Terry Wild Goose Chase ride

[Zen]

At the rate things are going, I may be doing the 25. I've only been on the bike once since our Thanksgiving Rosaryville ride, and I can't ride this weekend because I have bronchitis.

Get well by April 5 and come up to my mountain for the M.O.R.E. ride - an easy 20 c'mon, c'mon!

[Kalidurga]

For Saturday, I'd suggest the kayakers all meet for breakfast, and then proceed on to kayaking. There are kayak trails at Blackwater so I think it makes sense to do that, unless someone has a better idea. We can't actually launch at the park though; we have to launch at the 335 Bridge, or Shorter's Wharf. I'll try to get more info on that. The Green Trail is 8 miles RT. The purple trail is 9 miles one way, needs a shuttle, and has large open water passages and is prone to wind - might be early in the season to to that without local knowledge. Don't forget the water will still be pretty chilly in April. Dress for the water, not for the gorgeous sunny day that we will be enjoying.
Martha

I won't be leaving my house until Saturday morning and I'll have a two hour drive, so my breakfast that morning will probably be from a drive-through. I haven't been to Blackwater for a few years, but I seem to recall there being an entrance/use fee that you have to pay at the visitor's center. From there, I think it's just a mile or two to the launch site.

Blackwater's a big place with lots of nooks & crannies for exploring, if I remember correctly (like Jug Bay over at Merkle). We could start out on one of the water trails and just see where we end up.

Who's on the list for 'yakking?

KaliD
7Rider & SO
Divingbiker (Janice, you left yourself off of the list above )
Withm & Friend

US FWS: Blackwater Refuge map

US FWS: Water trails at Blackwater

Friends of Blackwater: Paddling trails

Zen, the word 'mountain' unfortunately isn't gonna be in my vocabulary for a while, unless it's associated with 'driving'. Just leaning over to pick up one of my kittens last night left me wheezing. I think when I was born, I got cursed with bum lungs.

[divingbiker]

I, too, will be leaving Saturday morning. It appears to be about a 2-hour drive. (I can't imagine that we'd encounter a lot of Bay Bridge traffic on a Saturday morning in late April.) Maybe we could plan to meet around 10 or 11 at the refuge?

I'll probably be riding the 40 mile ride on Sunday, at the rate I'm going. I haven't done any riding except commuting so far this year. I did drop of my road bike at the LBS yesterday to have new handlebars put on, so even if I'm not ready, the bike will be.

[Velobambina]

We are heading out bright and early Sunday morning.

I plan on doing the metric.

[7rider]

What's your pace, VeloB?
Can I tag along?? I figure...if I did 40+ mile rides in February, and after this weekend, I'll still have 3 weekends to get my act together on the bike...I think I can pull off a metric. It won't be at race pace, but I'm generally not a slouch....and if I can tag along with someone, so much the better.....

[withm]

Blackwater's a big place with lots of nooks & crannies for exploring, if I remember correctly (like Jug Bay over at Merkle). We could start out on one of the water trails and just see where we end up.

Who's on the list for 'yakking?

KaliD
7Rider & SO
Divingbiker (Janice, you left yourself off of the list above )
Withm & Friend

US FWS: Blackwater Refuge map

US FWS: Water trails at Blackwater

Friends of Blackwater: Paddling trails
.

Kali - thanks for posting the link to the map - I see that the 335 bridge launch site is very close and convenient. Let's plan on that - now all we need to do is pick a time to meet. I hate long drives in the morning - hence my making a weekend of it and going over there Friday night.

I noticed that the bike registration starts at 7am, not 8 which I put in my previous post.

[Velobambina]

What's your pace, VeloB?
Can I tag along?? I figure...if I did 40+ mile rides in February, and after this weekend, I'll still have 3 weekends to get my act together on the bike...I think I can pull off a metric. It won't be at race pace, but I'm generally not a slouch....and if I can tag along with someone, so much the better.....

R - My pace usually depends on how I feel that day. That said, I'm usually not that fast but I'm not a slouch either. I'd love the company. You can feel free to drop me if I end up being too pokey for you.

My longest ride before the Goose won't be more than 50 miles, give or take. Since it's a flat course, I figure it'll be less challenging than my usual hilly 50 miles.

[ClickIn]

Hi all!

My friend Amy and I hope we can all meet at the ride. We'll be heading to the Eastern Shore Fri or Sat. We have a place to stay in Ocean City, so we'll be coming from there Sunday morning. Maybe we can all meet before the ride?
Any other ideas?

[7rider]

I thought I was checking in to the hotel on Friday, but I just checked my confirmation...we don't check in until Saturday (I guess there's no 2-night minimum). So, we'll be heading over on Saturday a.m., too. Our drive time will be similar to DivingBiker's....
Are we talking a noon-ish paddle? 10 a.m.? Earlier may meet with resistance from DH.

VeloB...I"m looking forward to riding with you on the metric!

[Kalidurga]

Are we talking a noon-ish paddle? 10 a.m.? Earlier may meet with resistance from DH.

Janice suggested 10 or 11, above. How about we aim to meet at the visitor's center around 10am? That should give us time to meet, drive to the launch site, and be on the water by 11am.

Is that late enough for those of us driving, and early enough for those ladies already there?

[jeannierides]

I've not had much of a chance to check in on the thread til today. I will be there, along with my SO. I believe KayTee will be there as well. We will be going to IFJane's wedding on Saturday, and getting to Cambridge sometime on Saturday evening.
I'll be happy to be able to do the 25 miler, since I haven't been on my bike either! And I would love to meet up with some of you - if only to put faces to names!
Can someone PM me and let me know if there are specific plans to meet before the rides? I'll be happy to share my cell phone #.

[Velobambina]

I want to meet up w/everyone too. I will be driving out the morning of the ride. Well, my husband will be driving--I hope to be snoozing. Just tell me a time & place. I'll probably be wearing my Amici Veloci gear or a Velogirls jersey.

Regina, I'm really looking forward to riding w/you. I hope I can keep up.

[withm]

I swung by Blackwater yesterday and did a little scouting. I was really short on time but did pick up the water trails map, most of which is laminated onto a big sign at the launch area. Here's a couple of photos showing the launch area, and the map. I personally think we should follow the "green" trail which sends us north up the Blackwater River around twists and turns through the marshlands. It goes north about 4 miles and then you turn around and paddle back. We can go at any pace we like, current should not be an issue and with all the twists and turns, I'd think wind should not be so bad either unless it's blowing a gale.

It's hard to take pix in the sun because it renders the display on the camera invisible and I'm afraid the green route does not show up very well. But in the lower part of the upper third of the map, you can just make out the words "You are here." The green route starts there and meanders north.

Something that may dictate our paddling route and distance - there are no porta potties at the launch area, and no stopping allowed anywhere along the banks of the river. Don't know how well that's enforced if at all, but damn inconsiderate. Oh, and the brochure recommends bringing 1 GALLON of water per person for paddling..... (and a covered container for use a a latrine). LOL

So we would definitely want to meet at the Visitor Center and make use of the facilities before launching. 10 am at Visitor Center?

[divingbiker]

Thanks for checking it out, Martha!

But why in the world would I take a gallon of water to drink if I can't go to the bathroom???? Peeing in a kayak...I don't think so.

This sounds a bit tricky!

[withm]

well I'm told the kayak racers just "let her rip" and sponge out the boat after. Ewwwww. I don't understand parks that don't have potties.... It's like they are telling you to go in the woods, which is of course exactly what they don't want you to do. Does not compute.