Biking - Scenic Ride from Chestertown to Cliff City

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Let's go to Cliffs City! Well, it's not actually a real city, but the trip there is a nice excursion for an afternoon ride. Our SHR group did it last year and had a great time. We'll meet at the parking area by Wilmer Park near the town center (see map above). The biking to Cliffs City is all on flat country roads with little traffic because the route follows Quaker Neck Road along the Chester River that leads to a dead end.

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It's a very pretty trip through shaded woods, a little farmland, some beautiful homes, occasional views of the Chester River, and even a real historic red one-room schoolhouse.

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On the way to Cliffs City, we'll take an inviting side road to visit Quaker Neck Landing and its charming homes on the Chester River.

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And of course, there's the famous Blue Bird of Paradise hidden in the bushes of a driveway that Lori pointed out to us last year. You don't often encounter one of those. Truly a memorable sight!

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It's a relaxed picnic ride, so we'll take our time to enjoy the beauty of the afternoon, take rest breaks along the way, and stop to enjoy our food and wine. Bring something tasty to eat and drink that you can carry on your bike. There's just one country store in Pomona available for cold drinks and snacks, and it's not always open.

We'll ride at a 11-12 mph pace, which is about normal for most people. There's no rush to get there or get back. You can see the "Cliff City Crabbers Special" bike route and description below on the Kent County website:

http://www.kentcounty.com/recreation/cycling/midtours.php

At the halfway point in Cliff City, we'll relax and enjoy some of our picnic goodies. There's a pubic boat ramp with nice views of the Chester River, and also porta-potties. We enjoyed hanging out there for a while last Memorial Day.

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This ride is suitable for people who are in decent biking shape. It's approximately 26 miles roundtrip and will last 4-5 hours overall. We don't kill ourselves, but you must be able to make it riding all afternoon. A sore butt is a worthwhile price to pay for such a memorable ride in a location that's a refreshing change from the Washington area.

As this is an outdoor event, we'll need good biking weather to make it happen. Check here on Saturday morning for an update. I'll post a notice before 11:00 am if we need to change plans or cancel.

Call Jake at 703-798-8435 if you have questions or need to find us.

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