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I prefer a destination ride verses just riding around.  Unable to chose a place to ride to I thought about the tag-orama  game. There are about 30 destinations that someone thought were worth the ride.  Light bulb moment… I will go to them all. This won’t be a one day ride, more like the whole summer but I got to start somewhere. So here is tag-o-rama the tour.

Part one.  I chose to head to the furthest tags in the north east section and maybe grab a couple others on the way back.  Pull out of the house in Gaithersburg at 7:15 headed for the first tag on my list, Aberdeen Proving Grounds.  Took 108 to 32east then 295 to 695 over Key Bridge.  Key bridge and the draw bridge before it presented me with three firsts. I had never ridden on a metal grate like a draw bridge.  It was interesting and a bit unnerving at the same time. I stayed light on the controls and handle bars, looked straight where I wanted to go and went with it. The next first was paying a toll on a bike, which is just a pain in the azz. The third first and scariest was shortly after the bridge I got into one of those 2” wide spaces between the slabs. I didn’t  remember what they said about them in the safety class but I kept the bike up straight, let off the throttle  and made it to the end . At the time it seemed like a half mile but it was probably only about 15 or 20ft. Still, it definitely got my attention.  I didn’t want to ride up 95 so I took 40 north, made a quick stop to decaffeinate , grab a diet Dew  (diet because I’m old and fat and Dew because all the cool people drink dew. I know, I’m on a scooter, how much cooler could I get.) As I head north on 40 (Pulaski Hwy) I am amazed at the different feeling of the area. Gaithersburg/Rockville/Silver Spring/Bethesda is  malls, shopping centers, acres of planned developments, buildings and big boxes.  Pulaski Hwy is small mom and pop shops, no name restaurants, BBQ  shacks, liquor stores and some larger blue collar businesses. I saw a bunch of places that I could go to enhance my porn collection.   I pull into Aberdeen go to the visitor center, they did want license, registration, mc safety course card and had to have the yellow vest.  I picked up my pass and had to produce all the same identification plus the visitor pass at the security entrance.  Made it to the museum and found the tag.

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Took some time to walk around and look at some of the other machinery.  Very impressive weapons.  It would take the better part of a day to see everything. Great day trip for those interested in the history of mechanized war.

From Aberdeen it is just a quick jaunt up 40 to Harve De Grace and the Concorde Point Light House.

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It has been a long time since I have been near the water and the benches in the park had my name on them. I did spend a moment enjoying the scents and feel of the bays breezes. Wondered through the marina and checked out the boats. Some of the boats were very cool $$$$ I don’t want a boat, I want a friend with a boat, 3 or 4 times a year.

More tags to visit and I’m getting hungry. Head back down 40 figuring I would stop at one of the diners I passed on the way up. Wanted to put some miles on before I stopped to eat so I went straight through to White Marsh and stopped at the Silver Moon Diner.

I took a seat at the counter and my waitress was singing Christmas songs…?? ? I wanted breakfast food so I placed my order and it was literally 4 minutes before my food came.  Over easy eggs done perfect, hash browns crispy on the outside tender inside, 4 strips of smokey bacon, buttered toast browned on both sides and a big glass of chocolate milk with ice. I do like me a good diner, Christmas songs as a side order, sweet!

Well fed, relaxed and with a song in my heart (Silver Bells to be exact) I was off and headed south on 695 to north point to see a bit of Maryland history, Todds Inheritence.  This was a nice ride through coastal  flat lowlands, a couple of small town like clusters of old homes and businesses. This was the most enjoyable part of the ride so far. “over the river and through the woods”

North Point will go on my list of places to return to.  There is a lot of history in this shore town with evidence of native American Indians dating back 9000 years. An amusement park that closed in 1947 that was allowed to be reclaimed by nature could be pretty cool.

Back on the road headed back over Key Bridge for the Armistead Park tag. The ride back across Key Bridge was interesting because it rained. The wind picked up and it rained for the 1 minute or so it takes to cross the bridge. Took the first exit after the bridge and headed down 173. After crossing yet another draw bridge I knew I had missed my turn. A quick check of the GPS and I was headed back to Armistead Rd. The area is chock full of marinas and guys on the side of the road with “live Crabs” signs. When I found Armistead Rd it was unmarked and not really a road, it looked more like a 3 lane cement slab extended parking lot. The surface was less then semi maintained. It turned out to be a fun avoidance course.

You do get a great view of Key Bridge from the park.  I did ride down to the lower section which is packed sand, loose sand, rocks, ruts and puddles of water. There were quite few people fishing so I am guessing the fishing is ok.  Judging by the looks I got, I don’t think they see a lot of bikes down in the lower section, or maybe it’s that scooter thing, I don’t know.  Armistead Park was the last of my “planned” tags. 

              The Tower at Ten Oaks was on the way home and I eventually want to hit them all so that tag was next in my sights.  695 to 295 south to 32 west to 108. I was glad to get off the highways and on to some more familiar bike friendly roads. I didn’t know exactly where the tower was but was able to catch a glance of it every now and then.  It seemed further in the distance then it was and snuck up on me.

                The road dept. has decided that this must be the spot for new roundabouts as they are just popping up everywhere out there. Not sure if I like or not or if I don’t care one way or the other.  Headed back down Brighton Dam road and remembered that was a tag to. I have been there a hundred times so this was just a hit and run tag.

I was getting closer to home but was enjoying the back roads. Instead of the straight shot back home. I took Brighton Dam Rd to 650 headed north to 97. Pulled into Sunshine market  for a quick drink and photo.

Went south on 97 to Brookville then took Brookville rd back to Gaithersburg and home pulled in at 4:20.

The trip took 9 hours and covered  212 miles. It was a great ride.

 With the 3 day weekend coming up I plan on heading out one day to tag the points farthest west. Weather permitting.

Aberdeen Proving Grounds

Concorde Point Light House

 scooter??!

 good stuff!  thanks for sharing :)  pretty sure you weren't too far from one of the tagged roundabounts :)  sounds like a great adventure!  can't wait for the updates on your tagorama tour !! 

 nice!

 *awaits another update*

Cool post BBQ. And I would call your ride a maxi-scooter at least.

Tag tour report 2

I knew this ride was going to be longer then the first so I pulled out at 6:30. I was on my way to Old South Mt Inn. I headed up 355 into Frederick, then out W. Patrick to Alt. 40.   It was a decent route with a couple twisty at the beginning then more as I got closer to the tag. I think I will bring the wife here to eat one day, the sign says “Food and Drink for all” I like food and drink!  If anyone can do a food review for this place, please, post up.

Next tag on the tour is Fort Frederick.  Headed up 40 to MD-68.  MD-68 has some great points and worth the trip. I did notice as I went through Williamsport that the bad economy seems to have hit pretty hard. There are a lot of vacant store fronts so stop and fuel up or refresh here.  Just past Williamsport take Big Pool Rd to the fort. Big Pool Rd has been recently re-surfaced and is smooth, fast and a blast!! The road is much faster than the speed limit so be careful.

For you American war buffs Fort Frederick would be a great trip by itself. It’s a great ride and a cool place. On the way back you could hit up the Old South Mt. Inn then write up a food review. Leaving Fort Frederick I mentally prepare myself for the least anticipated part of my ride, 23 miles of I-70/I-68 to Town Hill Hotel/overlook. I had planned to take the highway at this point to save time.  The scenery and views are beautiful up and over the mountain. I could very much do without the wind gust and their changing of direction without warning. That being said, it is the challenging points in the trip that add to the excitement sense of accomplishment upon their completion.

Town Hill Overlook, I have driven back and forth on I-68 many times and never even knew this little gem was here. Next time you ride or drive by, take exit 68 to Orleans Rd. Go west on MD-144/US-40 its 1.5 miles up the road. The view of “Maryland’s Beauty Spot” is worth the additional 5 minutes it takes.

Going for the green! Private toll bridge to Green Springs WV in Oldtown MD that is. This leg of the trip would prove to be the most challenging ride I have ever taken. Using Google and my GPS, I mapped a scenic route through Green Ridge State Forest. I took 144 west for 5 miles and found my turn into Green Ridge State Forest. The road was fine, a typical forest rd. Before too long the road condition started to disintegrate.  I only had a bit longer before I had to turn on a different road so I continued. The road was now dirt with gravel patches. The next road was even worse, an unpaved driveway would have been better. This road would have been a blast on a dirt bike or atv. I was bouncing around on a 535lb scooter. Most street bikers would have been smart enough to stop when the gravel ended.  Fortunately, I only had to be on this road for about 2 miles. I checked my map to make sure this was the correct “road”; it was; only it looked better on Google. I am starting to question my choice of routes when I get to my next turn. There is a sign there. “BRIDGE CLOSED” So I am 18 miles into Green Ridge State Forest with about 4 miles to go and my route is blocked.  For a second I wondered if “closed” really meant “closed”. I didn’t try. I turned around and made my way back to 144. Once there a quick map and GPS check and I was headed west on 144, took a left on Town Creek Rd. The condition of this road was what I thought I would get in the State Forest. Slightly irregular surface, lots of curves and up downs. It was a fun road but did require your attention. Town Creek Rd turned into Bear Hill Rd and went right into Oldtown.   After a couple of short unintentional detours in Oldtown I got lucky and saw a 1’ by 2’ sign for Green Springs WV.  This leg was supposed to be about 1 hr and it had been 2 ½ hr since I left Town Hill.

After a brief sit down and walk around stretch, I was ready to continue on. I headed a little further west/northwest on 51 into Cumberland. 51 is a decent cruise road. Clean and a lot of interesting sights to help pass the time. I did not plan a route back other then 144/40/scenic 40 east the whole way. That turned out to be very cool. There are sections of scenic 40 between Cumberland and Hagerstown that seem to have been forgotten. Several times I went 5 or more miles without seeing another vehicle on the road.  I spent a total of 1 mile on the highway coming back. I went through Indian Springs past the old camp ground that is now closed. I remembered seeing billboards for that years ago. Continuing east went past Hagerstown Speedway, I spent a lot of time there several years ago. Then through Historic Hagerstown. Passed Greenbrier, South Mt and Gambrills State Parks. Rolled into and through Frederick to 355 south. Stopped at Mt Olivet Cemetery to grab another tag.

Just as I pulled out of Mt Olivet it started to rain. I wasn’t planning on stopping but I was hungry and rain bites the big one. I pulled off and into the Double T Diner. Food was acceptable but the service sucked.  The parking lots of all the restaurants were littered with bikes, rain showers will do that I guess.  

Final tag of the day. Resumed my travel south on 355 to Monocacy National Battlefield. This is another one of those cool places that you don’t realize is right in your own back yard.

The civil war battle here in 1864 was considered to be the battle that saved DC. Confederate soldiers had gone up the Shenandoah Valley and did the old whoop de do turn around and headed south to attack DC from the north at the same time the Confederate troops from Richmond were to attack DC from the south.  I am going to come back and spend some time checking out the park.

Headed home. Took 355 south into Gaithersburg. Pulled up to the house at 4:45 It was a very enjoyable trip. Learned some stuff about the bike and roads I am comfortable on, a little about Google maps and visited some spots I may have gone through life never seeing.

Trip took 10hr and 15 min. Covered 278 miles.

It may be 2 weeks before I can get out and tag some more. This has been a worthwhile endeavor and I am looking forward to more of it.  

 Awesome

 woo!

i work right up the street from your last tag and i was certainly there when you got the tag.  

great read... ill be back to check your thread in 2 weeks for part 3 :)

Tag tour report 3

My weekends have been busy lately so other than to and from work I haven’t been able to ride and do to time constraints today’s ride is not as ambitious as the past two. 

I pulled out at 8:30 headed to Edwards Ferry.  Took Rt.28 west, a very familiar road for many of us. Hopped on 107 towards Whites Ferry then left on Edwards Ferry rd. Edwards Ferry rd. goes through some of the prettiest horse farms in the state.  It’s not a bad road also not a great road. The biggest problems were critters. Lots of cats walking across the road. A fox, snake and a turtle also made appearances in the travel lane. The tag is at the intersection of River and Edwards Ferry rd.

Hung around long enough to give a bicyclist some directions then off to Point Of Rocks. I went back out Edwards Ferry rd to 107 then up 109 back to 28 west. I like Rt. 28. A lot of rides and destinations require a trip out Rt.28 west. This time I didn’t blow by the turn that started the whole Roidrage incident a couple weeks ago.  You can by a bird house there but I had Point Of Rocks in my sights so that purchase, would have to wait… probably forever.

 The Point Of Rocks railroad station was built in 1876 and is (fun fact here) considered the most photographed railroad station in the country. I took a couple of pics so add me to the list of people with photos of the station. I am getting due for my standard refreshment so I head back on Rt.28 east and stop at the infamous Citco. A group of cruisers pulled in while I was there and one of the ladies riding guest seat was an old neighbor that moved out about 10 years ago. Small world. We chatted for about half an hour and headed back on our separate ways. Them, camping in West Virginia and me to Trouts Seafood. I stayed on all old standby roads, 28east to 85 to 80 and onto 75 north to 144. 144 is one of my favorite rides. I will take the cruiser style ride of 144 any day over the slab ride of 70. From 75 Trouts Seafood is just seconds east on 144.

Trouts Supreme Seafood has one of the largest selections of fresh seafood I have seen in a while. If I had a cooler with me it would have been stuffed on the remainder of the ride. I saw several bushels of crabs go out the window so if you live within 10 or 20 miles this could be the place for live crabs. Real pretty salmon steaks, shrimp, crab cakes, scallops the list goes on. All ready to take home and grill up. With visions of garlic basil grilled shrimp I headed off east on 144 for a quick stop at a roundabout and a bite to eat. More of 144 and a quick zig zag through Mt Airy then a bit more 144 I came up on one of the tags I was not 100% sure of. It was either this one or a different one… duh. It was this one

 This is a hit and run tag. The original tag clue said to try the BBQ at the Citco station down the road. I am all over that one. A little bit east and I see the smoke rising. Outdoor cookers with piles of real wood, I guy standing by them with a sauce and ash stained apron. Now I’m thinking, oh yeah, real BBQ.

Todays hot off the cooker special was spare ribs. They still had about a half hour of cook time but that was no problem. Real friendly guy and we talked the whole time about BBQ. He said he normally does baby backs but was switchin it up today with the spares. He shares the same opinion as I do about ribs. Baby back ribs sell but spare ribs are better.  The place has a couple of tables inside and some stools and a counter outside. The menu is BBQ. All the goodies from pulled pork to pit beef to coleslaw to cornbread and BBQ sundies.  I ate my ribs outside, in the heat, on a stool by the cooker, just like it’s supposed to be. Real BBQ, real atmosphere, real good!! Thank you Jennthebiker!    So I am a bit overfed and a little warm. I head west on 144 for the final tag of the day. The Chinese Biker Bar known as Lu and Joes. West till I hit 27 then south on 27 for about a mile. I park the scooter take my pic and figure I could use some digestive time.

I nursed one beverage for 30 min and lost $10 playing keno. Fun times at Lu and Joes. I hung around outside for a while checking out the steady influx of bikes. I did get to see the ultimate poser. Guy pulls up with a cargo trailer, pulls a Harley out of the back, parks the truck and trailer around back and sits on the front porch by his bike… yeah… ok.  I may be on a scooter but I at least ride it. On that note it’s time to end the trip. 27 south to Damascas 650 to 124 and home to Gaithersburg , stand down at 2:45

Total ride time 6 hours 15 min

Total miles 106.

 I am amazed how these rides are able to take me away from the day to day grind.  Each destination is its own individual ride with a reward at the end of the road. Together they add up to an escape from the world that could not be accomplished in any way other then on two wheels.

 hell yeah   I'm gonna have to make the trip out to the BBQ spot and try it out.  I forgot she recommended it.  Now I'm hungry...

Back when I had time to kill just riding around this was something I really wanted to do. Have a nice little database sitting on one of my servers with all the markers on there just waiting for a route. Glad someone's getting out to them all.

stupid 'responsibilities'