Well I just got back from the 'dry run' of our route, which combines elements of the 'Horses and Hounds' and 'Mason and Dixon' Maryland Scenic Byways routes. Door-to-door it's about 75 miles, so I hope that's not too far for you guys (of course, that's in addition to your miles riding to Reisterstown AND your miles riding home from Broom's Bloom). So today I did about 160 miles total, which was great, and fortunately the forecasted rain didn't materialize.
So here is the complete route:
1) From Martha and Mary's, turn right out of the parking lot and head to Rt. 128 (about a mile down the road).
2) Turn right on Rt. 128, ride through Glyndon, and head to Butler Rd. Turn left on Butler Rd.
3) Take Butler Rd. to Dover Rd., bear left, then left again onto Dover Rd.
4) Dover Rd. becomes Trenton Rd. at the stop sign. Go straight at the stop sign onto Trenton Rd.
5) Take Trenton Rd. to the T-intersection at Black Rock Rd, turn left.
6) Take Black Rock Rd. to the traffic circle, and continue on Black Rock Rd.
7) At the stop sign, turn right onto Rt. 30 (Main St. Hampstead). This is one spot where our group could get separated.
8 ) Ride a very short distance and turn right onto Upper Beckleysville Rd. (This is a very small intersection)
9) Take Upper Beckleysville Rd. to the T-intersection at Brick Store Rd., turn left.
10) Take the 1st right on Brick Store Rd. onto Beckleysville Rd.
11) Cross Falls Rd. and continue on Beckleysville Rd.
12) Beckleysville Rd. curves right and becomes Cotter Rd.
13) Follow Cotter Rd. to Middletown Rd., turn right.
14) Middletown Rd. to York Rd., turn right.
15) York Rd. to Wiseburg Rd., turn left.
16) Ride to the Wiseburg Rd./Graystone Rd. intersection, and bear right to continue on Wiseburg Rd.
17) Follow Wiseburg Rd. to Hunters Mill Rd., turn left.
18) At the Hunters Mill Rd./Vernon Rd. fork, bear right to continue on Hunters Mill Rd.
19) Continue on Hunters Mill Rd. to the T-intersection at Troyer Rd. (unmarked), turn left.
20) Troyer Rd. to Norrisville Rd., turn right.
21) Follow Norrisville Rd. to Madonna Rd, turn left.
22) Madonna Rd. to Telegraph Rd., turn right.
23) Telegraph Rd. to Rt. 136, turn right.
24) Rt. 136 to Fawn Grove Rd., turn right.
25) Fawn Grove Rd. to Rt. 165, turn left.
26) Rt. 165 to Old Pylesville Rd., turn right. (If you miss this turn, there is another right turn for Rt. 543 just beyond it)
27) Old Pylesville Rd. to Rt. 543 (Ady Rd.), turn right.
28) Rt. 543/Ady Rd. becomes Rt. 543/N. Fountain Green Rd.
29) Turn right into Broom's Bloom where the cow sign is! (The 2nd entrance to Broom's Bloom)
Generally speaking, the roads are really great. The only boring part is Middletown Rd. and Rt. 543 (the road that Broom's Bloom is on). Well let me clarify that: Middletown Rd. COULD be nice, depending upon traffic. If there isn't any traffic it could probably be great. But if there is traffic, then it will be a bit of a bore. Rt. 543 is really the only road that puts you through a 'built-up' area, and we really have no choice but to use that route (taking Rt. 136 from the south would be worse). BTW, all the roads on this route are of the two-lane variety.
The highlight roads are Wiseburg, Hunters Mill, and Madonna. Fawn Grove is pretty awesome too, but here again it depends on traffic (actually, they ALL depend upon the traffic!).
So there you go. I let the owner of Martha and Mary's know that we'll be landing on the morning of the 10th, and she's totally cool with it. I didn't talk to anyone at Broom's Bloom, as I didn't think it was necessary.
I'll try to remember to print copies of these directions for people. As you may have noticed, I did not make note of the mileage from road to road, turn to turn etc. I'm hoping that we'll pretty well be able to follow each other, and if not, you guys will just have to keep your eyes open for the signs.
I-95 is only a couple of miles from Broom's Bloom, so hopefully that will help everyone get home in good time. Plus, there are gas stations near the I-95 ramp.
Let's hope for good weather!
