Hazy. Hot. Humid. Hilly. Four words which do not define my favorite conditions, but that is the price you pay when you skip the cooler morning hours to sleep and watch the Tour de France insted of ride.
In my continuing tradition of riding roads in Frederick County which I have never ridden before, I explored some residential areas before heading up the mountain. If anyone is looking for a great low traffic area to do some tough hills, Mountainberry Circle is what you want. Take it up and continue up on Bootjack. Ouch. I saw the only other road biker of the day here.
The weather was really sapping my energy as I turned onto Shookstown Rd and began the climb. Very tough. At Irongate Court I took a break in the minimal shade and flipped the rear wheel around to the freewheel side and dropped the chain onto the 32t front ring. Life was nicer after that. I passed over the top and crossed Gambrill Park Rd. to take Shookstown all the way to Rt. 40. I them followed Rt. 40 to Gambrill Park Rd. to take it to the ridge top.
This climb hurt. I had to walk a bit just before the first parking area on the right side. I pulled in there and took a break, while talking to a nice mountain biker who was getting ready for a ride. He was visiting all the way from Indiana. Cool. After a bit I continued up, riding a bit and then walking a bit. I didn't want to overheat too badly or bonk, and I had no need to hurry.
I finally got to the ridgeline and continued north, stopping to take some shots from the North Frederick Overlook. This is a developed overlook with parking, and benches and such, different from the place from which I take my usual shots. This was where I heard my first rumblings of thunder, but they seemed a good distance away.
Riding along the ridgeline was nice, as there isn't too much up and down, but my pace was really suffering from the heat and exertion I had given so far. The thunder was getting closer and I considered bailing out at both Hamburg Rd. and Delauter Rd, but I stubbornly kept going. The clouds were getting darker as I hit the gravel section, but the rain held off. I picked up the pace as much as I felt comfortable doing and was soon at the overlook. I kept expecting the rain to start, and so hurried through taking my photos and eating a small snack I had, and then got back out to the road and away down the mountain. The descent was pure exhilaration. New Kool Stop pads had restored my confidence in my brakes and I was flying. Down in the hollow the air was thick, even foggy and the temps were much cooler. The whole world was green and lush.
Back on pavement, I stopped at the Mountaindale General Store and got a bottle of powerade to give me a boost. The front moving in was cutting the heat with a breeze and cloud cover and the thunder was really starting to rock and roll, with loud and long rumbling, sometimes 20 to 30 seconds. At Bethel and Yellow Springs, there were a couple Deputies and two banged up cars. I guess someone couldn't stop at the four way stop. The first drops of rain began to hit as soon as I reached my truck so I rushed inside and missed the deluge which started a minute later.
| Climbing up Shookstown Road. |
| High Knob as seen from Shookstown Rd. I'll be heading up there soon. |
| Heading up Gambrill Park Rd. |
| I stopped for a break at the trailhead parking and talked for a bit with a rider who was visiting from Indiana. As I headed further up on the road, he came by on the section of the trail that parallels the road. |
| At High Knob, the road turns north to follow the ridgeline. |
| There is a developed over look just past High Knob on Gambrill Park Road.Panorama of the Monocacy River Valley (1). |
| As thunderheads roll in, I hit the gravel sections. |
| My regular overlooking spot.Panorama of the Monocacy River Valley (2). |
| Quickbeam at the overlook. |
| Today's Map. |
| Today's Profile. |
Roads Completed 7/17/2005
| Road Name | ADC Map Grid | Subdivision | |||
| AYNSLEY | CT | 20-H-10 | AYNSLEY | ||
| BOOTJACK | DR | 20-F-7 | MOUNTAIN LAUREL ESTATES | ||
| BROOK-MERE | BLVD | 20-H-11 | BROOK MERE FARMS | ||
| CHERRY HILL | DR | 20-J-11 | CHERRY HILL | ||
| EDGEWOOD CHURCH | RD | 20-F-12 | N/A | ||
| ETZLER | RD | 20-H-10 | N/A | ||
| FERNWOOD | CT | 20-F-7 | MOUNTAIN LAUREL ESTATES | ||
| FORD | RD | 20-J-6 | N/A | ||
| GAMBRILL PARK | RD | 20-C-13 | N/A | ||
| HANSEN | CIR | 20-J-10 | BROOKMERE FARMS | ||
| INDIAN SPRINGS | RD | 20-J-10 | N/A | ||
| IRONGATE | LN | 20-D-13 | IRONGATE | ||
| KAY | ST | 20-G-7 | PARK VIEW ESTATES | ||
| MOUNTAIN LAUREL | DR | 20-G-7 | MOUNTAIN LAUREL ESTATES | ||
| MOUNTAIN LAUREL | PL | 20-G-7 | MOUNTAIN LAUREL ESTATES | ||
| MOUNTAINBERRY | CIR | 20-G-7 | MOUNTAIN LAUREL ESTATES | ||
| MOUNTAINBERRY | CT | 20-F-7 | MOUNTAIN LAUREL ESTATES | ||
| QUARTET | LN | 20-H-7 | N/A | ||
| SPIRE VIEW | CT | 20-F-13 | EDGEWOOD VIEW | ||
| STONEHOUSE | CT | 20-H-10 | BOOTJACK SPRINGS | ||
| STONEHOUSE | RD | 20-H-10 | BOOTJACK SPRINGS |