2008 Peaks of Otter Tour

 

Peaks of Otter Lodge, MP 86 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, VA

 

 

            This unsupported bicycle tour starts on Saturday, June 21 in Conowingo, MD at the Royal Farms Restaurant. The first night’s destination is Westminster, MD using mostly a route that we have enjoyed on past tours, but with a visit to Rocks State Park enroute.

On Sunday, we will head to Harpers Ferry, WV. After riding through Thurmont, MD we will climb over South Mountain and then ride through the Antietam Civil War battlefield. Our overnight in Harpers Ferry will be at Comfort Inn after a stop at Hilltop House to take in the spectacular views of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers from their overlook high above the historic district.

Hilltop House, Harpers Ferry, WV

 

A View from Hilltop House (November)

 

Another View from Hilltop House

 

Defenses at Antietam Battlefield

 

            On Monday, June 23 we will head to the South Branch Inn (just west of Shanks, WV, and east of Romney on US 50. South Branch Inn is a relatively new Inn in an area that has had a shortage of sizeable overnight accommodations. This day will have quite a bit of climbing.

            Tuesday, June 24 we will ride from Romney south along the south branch of the Potomac River in eastern West Virginia to Franklin, WV.  We climb over a mountain at the end of the day.

            Wednesday, June 25 we continue to follow some of the valleys of the branches of the Potomac River in VA and WV  to White Sulphur Springs, WV.

            Then on Thursday we follow the route that we used on the 2004 Tour of West Virginia to climb to Peaks of Otter Lodge at milepost 86 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

A mysterious visitor at Peaks of Otter Lodge

 

Morning mist on the Blue Ridge Parkway

 

            Friday, June 27 will be the most challenging day of the Tour as we ride the Blue Ridge Parkway from Peaks of Otter to Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro.  Saturday we take the Skyline Drive to Front Royal. On Sunday we ride to Westminster, MD, and on Monday, June 30 we return home.

 

            Participants will need to make their own reservations at the motels listed under “Lodgings” identifying themselves as part of the White Clay Bicycle Group in order to claim one of the rooms that have been blocked off for our group.

 

 

CUE SHEETS

 

Lodgings