Britbike forum Forums General discussion The Rod and Tappet Out and about

I got up early this morning to finish the wife's chores. The garden is tilled and ready for her to plant so I decided to take a bit of time for a ride this afternoon. I live in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. There are a number of roads that follow the Chesapeake Bay, but there are also a lot of backroads. I find Maryland to be a very pretty state. When I lived in Texas and North Carolina (the east part), the roads were straight and flat. There are lots of hills and winding roads here!

My first stop was the old railroad station. First incorporated in 1886, Chesapeake Beach was a resort town for those that wanted to get out of Washington, DC. The Chesapeake Beach Railway connected the two for easy access. They've turned some of the old railway beds into hiking trails. The station is now a museum, but I'm ashamed to say I've never been inside.



Living on a peninsula, sandwiched in between the Chesapeake Bay and Patuxent River, there are only two directions to go, north or south. Today will be north to the county line. There are lots of these little side roads. The most difficult decisions are whether to turn left or right. However, there was something I wanted to see, so right it was.



They've repaved this road since I was here last. It reminds me of the English lanes in Shaun's posts.



This property has always intrigued me. Southern Maryland is big horse country. These stables are extensive!



They go with this mansion that sits at the top of a hill overlooking the Bay. The place is called Tacaro Farm and was built in 1940 by a guy who owned one of the largest brick companies in the south.



Here's a link to an article of the history of the farm, and here's another link if anyone wants to put a offer in on the house. Only $3,350,000!

They must have quite a view from up there, but all I can see of the Bay is through a few houses.



Just down the road, there is a property where the guy dug up some old trees and planted them upside down. They're more prevalent in the winter when the trees are bare, but here's one by the roadway just to the left of the sculpture.



After riding a road that followed the Bay, I came upon this sign. I sure didn't see any BSAs down that road!



I was running a bit low on gas, so I made a more direct route to the nearest gas station and didn't get a chance to take any more photos. All in all, a very pleasant, sunny, 68°F (20°C) day and a good way to end my time at home before I travel for work!

nice bimble!

My mother's parents lived on the beach at Long Beach, near St. Leonard. There was no bridge at Solomons then, you had to cross the Patuxent from Benedict to Prince Frederick. Wayson's Corner was just a little country intersection with a restaurant that served the best soft-shelled crab sandwiches ... Upper Marlboro was about the size of Blowing Rock, and all the roads were two-lane.

My grandma was still living there when I would go to visit on my BSA. There are some really nice roads in between MD 2/4 and the bay ... lots of up and downs and back and forths ...

I was walking south along the beach from Long Beach after a storm, and the fence that used to be across the beach was gone. "Hey, I can walk an extra couple miles this way, wonder what's down here?" The answer was big guys with guns, who turned me around to walk the other way, and not into the nuclear power plant .... !!!

Lannis

Ob1quixote-I'll be down your way for the next couple of weeks. This next job is at the old Naval Shipyard in North Charleston. I love when I have a customer down there!

Hey Lannis, I just helped a buddy of mine move across Route 4 to Long Beach. They generally frown on random people showing up to the nuclear power plant. Wayson's corner is still a little country intersection. I lived in Upper Marlboro for a few years before I moved to Chesapeake Beach. That place was a terrible place to live. Lots of crime and drugs and very high taxes. The final straw was when someone tore the siding off my garage and stole my tools. That's when we moved a further south and away from SE DC.

Look me up, maybe we'll have a beer and some wings!

Have to depend on how I'm feeling and timing with my chemo treatments though.
But at the end of the 2 week treatment cycle, I'm able to feel semi-human and able to get out a little.

Will PM you .

My wife and I discovered this area maybe 15-20 years ago, when we decided to just go exploring down that side of the Bay...
I have a sideline interest in fossils and this part of the Bay is world famous for it's Calvert Cliffs area, so I thought it would make a great day trip.
We accidentally stumbled across a quaint little spot called- Matoaka Beach Cabins that were owned by a charming elderly couple at the time. The place started out as a Christian church camp back in the 50's and is comprised of a number of wood cabins, each complete with kitchen and bathroom facilities.
It sits on about 50 acres of old growth forest overlooking the Bay and I tell folks it's like being at the beach and the mountains at the same time.
It's so secluded, that you soon forget how close civilization really is !
We used to stay at the cabins, then drive up to Chesapeake Beach to Brownie's Beach which is now "Bay Park" I believe, and look for fossil shark's teeth.
Folks weren't supposed to walk below the cliffs just south of the park area because of dangerous cliff falls, but that's where you would find the best pieces.
Haven't been back since the wife passed some years ago.... it just wouldn't be the same anymore.

Nice ride report JD .... Thanks for taking us around your neighborhood

Good time of year to be riding, not too hot, not too cold, not too many bugs. Roads look to be in good condition, where are the potholes? UK roads have been falling to bits for many years

You sure didn't live near the hill country or the Piney Woods area...

Josh,

Thanks for posting, brother! Looks like a lovely day out. Hey also, I love the links- something that takes an extra effort, therefore especially commendable!

Nicely done, sir.

Nice ride report and those roads are wonderful, been on them many times throughout the years.