July 27, 2017
Introduction and Idea: Why and Who
I've been a cyclist forever. For our 10th anniversary (18 years ago) my wife Carole and I did a 3 day trip biking the C&O Canal from Cumberland Maryland to Washington DC, and a few years later did a one night out and back from Burlington VT to Isle La Mott as well as a few Bike Vermont weekend outings. With friends I've also done 4-5 day self-planned and self-supported rides across VA and southern PA, and around Lake Champlain. These were all credit card style touring. My wife and her girlfriends also have a "Biker Chix" group that does very laid back short rides periodically. All of our ages start with the letter "s"...
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Last year, with our friends Chris and June, we rented rooms at the Parker House in Confluence PA and did day rides on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail. Chris and I rode the 55 miles from West Newton PA back to Confluence on Day One. Carole and June did ziplining and also some natural water slides in Ohiopyle with other friends who live in the area. Chris, who did the full Transamerica route a few years ago, hadn't had many hours in the saddle recently and his nether regions let him know it.
On Day Two we had a complex agenda that actually worked: I biked from the Parker House to Deal PA, while Carole and June drove to Cumberland MD to have a shuttle service take them and their bikes back up to Deal. On the way, they dropped Chris off at Rockwood PA on the GAP trail. We all met up in Deal on the to enjoy a long downhill ride. So, I did 63 miles, Chris did 46 or so and Carole and June did the downhill 25 miles (and tunnel passages) back through Frostburg into Cumberland.
It all worked out and we all had fun, matching rides to cycling levels and desires, so that led to..
THE IDEA FOR 2017: CAMP JOHN
Could I extend this model to our extended group of friends, 20 people in total?? I started by renting the entire Parker House (7 rooms) for a weekend and sent an email to the group - within a day all 20 were interested and committed. Two couples ended up renting rooms near the Parker House and one couple lives in the area. One couple had to back out at the last minute.
Now, the challenge became planning an agenda that 3 serious cyclists, 8 part time cyclists, 5 barely-turn-the-pedals cyclists and 4 non-cyclists would enjoy.
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