And Who the Heck Puts a Highway Sign in Their Backyard?????

Continuing my Stories from the Bucket List Ride……

A Maryland highway sign in a Pennsylvania backyard.

The first time I saw this I was was a year or two ago, and I was so tired that I didn’t even notice where I was. I was just thinking “I’m soooo cool. I made it to the Baltimore Beltway!”

It didn’t register at first. Nor right after I got home. Nor the next morning. It took a few days. Then I was like, “There is no way I could have ridden all the way to 695. The trail ends well before that highway.”

And the sign definitely read I-695 A.K.A. the Baltimore Beltway:

I was even more perplexed when I saw the “dailies” and realized the sign mentioned Annapolis, which is 180 degrees around the highway from the rail trail. What the fudge????

So I did a little more sleuthing.

Truly, the Maryland highway sign is basically in someone’s backyard. In Pennsylvania.

I don’t know what else to say. You just never know what you’re going to find on a bike ride. Wait till you hear my Gnome Hill, Maryland story…..

Until then, Pedal on!™

Oh, and there was Moonlight!

Every year the county parks department offers moonlight bike rides along the Rail Trail. Tonight’s was the first one of the season. After planning to go, then calling it off due to someone’s homework responsibilities, we decided 90 minutes before the start to go. That meant a harried hour of putting together the full bike rack and checking over the bikes, so Mrs. Biker could join Henergy-on-Wheels™ and I on the trip.

While doing this I kept an eye on the sky. Clouds that were 50 shades of grey and looking like a cow just before milking (the things we learn living in dairy country) started passing overhead. The radar showed all clear. So I continued prepping for the ride.

It was still dry as we left JolliBee Acres, but we were heading right into the Christian and Anastasia clouds.

By the time we made it to Hanover Junction it was dark. Very dark. Fifty shades darker. We were expecting moonlight after all. But at least it was dry.

These rides are typically well attended by families and slow moving. Not so much tonight. Most likely because of Passover and Easter. The goal was to get to Howard Tunnel and turn around. We made it. But it had been all downhill.

Henergy and I were concerned, because Mrs. Biker hadn’t been on a ride in maybe a year and it was all uphill on the way back. Well, it was about a 0.75% grade. Technically that’s uphill. But there’s nothing like a cold rain to move those pedals.

We weren’t soaked, just wet by the time we got back. And oh so proud of Mrs. Biker for completing the trek with neither a huff nor a puff. After a bit of socializing we headed home. That was when the full moon broke through the clouds. But by that point we were in the car and “Freed” from worry of rain anyway.

Pedal on!

Wotta View

Wish the atmosphere had been clearer, because it is quite a view. On a clear day, we would have seen Three Mile Island. But what really matters is just spending time on bikes with Henergy-on-Wheels™.

It’s amazing how much he’s advanced in one very incomplete year of mountain biking. Today’s trip was about 13 miles and an elevation gain of 1,361 feet. Climbing 100 feet per mile is just an amazing feat.

Pedal on!

The Towson Sights the Buang Biker™ Sees

I thought I’d comment on a few of the random sites I see on my hikes and bikes. This one is my favorite so far this year. The Buang Biker™ is a fan of this person now.

And there are some odd things to see. Like what the heck is getting broadcast? This yagi antenna is pretty much pointed right at Towson University residences.

But then there are also amazingly beautiful mini waterfalls in the middle of town:

Next time, the Six Bridges Trail.

Until then….Pedal on!