough day to do a hilly ride. Thanks again, everyone. See you on the road real soon.

Chesapeake Bay Ride
August 5, 2007, 2007 by Glenn Angus

On Sunday, August 5, Glenn Angus led the 6th Annual Chesapeake Bay Ride, from Edgewater, MD [just south of Annapolis] to Chesapeake Beach, MD, in Calvert County. The weather could not have been better for a long bike ride -- high 70's at ride start, with moderate temperatures during the day [probably not getting above 90 degrees], and a SE wind, which would prove to be a saving grace on the way home. What a wonderful change from the heat of the last week.

Six of us left Edgewater, Maryland, en route to Chesapeake Beach, MD in Calvert County. Our route took us south for about 5 miles on MD-2, a flat, slightly rolling wide stretch of road, through farms and fields, with its wide, smooth shoulders. We headed west at Harwood, MD, and enjoyed a 3-mile long downhill into the Patuxent River valley, where we rolled up and down some surprisingly challenging shorter hills [yes, Dorothy, there are hills in Anne Arundel County], as we entered some rather rural sections of heavily wooded roads, many with no center lines near the Jug Bay area of the Patuxent River, near Upper Marlboro. And then, east we traveled, passing a wide variety of farms and open land.

As we approached Friendship, MD, we were forced to take a 5-mile detour, as the road crossing at a very busy section of MD-2, is being rebuilt, and was impossible to traverse, even by walking. The detour was a very lovely combination of 3 roads, all of which were very cycle-friendly, providing wonderful views, and very little traffic. Once back in Friendship, we turned east towards the Chesapeake Bay, as we enjoyed a very long downhill to the water's edge, at Rose Haven. We enjoyed a rest and some breathtaking Bay views at a resort in Rose Haven, at the edge of the Bay, before heading on for our final push to Chesapeake Beach, a 4+ mile cruise through the woods along Holland Point, the southernmost place in Anne Arundel County, as we rode through North Beach, and on to Chesapeake Beach, in Calvert County.

We enjoyed a very restful and nourishing lunch at Subway, across the road from the Railroad Museum, just inland, and began our return trip north. We stopped at the boardwalk and pier in North Beach, and then north again. Our route this way took us along the coast, through Fairhaven Cliffs and Fairhaven, a very smooth 1.5 long wind through the deep woods. How nice to be in 90 degree heat, in a virtual tree tunnel, totally shaded from the sun, and going down hill at that. We ended up at water level, after a long, screaming downhill, at Fairhaven, and headed along the coast, passing by Tocara Farm, an early 19th century farm, with all brick fences, and out buildings. We came back out of the river area through the most rural road I have ever seen, just barely wide enough for a single car to pass. And then, a long screaming downhill on Franklin-Gibson Rd, where many of us hit 44 mph, followed by the proverbial "payback" climb out. A final look at the Bay as we passed through Deale, MD, and then through a winding washboard section, followed by our final home stretch, along the flat of MD-2, aided by a slight tailwind, where some of us [this writer included] experienced a wickedly fast second wind, bringing us back to our cars at mile 67.

It was a wonderful ride, and no words can adequately express the joy of the day, and the satisfaction of having ridden this ride today.

Riding today were: Glenn Angus, Terry Baker, Harry DeMoll, Terry Eskuchen, Dottie Rust, and Mark Rothstein.

I hope next year we will have an even larger group of riders. Those of you who could not make it are in for a wonderful treat. We had a blast, and we would love to share this with you.

Lake to Park
August 20, 2007 by Terry 'Raindrops' Eskuchen

When I got home from Sunday's ride, my husband greeted me with, "I guess you've earned your nickname, 'Raindrops', again today! Seven of us (Vicki Smith, Ray Gable, Craig Pollack, Diane Silas, Jeannine Brewer, Koman Nambiar and myself) started out at 9:05 AM on a cloudy Sunday morning. Off and on rain spit on us. We crossed Route 15 at Hessong Bridge Road and it actually was clear for a short time. We stopped at Utica Park for a short break.

When we crossed back over Route 15, the clouds increased. We stopped again at Mountaindale Country Store and then had a fun time going down Putman Road. As we approached our last leg of Opossumtown Pike, the rain got a little stronger. Ray bugged out at Amber Meadows and went home. Craig turned off at 7th Street and headed home. The rest of us landed at Culler Lake safely, then Vicki and I rode our bikes home. Despite the raindrops and the cloudiness this 29 mile ride turned out to be fun.