Bob Carson passed away last Friday.  Bob was a long time BBC Member, and for many years Bob was the Event Leader of Kent County Spring Fling.  Bob also volunteered in the Civil War Century.  His work ranged from leading Loy's Station Rest Stop to marking the route.  Bob was in the BBC Hall of Fame. 

     Bob had a great sense of humor, and liked to mention that he was born in 1934, the same year the Mountain Club was founded.  Whenever someone complained about a ride being too difficult, Bob  would mention how much harder things were in the old days, like the  self contained camping trip from Missoula, MT to Jasper, AB that he, the late Wayne Rogers, and I did in 1981. But Bob mellowed as the years passed.  When a group of BBC members planned what was to be a self contained cycling trip from Seattle to SF, Bob convinced Mike Jenkins to drive to Seattle to carry our food and cooking gear.  Bob was also a founding member of the Baltimore Seniors.  He will be missed.


   

Nabil and Steve, 

       I like your improved Route that stops at the Filling Station.  As Steve mentions, this improved route avoids having to backtrack on York Rd, turn left onto Belfast, and traverse the I-83 interchange. And the enhanced return to Butler - turn right out of the Filling Station and then make another right onto Quaker Bottom Rd is nice.

       I like to vary routes and snack - lunch stops. Before Covid the Filling Station was a popular stop on BBC rides.  But after Covid struck the Filling Station limited its business to carry out, and was a little slow to permit outdoor seating after the County began relaxing its Covid restrictions.  But now the Filling Station has expanded its outdoor seating and reopened its restroom.  While indoor dining is also available, I find  being outdoors better.  And the staff is great.  But remember this small business closes at 2 pm and is closed on Mondays.  Bon appetite!

       

Nabil, I hope you will reconsider having lunch at the York Road Filling Station.  I'm fine  cycling on this rural, wide shouldered portion of York Road between Lower Glencoe Rd and the Filling Station.  After lunch we could just retrace our route on York Rd  to Belfast Rd, and link up with our itinerary  just past Sparks Elem School. This alternate rest stop also eliminates having to do the narrow, curvy, steep portion of Monkton Rd between Falls Rd and the Monkton Station twice. Incidentally I saw on today's ride description that there rest stop was at the Filling Station - restroom now open.

        No one likes Veloccino's more than me.  I hung out at V's on my ride today.  However, always stopping at V's get monotonous - and they don't have lunch..    And our club rides often start at the fire station, where there's more parking.  Our group seems to want to start and leave from where there's convenient parking, rather than Veloccino's.  The beauty of the Filling Station is that we are on bikes and can enjoy socializing and eating without having to find a parking spot.

     
         I really enjoyed today's 31 mile ride that Nabil lead out of Veloccino's. One advantage of starting closer to Baltimore - not to mention saving time and gas - is that the tulips, magnolia trees, and fauna are now in full bloom here.  And the weekday turnout of 17 rides was great. Thanks Nabil.

           Since Veloccino's has a restroom, my thought is that rather than going out of our way at mile 10 to access restrooms in Monkton, why not have our break at mile 21 and enjoy an optional lunch at The Filling Station on York Rd, 1/2 mile south of Sparks.  This place has outdoor seating in a park like setting.  Good coffee, pasteries,  and "killer" chicken burritos.  We need a nice outdoor place to socialize, while enjoying good food.  Changing our route slightly to access the Filling Station ( turn left on Glencoe after crossing the NCR Trail) would be well worth it. 

Regarding getting around the B & A closure, it appears that Little Joyce Ln doesn't go through to the Trail.  Therefore, you will need to continue south on Ritchie Hwy a short distance to Arnold Rd, where you turn right to pick up the trail.

To get information about the B & A trail being closed at Joyce Lane, I called the number Cindy left. The person who answered this morning referred me to the B & A Trails Office at 410 222 6141.  The trails office didn't return my call.
     Looking at the detailed AA County Street Map, it appears there are ways around the trail closure.  Southbound riders can turn left (TL) at Glen Oban Dr, about 1/2 mile before the trail closure.  Then  turn right (TR) onto RT 648 south that parallels the trail. Next  TR from 648 onto Little Joyce LA which ends at the trail.  If Little
Joyce looks too private, continue a little further on 648 and see if the short right turn to access the trail past the bridge closure works.  If not, TR onto Ritchie Hwy and in 1/2 mile turn right onto the ARNOLD SHOPPING CTR THAT CONTAINS THE AAA.  You should be able to pick up the trail at the rear of this shopping center. 
      Since children use this trail, the rangers are probably reluctant to suggest a way around the closure that goes a short distance on a busy road.

       Five people who prefer rides closer to home came out for this fun, 30 mile ride The first leg, using a combination of wide shouldered Hanover Pike and Old Hanover Pike, followed a historic RR still in use.  After enjoying sticky buns at Snickerdoodles in historic Hampstead, we zoomed down  " racetrack like" Blackrock Rd, and then continued south on a scenic stretch of Falls Rd.  Instead of regrouping on the road, faster riders stopped at Veloccino's. Then we headed west on Butler Rd, and did a challenging climb up Piney Grove (actually not bad on an e bike).  Then we took a scenic stretch of Old Hanover Pike and passed by a Boring town.  Lastly we retraced a couple miles of Hanover Pike - quite pleasant in light Sunday traffic - to return back to Glyndon. People brought or purchased lunch to eat at a park across the street from the historic train station.  We rode 4 blocks on RR Ave, arriving just in time to hear the Star Spangled Banner,  and enjoyed the outdoor Naval Academy Concert, in honor of Glyndon's 150th Anniversary, and in memory to the people who died in 9 - 11.

      I  thank Gene Bayer for helping me get the right GPS coordinates.  I added the Glyndon - Hampstead -Butler Ride to the BBC Cue Sheet Library (Baltimore County rides under 50 miles).  I  encourage club members to also focus on good riding opportunities near home.

        I enjoyed a 32 mile ride with intermittent light rain.  After reading about hurricanes, floods, downed trees and powerlines, heatwaves,  and tornadoes in AA County; I found it pleasant to ride in a little intermittent  light rain.  I took advantage of the lighter traffic to ride from home in Pikesville, and to use better designed roads (Park Heights, Butler, Hillside, etc). 

        Snickerdoodles has added a lot of outdoor seating.  The staff is very nice.  They  welcomed me, and said that the bakery plans to add some add'l outdoor seating in back, along with cold water.  Pastry was good, and many customers are glad to be back.

       I wish to suggest newly repaved Linesboro Rd - which now has 3' smooth shoulders - as an alternative to York St and Water Tank Rd.  To access Linesboro Rd, instead of turning right at York ST, continue straight on Hanover Pike.  At the TL just before Linesboro Rd, turn right.  This wide residential street goes into Linesboro Rd, where you make another right. 
    Now for the bad.  At mile 14.8 there's construction at Simpson Rd.  Be cautious on traversing about 2 miles of gravel, etc.

     I'm concerned about the diagonal RR tracks on well travelled RT 216 (just after mile 18.4).  To avoid these hazardous tracks, I turn right just before the tracks.  This level, paved side road makes a semi circle , crosses the tracks at a 90 degree angle, before returning  to the main RT 216.
   
     Lastly,  Walt showed me a pleasant back Rd that bypasses a stretch of Freeland Rd.  After turning left at mile 42.0 onto Oakland Rd, turn right onto Miller Rd.  Miller Rd will connect to Freeland Rd, where you turn right to pick up the route.