Topic: Planning

[70CB750]

The weather sucks these days, not just temperature, roads are icy, but making plans is almost as good as riding, right?

Here is an East Coast variation on Circle tour of lake Michigan.  Probably clockwise, doing big cities first and finish through rural Virginia.  Doable in a day, IMHO.

What do you think?

[Stev-o]

I've been to DC, I would not want to ride I-95, not fun in my book. How 'bout heading north to Leesburg and then head east from there?

[70CB750]

You are right, 95 anywhere is ugly.  Now when I am looking at it I could cross to MD on 301, that's a bridge, right above King George



and follow the coast instead of DC.  Cool bridge too.  Home would not be in the loop, but that's not that important.

[calj737]

If you hanker a rider on the Eastern Shore, then skip going all the north to DE, cut over on 50 thru Annapolis, down 301, pick up 13 as you have depicted, but, from the Beach, take 664 to Newport News then grab 58. Follow 58 to 460 to 95 below Richmond. Whip around the 288 to 64 on the west side, and take 33 home. Or use 522 to route you past Lake Anna and up to 17 to 66 to home.

This way you get to stay off 64 from the Beach (still tons of road construction and traffic) and you can use semi-rural, undulating roads thru small towns to get home. From where I live, travel to the beach is a coin flip using 64 or 460/58. But 460 is a much prettier drive and there's no knuckleheads tearing up the road at 90MPH thru construction zones.

If you take the GW Bridge, carry your EZ Pass and be carefully, the bridge is grated in sections.

Stop at the beach and have a fresh bowl of Oyster Stew at Chicks (Shore Drive and the Lesner Bridge, about 3' from where 13 comes over the from Eastern Shore). Sit waterside and enjoy the view.

[MoMo]

A day Prokop? You won't have anytime to do anything other than ride, almost like a mini Iron Butt.  Delaware Coastal 9 is a great ride fwtw...Larry

[70CB750]

It would have to be in one of the long days, Larry, like June 

If I take Bay Bridge, that will leave a chunk of  Chesapeake out, but 301,3, 2 and 40 will get me to Delaware with some urban riding. 

Also from Newport News I will be taking 17 to Fredericksburg, that is a nice road once you cross York; you are correct 64 is way too busy to enjoy.

Looks like I will be crossing a lot of significant bridges too.

[Stev-o]

I'm planning too - just a short ride at least this Saturday, since the forecast is sunny and 66.
The weather here has been miserable, haven't been on a bike in weeks. 

[70CB750]

I'm planning too - just a short ride at least this Saturday, since the forecast is sunny and 66.
The weather here has been miserable, haven't been on a bike in weeks.

Same here,  Saturday supposed to be warm - mid forties - and dry enough to warm her up properly on 30 or so miles ride. 

[Maurice]

Looks fun. Not too keen on that i-95 stretch, bit boring even on the bike. Unless some sports car wants to race you If you have the time consider backroads?

Rest is great. Watch the winds on the chesapeake bay bridge.

This is making me hate winter, yesterday morning I thought I was going to lose a finger or 2.

[WhyNot2]

I've driven all those routes, not at the same time, but been on them one time or another.

I'm originally from Laurel Del, just north of Salisbury Md. Spent most of my youth trying to get out of that area, and wish I could afford to move back.

I was at the beach....(during the summer, of course) all the time, mostly OC. I usually go up there in Sep for the Dalmarva Bike week held lie the second week in Sept.

And yes, the Bay Bridge can be tricky on a bike. Hell, I remember crossing the Bay Bridge/Tunnel whjen it was just a two laner.....that was fun. Still is in the tunnels.