Terry Wild Goose Chase ride

[withm]

Okay, I just emailed Terry to ask this very question. Will post the response.

I almost felt like I was on a wild goose chase looking for a motel.

I got a email back from Terry - they said they tried to negotiate group rates but none of the motels would do that. They recommended Holiday Inn Express. So I called them, and was told no non-smoking rooms were available. Grrr. So I called the next one on the list - the Hyatt. Rooms there were $319/night. A leeeeetle bit pricey since I don't expect to spend much time in the room except to shower and sleep.

So I got a double room at the Days Inn in Cambridge - $129/night plus tax. She said it was about 20 minutes from Blackwater - good enough. Since it's out on Rt. 50, it's got to be a good 10 miles or so - if anyone is thinking of riding over there.

There is a convention or something in town - and a large number of rooms at the Holiday Inn were already booked - but it might have been booked for the Terry contingent.... dunno.

Anyway, if you think you need a motel room, I'd get on the phone NOW and get that reservation. I don't know what else is going on in Cambridge that weekend - could be a big wedding or something, but with a couple hundred cyclilsts looking for rooms I'm thinking they will fill up fast.

Martha

[7rider]

I just booked a room at the Holiday Inn Express via Orbitz. The Hampton Inn in Easton is filled up, so is Kent Island..
DB, my $99 rate (handicap accessible, so I plan to wheel my bike in for the night! ) is subject to a $25 cancellation fee if more than 48 hrs in advance. Still, I don't PLAN to cancel...and for $4 more...I'll take the non-smoking room.

[Kalidurga]

Sounds like we're all at Holiday Inn Express except withm. I definitely plan to wheel my bike in, handicapped room or no. I do that every year when I stay at the Holiday Inn in Cumberland. That HI has never had an issue with me taking the bike on their elevator.

The poor 'yak, though, will have to spend the night locked to the roof of the car

[divingbiker]

The poor 'yak, though, will have to spend the night locked to the roof of the car

I'm a bit nervous about this. I haven't found a way to string a lock through my kayak, so I have no idea how to lock it to the car.

Especially since my coworker stayed at a motel on the eastern shore last summer and in the morning his (very expensive) kayak was gone.

[withm]

Sounds like we're all at Holiday Inn Express except withm. I definitely plan to wheel my bike in, handicapped room or no. I do that every year when I stay at the Holiday Inn in Cumberland. That HI has never had an issue with me taking the bike on their elevator.

The poor 'yak, though, will have to spend the night locked to the roof of the car

Hey no fair! They told me NO "no-smoking" rooms were available. There is no way I'm staying in a smoking room. They offered me a room w/ king size bed but I'm going with a friend and we're not that close that I want to share a bed with her. She's on the waiting list for the ride, but she will paddle with us.

On the kayak lock, my kayak has a sort of panel molded in at the seat area that I can run a cable through, and then lock it to the rack on the car. Nothing is foolproof, but it will slow them down if nothing else. Then again not sure my kayak is worth stealing but I like it and would be upset if it went missing.

[divingbiker]

Hey no fair! They told me NO "no-smoking" rooms were available. There is no way I'm staying in a smoking room. They offered me a room w/ king size bed but I'm going with a friend and we're not that close that I want to share a bed with her. She's on the waiting list for the ride, but she will paddle with us.

I'll call the Holiday Inn Express tomorrow and double check that I have a non-smoking room with two double beds, and if I do, you can get a non-smoking king-size bed room and I'll switch with you. Would that work? Or is it worth the trouble?

[7rider]

Hey no fair! They told me NO "no-smoking" rooms were available. There is no way I'm staying in a smoking room. They offered me a room w/ king size bed but I'm going with a friend and we're not that close that I want to share a bed with her. She's on the waiting list for the ride, but she will paddle with us.

On the kayak lock, my kayak has a sort of panel molded in at the seat area that I can run a cable through, and then lock it to the rack on the car. Nothing is foolproof, but it will slow them down if nothing else. Then again not sure my kayak is worth stealing but I like it and would be upset if it went missing.

I think I have a king also. Hope you can switch (and I hope mine is really non-smoking!).
My Dagger has a molded in spot with a stout metal bracket specifically for locking it up. My Necky does not. It might have a hole in the seat, tho...that's a good idea. Perhaps b/t now and then, I'll have to hit up Home Depot or similar to fashion a long enough chain to get around the boats.
Incidently, if DH does not come along for the weekend (and I suspect he won't) to join us for the paddle and to do his own ride, I will have a second boat availabe for use on Saturday. It's a 13' recreational boat that can fit a wide range of paddlers (presuming you are not tiny or giant) and it's very stable with a rudder for easy steering. Let me know if you would like to join us...I can haul the boat and gear, all I'll need is a strong set of arms to help launch and re-load it.

[ClickIn]

I signed up with a friend and we're planning on doing the 40 mile ride.

I'm new to the TE forum. I live in Baltimore and would love to meet other TE members in the area!

Any TE members from the Baltimore/Washington area that cross country ski? Anyone available during the week to go to WV/western MD or PA?

Looking forward to the ride in April!

[7rider]

Hi, ClickIn.
Welcome to TE and welcome to the Mid-Atlantic area forum!

I cross-country ski - mainly "classic" style in track stuff...no skating or back-country, really. I don't do much of it since I've moved to MD....only when they don't plow my streets after a (very rare) big snow. But now we have a Montogomery County Police officer in the neighborhood, and we seem to get the plows a lot more quickly than we used to! I'm not too available mid-week, tho. Perhaps we can get you to join us on a local ride some day.

P.S. RE: the kayak in my above post....my DH may be joining us after all.