MD | I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!!

Posts Tagged ‘MD’

Motorcycle Ride to nowhere… unless Lisbon and Damascus count as destinations.

Posted: September 2, 2016 in Motorcycle Rides, motorcycle touring
Tags: Harley Davidson, Maryland, MD, motorcycle blog, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle riding, motorcycle riding in maryland, motorcycle touring, ultra limited, VA, Virginia

Debbie and I had a, nearly, 200 mile motorcycle ride this past Sunday. We left quite early in the morning as it was supposed to be over well over 95F by early afternoon. Our plan worked as it was 94F as we made it back to the house about 1PM. Hot and muggy, but we beat the worse of it.

Pulling out that morning we really did not have a true destination in mind other than to ride through the towns of Lisbon and Damascus. We wanted to hit those locations to add to our “Great Cities” motorcycle tour! With no real plan this was just going to be one of those “it’s the journey not the destination” rides.

After rolling through Lisbon we decided to just ride north. Riding through small towns and rolling farmland made for a wonderful morning. Toss in some light fog here and there it was just one of those rides were you just love the fact that you ride a motorcycle!

After about an hour we turned the motorcycle towards the west until we ran into US Route 15 which runs right by our home. Heading south we rode the motorcycle into Frederick, MD to stop for lunch and a quick stop at the Frederick Harley-Davidson shop. The stop at the dealership was to take a quick peek at the new 2017 motorcycles and see for myself how the new engine looks.

A bit later we pulled the bike into our garage with about 192 miles on the trip meter. All in all just another good day behind bars (motorcycle handlebars)!

Motorcycle and Car Show

Posted: July 20, 2015 in custom motorcycle, Motorcycle, Rally
Tags: Bike Show, Café Racer, car show, custom car, custom motorcycle, Harley Davidson, Maryland, MD, Sportbike, tradesmen MC

1st Place Custom, 3rd Place Dresser (yup dresser)

The wife and I went to a motorcycle and car show this past weekend. The Tradesmen Motorcycle Club hosted the event to raise money for the Cystic Fibroses Foundation. The show itself was in rural Maryland, you would never know we were 50 miles or so from downtown Washington, DC due to all the countryside we saw. We road through miles of farmland when “SHA’ZAM” a small strip mall appeared in the community of Monrovia, MD.

On the ride out the weather was great but that was hiding the fact that the temp was going to be in the upper 90s… and boy did it! We drank a lot of water during the day and as much as we like the show we were looking forward to the ride home and cool showers!

As for the show itself there were about 25 cars and about 20 motorcycles on display. The one thing that surprised me the most was…what is up with Batman? There were two Batman themed Camaro’s one of which had a matching motorcycle.

As you can tell from the pictures below there were some really nice cars and bikes in attendance. The wife and I both favorite and voted for the same vehicles, in particular we loved the late 1960s Pontiac Grand Prix Convertible and the Chevy El Camino.

We also met a guy taking a leap into the motorcycle industry and starting his own shop. He is creating his company, “Sick Sledz”, and is hoping to open it in this part of Maryland in the near future… we wish him luck!

We did quite well in the contest part of the bike show! We won two trophies for the Army bike. The first trophy kind of surprised us, 3^rd place in the “Dresser” category! That had to be people selecting the wrong spot on the voting form or not knowing what a dresser really looks like.. oh well.

Our bike did take 1^st place in the custom motorcycle category. We have done well in the few shows we have presented and we have not got around to finishing it yet. There are a few more things we want to do to call it finished!

: Batman 1

: Batman 2

: Sick Sledz entry

Hancock Visitor Center: C and O Canal Motorcycle Ride

Posted: June 11, 2015 in C&O Canal, motorcycle touring
Tags: C&O Canal, Hancock, Harley Davidson, Maryland, MD, Motorcycle, motorcycle blog, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle touring, sport bike

Location – Hancock Visitor Center

Mile Marker –123

Historical Comments – The Hancock Visitors Center is located in the Bowles House. Construction of the home began in the mid 1700s and thus pre-dates construction of the canal. The house sits near Lock 52 and after this part of the canal was opened the residents would sell/trade with the canal boats as they transited through the lock. Passing through several hands over the next century it remained private property until the 1980s.

Hancock is one of the oldest settlements in western Maryland. George Washington stayed here several times while he was surveying the area as a young man. During the Civil War Hancock was held for ransom by the Confederate Army, but no one paid ransom.

Ride to Site – The Hancock Visitors Center is not easy to find and is poorly signed. If you are approaching from the east you are riding on I70, the visitor’s center is almost immediately on the left side of road (Main Street/MD 144) as you reach the bottom of the exit. It is hidden between guardrails and trees as you ride down the interstate exit. I rode past the entrance, the fact it was there never registered.

Coming from the west you might see the sign for the visitor’s center if it is not hidden by tree branches. It is located between the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) building and the ramp to I70.

Amenities – Visitors Center, public restrooms, parking, all normal amenities in the town of Hancock.

Road Conditions (from main road) – rough pavement with loose gravel. The entrance/exit is on a somewhat sharp incline please pay attention to your line of travel for the gravel that has been kicked onto the pavement.

Railway Situation – none

Parking Lot Conditions –Pea gravel and dirt with a bit of pavement.

Main Attraction – The first floor of the Bowles house has been converted in to the visitor’s center. There are several artifacts of the construction period of the canal as well as photographs of the area during the period the canal was open. Lock #52 is also on the grounds of the visitor’s center and is in good shape.

My Thoughts – This visitor center does not have amount of information on the canal as does the nearby Williamsport visitor’s center. It is difficult to find and is only open Memorial Day thorough Labor Day.

Map

Difficult to find!

: Top of the hill is Main Street.

: The actual canal with the connection to trail.

: Lock #52

Motorcycle ride on the Harpers Ferry Road.

Posted: June 18, 2014 in Motorcycle Rides, motorcycle touring
Tags: Harley, Harley Davidson, Harpers Ferry, MD, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle touring, sport bike, sportsbike, WV

Good description of Harpers Ferry Road!

This road kind of parallels the Potomac River and the C&O Canal starting in the south on the Maryland side of the river across from the town of Harpers Ferry, WV and is a great road for motorcycles. We rode from there to Sharpsburg, MD which is where the Civil War battle of Antietam was fought (this link will take you to our ride to the Antietam Battlefield).

The road is only about 13 miles long it is twisty, with lots of elevation changes, stomach dropping dips, blind corners and blind entrances to the roadway; it is not a road for the beginning rider to take lightly or with speed. It is also scenic and lots of fun, even if the speed limit is only 35 MPH. There are several neat places to stop along the route including the C&O Canal, Antietam Battlefield, Antietam Iron Works Inn, and Harpers Ferry of course.

The road has views of some great stuff; railroad tunnels, rail road overpass, small towns, rock walls, open farm land, cool barns, mountain cliffs, and on and on!

If you are ever in this area I highly recommend a short side trip to ride this road…and then get some ice cream across the river in Harpers Ferry!

: Starting at the south end of Harpers Ferry road

: US 340 overpass

: East end of Harpers Ferry tunnel

: West end of Harpers Ferry tunnel

: Potomac River

: C&O Canal Tow Path

: Great views on Harpers Ferry Road

: Sharpsburg, MD

Lock 38: C & O Canal Motorcycle Ride

Posted: June 13, 2014 in C&O Canal, Motorcycle Rides
Tags: C&O Canal, Harley, Harley Davidson, Maryland, MD, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, motorcyle tour, VA, virgina, West Virginia, WV

C&O Canal Lock 38

Location – Lock 38

Mile Marker – 72.7 and 72.8

Historical Comments – Near two Civil War Battle Fields Harpers Ferry and Shepherdstown, WV. Also nearby is the former headquarters for the National Park Service’s C&O Canal division, Ferry Hill, which is now a restored plantation museum.

Ride to Site – Lock 38 has two separate areas both assessable from Canal Road. Canal road is a paved but not well marked byway, pay attention to traffic.

Amenities – the lock areas have restrooms but nothing else. Shepherdstown is nearby with full amenities.

Road Conditions (from main road) – paved

Railway Situation – underpass, very spectacular when a train is passing overhead

Parking Lot Conditions – Paved

Main Attraction – The remains of the lock and the nearby Ferry Hill Plantation.

My Thoughts – A major trail head for folks hiking and bicycling on the Canal Trail but not a lot to see here for the motorcyclist EXCEPT for railroad overpass. The overpass has to be about 50 yards about the roadway and canal. When a trail is crossing the view is spectacular.

Map:

Lock 38

: Milepost 72.7

: Trailhead at milepost 72.8

: Tow Path

: The railroad overpass

: You are here

: Facilities at milepost 72.8

: Parking lot at mile post 72.7

: Lock 38

: Lock 38

: Canal Road

: Canal Road

Whites Ferry: C & O Canal Motorcycle Ride

Posted: June 7, 2014 in C&O Canal, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Rides
Tags: C&O Canal, Harley, Maryland, MD, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, national park, VA, Virginia, White’s Ferry

Whites Ferry C&O Canal Stop

Location – Whites Ferry

Mile Marker – 35.5

Historical Comments –This stop on the canal is named for the actual ferry with which it shares the location. The ferry predates the canal by more than half a century and is still in operation today as the only ferry on the Potomac River. You can read more about the Whites Ferry ferry here.

Ride to Site – Riding to Whites Ferry requires you ride through farm land. Be on the lookout for slow moving farm equipment. Pay attention as well for deer and other wildlife crossing the road. There are multiple speed cameras in and around the nearby town of Poolsville.

Amenities – The ferry operates a small grocery/deli during the summer months, the area has picnic tables, boat ramp, restrooms.

Road Conditions (from main road) – All paved and in decent condition

Railway Situation – None

Parking Lot Conditions – Hard packed gravel, use a kickstand puck.

Main Attraction – Whites Ferry, $3 for motorcycles to cross the river.

My Thoughts – The canal site itself is interesting. After crossing the river you can, at the traffic light, turn left and head into Leesburg or turn right and head back towards Point of Rocks, MD (another stop on the canal tour).

Map

: On the road to the Whites Ferry C&O Canal Stop

: What is left of the canal at Whites Ferry

: My bike at Whites Ferry C&O Canal stop

Brunswick Vistors Center: C & O Canal Motorcycle Ride

Posted: December 5, 2013 in C&O Canal, Motorcycle Rides
Tags: C&O Canal, Café Racer, Harley, Harley Davidson, MD, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, national park, national park service, Sportbike

A few weeks ago, just before the temperature dropped (and pretty much stayed) into the 30s (F), I was able to get a late afternoon ride to the Bunswick stop on the C&O. For background on what I am doing with the C&O please look at this post.

Location – Brunswick Visitors Center 40 West Potomac Street, Brunswick, MD 21716

Mile Marker – 55

Historical Comments –This is all about the history of the C&O Canal.

The visitor center, which is shared with the Brunswick Railroad Museum, has several static displays regarding the canal (in classic National Park Service style), its development and its relation to the town of Brunswick.

Ride to Site – The Visitors Center is located in downtown Brunswick. There is no actual “stop” on the canal.

Amenities – All normal urban amenities are present.

Road Conditions (from main road) – Normal two lane roads.

Railway Situation – If you attempt to ride to the path (not really accessible via your bike) the rail line is on the surface.

Parking Lot Conditions – Typical parking for a small town.

Main Attraction –

My Thoughts – Nice little museum. Brunswick, MD would make a nice little day trip from Washington DC or the surrounding area. Nice country roads will get you into town from any direction.

Map

: View of the Brunswick rail yard

Catoctin Aqueduct – C&O Canal Motorcycle Ride

Posted: November 12, 2013 in C&O Canal, Motorcycle Rides
Tags: Brunswick, C&O, C&O Canal, C&O Canal Trust, Canal, catoctin aqueduct, Maryland, MD, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, national park, national park service, point of rock

Earlier this year I stopped at the Catoctin Aqueduct. For background on what I am doing with the C&O please look at this post.

Location – Catoctin Aqueduct

Mile Marker – 51

Historical Comments –One of eleven stone aqueducts (allowing the canal to pass over Catoctin Creek) it was recently rebuilt. From 1978, when it was destroyed in a flood, until October 2011 the span across the creek was via a steel footbridge.

You can stay overnight in the Lock house, see here for detail.

Ride to Site – This stop on the C&O is between Point of Rock and Brunswick, MD. You will use State Route 464 and turn onto Lander rode to get to the canal. When approaching the turn off of 464 from the east pay close attention, the sign gives you the appearance that you take the next left. It is actually the second left!

Amenities – parking, lodging

Road Conditions (from main road) – Paved to parking area

Railway Situation – Ground level

Parking Lot Conditions – Large, loose gravel and, use a kickstand puck.

Main Attraction – Aqueduct is about a mile from the parking area. Lock house number 28

My Thoughts – This is a good area to see a lock house and how the canal flowed along the river. The restored aqueduct is a bit of a hike if you are wearing riding gear.

Map –

: From the east… it is the second left.

: Lock #28

: Lock House

Allstate Insurance Helping Motorcycle Safety

Posted: November 9, 2013 in motorcycle safety
Tags: allstate, allstate insurance, Allstate Insurance Company, Facebook, Facebook application, Harley, Harley Davidson, HD, Maryland, MD, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle safety, point of rocks, rider risk map, VA, Virginia

The risky location I flagged.

Earlier this year the Allstate Insurance Company introduced a Facebook app to help riders identify risky areas in which we ride (North America only). The application also allows us to identify new high risk areas on the “Rider Risk Map”.

The application allows users to flag locations that they deem dangerous to motorcycle riders. In addition to flagging the location you can also post pictures and comments to further articulate the risk at that location.

I installed the application and found two riders had identified two locations in my area as dangerous. I concur with both those locations. I added a third location at point of rock where Route 15 south enters the round-about. There are many close calls at that point and motorcyclists should be over cautious at that spot!

Allstate has several other applications for riders available including a Facebook page called “Allstate Motorcycles”. I will cover some of these applications in future posts.

Point of Rocks – C&O Canal Motorcycle Ride

Posted: November 4, 2013 in C&O Canal, Motorcycle Rides
Tags: B&O railroad, C&O, C&O Canal, C&O Canal Trust, Canal, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, Maryland, MD, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, national park, national park service, National Register of Historic Places, point of rocks, Potomac River, US Route 15, Virginia

C&O Canal Point of Rock MD

Location – Point of Rocks

Mile Marker – 48

Historical Comments – Point of Rocks is one of the sites where the B&O Railroad and the C&O Canal fought over the right away as the pass between the river and the cliffs were very narrow. They eventually reached a compromise that also saw a wall erected between the rail line and the canal towpaths so that the mules pulling the barges would not be frightened.

During the Civil War, the town, canal and railroad made tempting targets for the confederates operating in Virginia. The rail station, still in use, was built in 1876. Find out more about this stop at the C&O Canal Trust website.

Ride to Site – This stop on the canal is located just off of and even under US Route 15. The trains at this location run often so be alert for the oncoming locomotives.

Amenities – picnic tables, boat ramp, restrooms, parking. Nearby gas and food.

Road Conditions (from main road) – Paved but with pot holes.

Railway Situation – Ground level

Parking Lot Conditions – Paved.

Main Attraction – Boat ramp, Route 15 bridge for pictures, rail station for pictures, Lock House 28 is available for lodging on the canal but you would have to park the motorcycles about a mile away.

My Thoughts – Great site for pictures and a nice stop when riding in the area.

Map –