Kent Narrows, MD

August 27, 2018

I woke up early again. There's not much to do in Harrington on a Sunday night except go to bed! The only drawback to starting early is the possibility there won't be a room ready when you get where you're going. But so far so good. I only had to wait once this trip, and it was for only ten minutes. I once waited longer, but only because my name had not been added to the reservation! That won't happen again!

So up early, off to breakfast on the other side of the highway, then back to the hotel to pack and dress. I was on the road a little after 9:30. At my current pace, that would get me in at 1:30 or so. Maybe I just need to slow down, but that's hard to do.

Today's ride to Kent Narrows.

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So like Milton, I pedaled through a part of town I had not seen before, the backside where there are more residential streets. It was pleasant enough, but I soon found myself out of town.

The road out of Harrington ended rather abruptly at an agricultural field . . . somewhat like you see when exiting small French villages.

Of course, that meant I would be cycling on roads like this . . . no complaints here.

It was very quiet. I mean, really, no traffic. I think I covered 10 miles before a car passed, and he/she was going in the opposite direction. But hell, after 10 miles, I was 25% of the way there! And 10 miles also put me into Maryland. So long, Delaware. I'll be back, though!

But it wasn't all shaded roads, and it wasn't all nice smooth asphalt, as this chip seal road demonstrates.

Things improved at the Maryland border. Although there was no welcome sign, there is a sign indicating Caroline County was assuming maintenance. There are only three counties in Delaware, and Caroline is not one of them!

It was nice riding, especially given I was on roads I was not familiar with, roads I never used to get to the beach back in the day. Not that there was much "new" to see. Except, of course, for Greensboro, which I passed through routinely when using the "back roads" route. But that was but a brief interlude.

My first dirt road in a long while. I was expecting this but thought it was still further down the way a bit. So this lasted 2-1/2 miles and wasn't too bad to cycle on, but I wondered the whole time if there would be more.

Lake Tuckahoe was new. I have seen the signs for the State Park many times but never laid eyes on it. Pretty enough, I guess. It's much larger than just the lake, with lots of hiking trails. Maybe that will be a future day trip.

After Lake Tuckahoe, I went down some nicely shaded roads and crossed MD-309, which I was familiar with and clued me in that I was fast approaching US-50, the dreaded US-50, which will be bikeable but not particularly fun. Still, it must be done — that or US-301 — those are the choices for approaching the Bay Bridge.

But, to get to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, you have to ride some busy roads first!

But I was only on it for five miles, and it had a nice wide shoulder and a rumble strip in the correct location.

Fortunately, I was on US-50 for only five miles, after which I turned onto MD-18, a much quieter road that parallels the approach to the bridge and leads to my destination for the night, the Best Western, in Kent Narrows, and the highly recommended Fisherman's Inn, where I plan to get dinner. And, as feared, I arrived early — 1:15 PM! And as usual for me, my luck held out and they had a room ready. Plenty of time to hang out across the street at the Crab Deck's open-air bar overlooking the marina . . . and then dinner. But I can't make it a late night. I meet my ride across the bridge at 7:30 sharp. No sleeping in!

Today's ride: 44 miles (71 km)
Total: 1,708 miles (2,749 km)

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Karen PoretI wonder if he had Maryland blue crab for dinner..I have never had these being a SF native with Dungeness perfection..
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1 month ago

Tom FlournoyTo Karen PoretHe had 2 crab cakes, corn on the cob, and coleslaw. Blue crabs are really good if you ever get to these parts. I've had Dungeness before locally, but it was so long ago when I was a teenager that I don't remember. -Mark
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1 month ago

Karen PoretTo Tom FlournoyDungeness is “sweet meat”..don’t know if blue crabs are as difficult ( or worse) to get TO the “sweet meat”..Blue crabs are much smaller, correct?
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1 month ago

Tom FlournoyTo Karen PoretYes, they are small, and I haven't done the laborious task of getting to the meat since grade school. These days, I pay extra for either crab cakes or having it picked for me (in Bethany Beach). LOL -Mark
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1 month ago