This file contains a list of various rides and routes that I want to do over the coming years that I have left on this planet. Some of these trips are in the distant future, some are in the near term, and some are active and in various stages of planning.

The fundamental unit of information in this file is a Trip. A Trip will exist in one of the following three stages as it progresses through the trip lifecycle:

1. Projected: a Trip is projected to happen at some point in the future, either in the near term (e.g this year or next) or in the more-distant future (i.e. some day, maybe).
2. Planning: a Trip is currently in the active stage of being planned where the route and trip logistics are being defined.
3. Completed: the Trip is over and the effort has been archived for potential future reference.

1. Projected

   • New York City
     • Ride DC → NYC // Amtrak home   [nothing yet]
   • C & O Towpath
     • Amtrak to Cumberland; ride home   [nothing yet]
   • Ohio to Erie Trail
     • Ohio to Erie Trail: Columbus ↔ Cleveland   [nothing yet]
     • Ohio to Erie Trail: Columbus ↔ Cincinnati   [nothing yet]
     • Ohio to Erie Trail: Amtrak to Cleveland; whole Trail twice   [nothing yet]
2. Planning

   • Maryland Eastern Shore
     • AdvCycling Cycle Camping Weekend   [in progress]
   • Ohio to Erie Trail
     • Ohio to Erie Trail: Cleveland → Cincinnati w/ Pulaski riders   [start the planning]
   • North Carolina
     • NC Courthouse Tour - 2021   [in progress]
3. Completed

   • Virginia
     • Virginia Capital Trail Oct 22-25, 2018

In Progress

• New York City
• C & O Towpath
  • Harpers Ferry Overnight
• Ohio Ubiety
  • Ohio to Erie Trail [nothing yet]
  • Ohio "Legacy" Cycle Camping [nothing yet]
    • Columbus ↔ John Bryan State Park
    • Columbus ↔ Tar Hollow
  • Hocking Hills [nothing yet]
  • Ohio State Park Tour [nothing yet]

This section contains details of all trips, both those that are still in various stages of planning and those that have been completed.

This is one of somewhat-annual NC Courthouse Tours. This year's ride is through eastern North Carolina to close some of the "doughnut holes" that have been created in that part of the state from rides of past years.

ToDo Items:

• capture Ken's Google Maps link
• capture Gary's RideWithGPS links
• compare / verify Gary's maps vs Ken's

Here are some initial resources I have accumulated:

• Ken's Google Maps:
  (These were copied from Key's gmail of Wed, Oct 6.)

  • Day 1: Kenansville - Clinton - Fayetteville - hotel

    Route avoids the region's main east/west road NC 24 as much as possible. 63 miles, and uphill from downtown F'ville to hotel - telling you now :-) There's a nice restaurant district in downtown near the courthouse.

    https://goo.gl/maps/JM3kGk1myNYBFQRY8

  • Day 2: Fayetteville - Raeford - Elizabethtown - B&B

    Route avoids US401 and NC87 as much as possible. 75 miles, very flat after leaving F'ville

    https://goo.gl/maps/mvkr8MkYhvPMqrCf7

  • Day 3: Elizabethtown - Burgaw - Jacksonville hotel

    Long day, but F-L-A-T. Est 90 miles including 4 miles to the hotel from downtown Jax'ville. We should accept extra muffins and treats from the B&B at breakfast :-) Route includes Moores Creek Battlefield (Revolutionary War).

    https://goo.gl/maps/eFCvaE6cDP8Dv7vU9

  • Day 4: Jacksonville - Kenansville

    42 miles, using back roads when possible to avoid the major regional roads US 258 and NC 24.

    https://goo.gl/maps/FC9ygo41b6TZC3iu9

• Gary's RideWithGPS:
  (These were copied from Gary's gmail of Sat, Oct 9.)

  • Day 1: Kenansville - Clinton - Fayetteville

    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37719051?privacy_code=vDTAEg9mn5npdJtU

  • Day 2: Fayetteville - Raeford - Elizabethtown

    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37728859?privacy_code=r4uweUJzohq4YfUR

  • Day 3: Elizabethtown - Burgaw - Jacksonville

    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37728962?privacy_code=aBVp6WoFoY9Gqwnx

  • Day 4: Jacksonville - Kenansville

    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37729049?privacy_code=3Dt21FRxY80iOr1Q

This is a trip initiated by Cyndi Steiner. I am mostly following her lead.

ToDo Items:

• read and digest then entire email thread in which I did not participate
  ⇒ just do it!

Here are some initial resources I have accumulated:

• Weekend agenda:

  • Fri - Jun 4
    1. Load up the CRV and drive to Cambridge, MD. Google Maps says driving time is approx 1 hr 45 min.
    2. Meet at Cambridge - South Dorchester HS at 12 noon
           •   Google Map
    3. Ride from Cambridge to Martinak State Park
           •   include towns along the way that Cyndi mentioned Check email for details.
    4. Camp at Martinak State Park
           •   park website
           •   Google Map
    5. Ride into Denton for dinner
  • Sat - Jun 5
    1. Cyndi has a ride planned. Check email for details.
    2. Ride into Denton for dinner
  • Sun - Jun 6
    1. ride back to starting location
    2. drive back to Silver Spring

This is a trip initiated by Eric, Cyndi Steiner, and Champ Burnley. I am mostly just tagging along.

ToDo Items:

• read and digest then entire email thread in which I did not participate
  ⇒ just do it!
• Find somewhere to file this as this section develops: Harriet Tubman’s lost Maryland home found, archaeologists say
  {WashPo, Apr 20, 2021}
  - it is located in Church Creek where we are going to be bicycling.

Here are some initial resources I have accumulated:

• Maryland Coast Bike Festival
      •   registered on 04/05/21
• Cyndi's airBnB
      •   Eric has it reserved
• Weather forecast: where? // how long?   [what weather service?]
• Maps:
  • TBD
• Weekend agenda:
  • Friday - May 7, 10am- noon ish
    1. Meet in Church Creek at the Park & Ride and pedal to Blackwater NWR which is about 5-6 miles. GPS: Church Creek Post Office, 4681 Golden Hill Road, Church Creek, MD 21622; P&R is across Rt 335 from the USPS.
    2. Ride and tour the Wildlife Drive at BNWR. Bathrooms/port-a-johns available. The drive is about 4 miles. There are also some hiking trails, and there are many lookout points.
    3. If there is interest and the center is open, a stop at the Visitor's Center.
    4. Also for those interested, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park is on the way back.
    5. For those who want to continue on to OC that day, pedal back to Church Creek Park & Ride. See you on Saturday!
    6. For those overnighting in Church Creek/locally, our ride will continue from BlackwaterNWR Wildlife Drive area on a loop through Shorters Marsh and the lower reaches of the refuge and then onto Taylors Island for a total of 57 miles. Snack/restroom stop at 28 miles and a late lunch or early dinner stop at mile 55, two miles from the end of the ride. Gorgeous maritime, wetlands and Chesapeake Bay views on this ride. Note that we may encounter high tides - an inch or so on the road at the highest, under normal weather patterns; the water in this area is brackish. I ride my gravel bike and pedal through the center of the lane. The stretch is about a 1/4 mile.
    7. Terrain in this area of the Eastern Shore is FLAT! Total elevation change on this route is 892 ft.
    8. On to evening plans/Harwood Cottage, 2 miles from the Park & Ride. (4912 Gregory Road, Cambridge, MD 21613 even though it sits directly on Church Creek!)
  • Saturday- event ride in OC
  • Sunday - Ride to Hoopers Island/Hoopers Strait
    1. Depending on timing and energy levels, we can either ride from our cottage or do a remote start for this ride.
    2. Direct from cottage/Church Creek - 62 miles
    3. Remote start, from Gootee's Marina, Golden Hill - 30 miles
    4. Either way, this is an out-and-back ride, and FLAT, with lots of miles through loblolly pine and hardwood upland swamp. The causeway at the strait is spectacular for both bay and inland waterway views. Some of the most remote fishing villages in the county are on this ride. Listen for "high-tider" accents- very close to Elizabethan English.
    5. There are two lunch options on this ride that are within a mile of each other at mile 37-38 on the direct start ride and 22-23 on the remote start, on the return leg:
       1. Old Saltys Restaurant- good local seafood and traditional fare (i.e. baked pineapple pudding- seriously), table service, figure an hour, although Sunday is a busy day for them, make that an hour and a half.
       2. Hoopers Island General Store - deli, tables to sit inside, and a canal in the back for the mallards.
    6. There is a snack stop at Gootee's Marina at the beginning and end of the remote start ride.
    7. In other words, we have some options. Where would we be without options.

Lodging:

• Cyndi's airBnB:

ToDo Items:

• (re)create B⁴ > Williamsburg
  ⇒ just go with a single NoteCard
• create B⁴ > Richmond
  ⇒ just go with a single NoteCard

Here are some initial resources I have accumulated:

• VCT website
• Weather forecast: Richmond, 10-day   [Weather Underground]
• Maps:
  • on VCT website
  • official VCT RideWithGPS
  • TrailLink
  • my RideWithGPS [Richmond → Williamsburg] - takes Colonial Parkway from Jamestown to Wmsburg
  • my RideWithGPS [Williamsburg → Richmond] - takes the diagonal from Williamsburg to the trail, cutting off about 5 miles

Lodging:

• Richmond:
  • HI - Richmond
  • HI USA Booking - for HI-Richmond for night of 10/22/18
• Williamsburg:
  • Governor's Inn
  • Governor's Inn - reservation for 10/23/18
  • The Governor's Inn, Google Map

Here was my exercise on the pros and cons of doing this trip at this particular time:

• Pro:
  1. It will help me with my 2018 mileage goal.
  2. I've been wanting to do it for the past 2 seasons and am ashamed I haven't yet.
     1. Eric has ridden it.
     2. Ken and Deana have ridden it.
     3. Drew and Sara haven't ridden it yet.
  3. It will get me away from home for 3 days.
  4. It will give me lots of alone time.
  5. I will get to explore Richmond by bike.
  6. I will get to check out Richmond's bike infrastructure.
  7. It will be my first time to check out B⁴ > Richmond.
  8. It will give me a chance to update B⁴ > Williamsburg.
  9. It will give me a chance to stay at HI-Richmond. This will be my first hostel stay in decades.
  10. I can explore Williamsburg on my own.
  11. I can determine the best route between Jamestown and Williamsburg and make that available to others. (This seems to be what is specified on the VCT official RideWithGPS map so it has already been done.)
  12. After a long-ish period of time dealing with bicycle advocacy nonsense, it will feel good to get out on the bike and reconnect with what it is all about … riding my bike.
  13. I need to break out of my funk. (Karyn recommends I get away. It'll be good for me.)
  14. I demonstrate an unhealthy reluctance to strike out on my own even though that is exactly what I want to do more of.
• Con:
  1. It is late in the season and weather (temp & precip) is questionable.
  2. There will be a cost associated with the trip (though not much).
  3. I am unsure of Colonial Parkway from Jamestown to Williamsburg.
  4. I fear I'll have to connect with Champe and forego my alone time.
  5. Keeping it quiet from Eric might upset him (probably not).
  6. I will be away just prior to early voting and not able to review the voting material.
  7. I have a developing saddle sore and this will either aggravate it or make the ride unbearable.
  8. I feel like I am "in a bad place" right now and a lot of things are going wrong. Bad karma. Why risk it?

Overview
Oct 1, 2017   [from J_F, p. 129]

Ride from home to New York City; stay for a few days in a place near East Village not too far from Ronnie; spend my daytimes riding around NYC; take Amtrak (Vermonter) home.

---

ToDo Items
Oct 1, 2017 - ongoing

• research overnight options =f(daily route chosen); may try airBnB; also look at hotels

---

First Pass: Google Maps - Bike
Oct 1, 2017

My first attempt at seeing how far the ride would be from our house to East Village was using the "by bike" option in Google Maps. It returned two options:

1. 254 mi, ~4,800 ft, 22 hr 58 min // The route is highly suspect since it chose some pretty nasty roads.
2. 279 mi, ~7,400 ft, 1 day 2 hr // The route looks better but is longer with more climbing.
   Highlights:
   • SS → B'more → Torrey Brown → York → Columbia / Wrightsville Bridge → …
   • Day 1: SS → Marietta, PA
   • Day 2: Marietta, PA → Princeton, NJ (?)
   • Day 3: Princeton, NJ (?) → NYC

It is clear that I'm going to have to draw upon other resources to put together a good route, including:
    a)   advice from friends: Eric, Daniel, others
    b)   AdvCycling's Atlantic Coast Route
    c)   East Coast Greenway route

---

Thoughts on Gear
Oct 1, 2017

The setup will be much like the East Coast River Relay since the trip dynamics are so similar (no camping, small number of riding days, Amtrak segment). Therefore, here is what I was thinking:

• 2 small Arkel panniers in addition to the Tailrider (1 with a shoulder strap, 1 backpack Arkel)
• this would be easy (or at least discernable) to load onto the Vermonter
• probably do laundry in NYC

---