Scenic Biking to Cliffs City & Country Buffet Picnic in Rock Hall

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Hey, let's go to Cliffs City! It's not actually a real city, but the trip there is a nice biking excursion through lovely countryside along the Chester River.

After our ride, we'll drive 10 miles to Rock Hall to enjoy an old-fashioned country buffet picnic sponsored by St. John's Catholic Church. It's an all-you-can-eat Bull Roast smorgasbord for only $16.

The Bike Ride

Our SHR group did this ride last year and had a great time. We'll meet at the parking area by Wilmer Park near the waterfront (see map above). The biking to Cliffs City is on flat country roads with little traffic because the route follows Quaker Neck Road along the Chester River on a peninsula that leads to a dead end at the river.

It's a very pretty trip through shaded woods, scenic farmland, some beautiful homes, occasional views of the Chester River, and even an historic one-room schoolhouse. On the way to Cliffs City, we'll take an inviting side road to visit Quaker Neck Landing on the Chester River.

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This is a relaxed 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 refreshments. Bring snacks and beverages that you can carry on your bike. There's no place on this trip to buy cold drinks or snacks, and the only available toilet facilities are porta-potties by the boat ramps at Quaker Neck Landing and Cliffs City.

This ride is suitable for people who are in decent biking shape. Our pace will be about 11 mph, which is normal for most people. It's 20 miles roundtrip, and will take about three hours overall. We don't kill ourselves, but you must be able to make it riding the whole way.

At the halfway point in Cliff City, we'll stop to rest. The pubic boat ramp there offers nice views of the Chester River. Then we'll return to Chestertown following the same route.

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The Country Buffet Picnic

An all-you-can-eat church picnic prepared by local folks is a great way to experience the relaxed small-town vibe of the Eastern Shore. The Bull Roast picnic at St. John's Church is an annual public fund-raising event that features an awesome full buffet with pit beef, BBQ chicken, home made side dishes, and desserts. They even have french fries and include beer in the price. All for just $16 per person.

Check out the details and menu below:

http://www.sjbr.org/index.html

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The picnic is held on the church grounds under trees and a big tent, so rain won't be a problem. The address is 5585 S Main St, Rock Hall, MD 21661. Find it on Google Maps or use your GPS. It's easy to find off the main road.

Final Details

As this is an outdoor event, we'll need good biking weather. A few showers are okay, but we won't ride in steady rain, excessive heat, or other miserable conditions. I'll post a notice and send out an email before 8:00 am on Sunday if we need to change plans or cancel.

Call Jake at 703-798-8435 if you have questions or need to find us. I can't always hear my phone at events, but you can try me.

I hope to see you there!