Scenic Biking by the Bay in Annapolis

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This is a wonderful ride through the Bay Ridge community that we do periodically. The views are fantastic, the homes by the water are impressive, and the roads are peaceful and either flat or gently rolling. The entire area is a beautiful place for biking that's just a short drive from Eastport and downtown Annapolis. The Bay Ridge ride is a regular event for our SHR group because it's so interesting and convenient.

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Directions to the Meetup Spot

Don't trust your GPS because it will probably take you through the crowded streets of central Annapolis. Here's a much better and faster way to our meetup point at Peninsula Park.

Take Rt 50/301 to Exit 22 onto Artis T. Allen Blvd (Rt 665). As you exit, keep going straight past the signs for Riva Rd and Rt 2 (Solomons Island Rd). Going straight will keep you on the main road which changes its name after the traffic light to Forest Dr. Continue going straight for three miles on Forest Dr as it becomes Bay Ridge Rd after passing Quiet Waters Park.

Continue on Bay Ridge Rd until you pass the traffic light for Arundel on the Bay Rd and the Bru-Mar Garden Center. The public parking area where we'll meet is on Bay Ridge Rd at Peninsula Park, about 100 yds beyond the intersection.

If the lot is full, there are additional parking areas on the other side of the playing fields.

See the link below and the Google Meetup map above for details:

http://annapolis.patch.com/listings/peninsula-pal-park#photo-914172

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Biking Through Bay Ridge

From our meetup point at Peninsula Park, we'll head right on Bay Ridge Rd using the dedicated bike lane. Bay Ridge is a 2-lane road with marked bike lanes on both sides. It's not very busy since the road leads to the end of the peninsula.

After a mile or so, we'll enter the Bay Ridge community. Our route will then head towards the shoreline avenues of Bay Drive and River Drive which follow the edge of the Chesapeake Bay. We'll also explore Lake Drive and the interior avenues of the Bay Ridge community to get some quality biking miles through this scenic area.

During our ride, we'll get excellent views of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the Annapolis skyline, bayside beaches and boats, and wide expanses of the Bay itself and large cargo ships going up to Baltimore. There's very little traffic since Bay Ridge is mostly for residents.

The total ride distance will be approximately 12-14 miles, and will last about two hours depending on how many side streets we take. It's suitable for all bikes and riders.

ALL RIDERS MUST WEAR A HELMET!

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Post-Ride Refreshments at the Boatyard Bar & Grill

Following our ride, we can enjoy some good food and drinks at the Boatyard Bar & Grill in Eastport. It's a fun casual place that's just a short drive from our bike ride. Parking is available on neighborhood streets.

The Boatyard is located at the corner of Severn Ave and 4th St in Eastport. Full details, map, and reviews of are available on Yelp:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-boatyard-bar-and-grill-annapolis

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Final Details

We'll need good biking weather for this event. I'll post an update and send out an email by 10:00 am on Sunday if we need to change plans or cancel. Call Jake at 703-798-8435 with any questions.

I hope to see you there!

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