?? Roads to ride in DE / Eastern MD ??

[02Tac]

Just got back into riding just under 2 months ago and was wondering if anyone out there knew of some good roads (day trip kind of thing) in the DE / Eastern MD area?   I have done RT9 already from Dover to Del City and back; DARN!!! we had to stop at Crabby Dick's for lunch!!!

[chornbe]

Take 841 North out of Maryland to East Avondale Road. Follow that to Rt. 41 and make a right. Turn left at the first light (State Rd/St) and follow that up in to Kennett Square. Make a right on Rt. 82 South. Follow that twisty bit of Heaven 'til runs in to Campbell/Kirk road. Make a right. Right. Follow to Rt. 100 and make a left. Follow that occasionally twisty bit to and across US Rt. 1. Stay on 100/Creek Road to 842 and make a left. Follow 82, follow 82 North to 282. From there wind your way over to 23. Take, heading West to 897. Take 897 South which has several sections of wide open straights, some nice sweepers and a few sections of OH MY GOD tight twisties. Follow that to 30, jog right then left on 41 South. Follow that to 796 and make a right. Follow 796 until it ends at 896, keep going straight. Follow to 841 and make a right, back where you started.

This run is only a couple or few hours, there are several eateries, fuel stops and convenience stores along the way if you want to take breaks. You may, since just getting back in and some of the twisties are intense if taken at a pace. You'll hit everything from arrow straight roads to a few sections of very fun, very technical stuff. You'll run everything from 20MPH twisties to 80MPH wide-opens.

I live right near the 841/896 intersection and would be glad to lead you on that and other similar loops in the area.   No worries, I ride a Harley and we all know how slow they are

If you head up to the French Creek(?) area, 345 is a really, REALLY nice road.

[02Tac]

PM'd ya - Sounds like a nice ride.


Anybody have any ideas for mid to south DE/Eastern MD?

[Xodus]

Other than rt.9 there isn't much in Southern Delaware... Rt.15 maybe... but thats about it.

[chornbe]

Yeah, it's a decent little loop.

http://tinyurl.com/5t87q5

[nevinfs327]

I was pleasantly surprised by MD 213 from the canal at Chesapeake City to Wye Mills last November.  A few turns and rolling hills through old towns and farm land.  Had it almost entirely to myself.  South of Cambridge is an interesting area as well.  

[Scratch33]

Yeah - south of Cambridge there's some nice roads around the Blackwater Refuge area that I've ridden on.

[ERR]

Yeah, it's a decent little loop.

http://tinyurl.com/5t87q5

This is a big loop around where I grew up (~1/2 mile SW of point I). Nice area indeed.

Dave

[Doug Just Doug]

Take 841 North out of Maryland to East Avondale Road. Follow that to Rt. 41 and make a right. Turn left at the first light (State Rd/St) and follow that up in to Kennett Square. Make a right on Rt. 82 South. Follow that twisty bit of Heaven 'til runs in to Campbell/Kirk road. Make a right. Right. Follow to Rt. 100 and make a left. Follow that occasionally twisty bit to and across US Rt. 1. Stay on 100/Creek Road to 842 and make a left. Follow 82, follow 82 North to 282. From there wind your way over to 23. Take, heading West to 897. Take 897 South which has several sections of wide open straights, some nice sweepers and a few sections of OH MY GOD tight twisties. Follow that to 30, jog right then left on 41 South. Follow that to 796 and make a right. Follow 796 until it ends at 896, keep going straight. Follow to 841 and make a right, back where you started.

This run is only a couple or few hours, there are several eateries, fuel stops and convenience stores along the way if you want to take breaks. You may, since just getting back in and some of the twisties are intense if taken at a pace. You'll hit everything from arrow straight roads to a few sections of very fun, very technical stuff. You'll run everything from 20MPH twisties to 80MPH wide-opens.

I live right near the 841/896 intersection and would be glad to lead you on that and other similar loops in the area.   No worries, I ride a Harley and we all know how slow they are

If you head up to the French Creek(?) area, 345 is a really, REALLY nice road.

100, 82, 841, 896 is often my commute home to Newark from Wilmington if I don't need to get home the quicker/boring route.  897 is always a good idea, too.  Y'know, I've been riding in that area frequently for at least 15 years and I don't believe I've ever been on 282, or least not that I realized.  Hmmmmm, something to shoot for.  Thx.

[tmccrea]

I agree with South Dorchester (below Cambridge) being a nice ride. Maple Dam road through Blackwater Refuge is scenic and has little traffic. Best ridden at low tide! The ride to lower Hoopers Island is also  good one, especially along the causeway. You can have a meal at Old Salty's in Fishing Creek

[FJR_Jim]

Delaware is small but still has some nice roads. You already mentioned Route 9, which is nice. I will take Route 9 south to Route 6 West. Route 6 West will take you all the way into Maryland ( not that it's very far) where you can grab Route 313 North. Take 313N to Rt213N to 896. Route 896 between 213 and 301 is beautiful - all the DuPont farms line the road. Nice little loop that is good for half day fun.

I really love Route 213 south of Middletown, DE. It is such an enjoyable ride with numerous small bridges crossing the Chesapeake Bay feeder rivers many times. I will run this route to Annapolis stopping on Kent Island for crabs at Harris Crabhouse. Great little place right on the water.

[JReazor]

Delaware is small but still has some nice roads. You already mentioned Route 9, which is nice. I will take Route 9 south to Route 6 West. Route 6 West will take you all the way into Maryland ( not that it's very far) where you can grab Route 313 North. Take 313N to Rt213N to 896. Route 896 between 213 and 301 is beautiful - all the DuPont farms line the road. Nice little loop that is good for half day fun.

I really love Route 213 south of Middletown, DE. It is such an enjoyable ride with numerous small bridges crossing the Chesapeake Bay feeder rivers many times. I will run this route to Annapolis stopping on Kent Island for crabs at Harris Crabhouse. Great little place right on the water.

  I'm confused. 213 is a good bit west of Middletown and I don't think it crosses 896. 896 almost goes through Middletown but not quite.

[chornbe]

  I'm confused. 213 is a good bit west of Middletown and I don't think it crosses 896. 896 almost goes through Middletown but not quite.

I believe 213 is what 841 turns into when it crosses 896 just west of Newark, right?

896 & 841 to 213

I don't think I've been on 213 beyond where it crosses 40. No idea where it goes down there.

[cjgauthier]

       I've seen several mentions of the Blackwater refuge. They have a good website, I have wanted to go there and check out the ospreys and maybe some striper fishing in that area. Has anyone been to the refuge and check it out?

[JReazor]

I believe 213 is what 841 turns into when it crosses 896 just west of Newark, right?

896 & 841 to 213

Gotcha. I was thinking DE 896/MD 213. I hadn't considered East Pennsyltucky  

I don't think I've been on 213 beyond where it crosses 40. No idea where it goes down there.

213 gets mildly interesting once you're south of Chesapeake City (about 5 miles south of Rt  40). It's not exactly a hardcore sport bike road but it has some nice scenery and there are plenty of small towns with gas stations and local restaurants to stop in for lunch. H-D riders seem to like it. There are a few marinas down there so traffic can be a bitch when the boaters are out.

My in-laws live just off of 213 in between Cecilton and Galena. I've spent quite a bit of time on that road.

[FJR_Jim]

After reading your posts, I had to go back and reference a map. I missed Route 310 in DE which turns into RT896. The loop I mentioned goes:  Route 9S ---> Route 6W  ---> Rt 291W (Rt6 name changes at MD State Line) ---> Route 313N (or stay on Rt291W to 213N) ---> Route 213N ---> Route 310E (which turns into Route 896, Boyds Corner Road in Middletown) ---> Back to Route 9N

[tmccrea]

I've seen several mentions of the Blackwater refuge. They have a good website, I have wanted to go there and check out the ospreys and maybe some striper fishing in that area. Has anyone been to the refuge and check it out?

I live nearby and ride there frequently. It is scenic, the roads are good and there is little traffic. One of my favorite roads is Maple Dam out of Cambridge. The only problem is near Shorter's Wharf at high tide.
.

Here is a view of Maple Dam Rd. going through the marshlands.


Lower Dorchester County is very low and it is not uncommon to see water up to the edge of the road, or a boat tied to the front porch!

[JReazor]

After reading your posts, I had to go back and reference a map. I missed Route 310 in DE which turns into RT896. The loop I mentioned goes:  Route 9S ---> Route 6W  ---> Rt 291W (Rt6 name changes at MD State Line) ---> Route 313N (or stay on Rt291W to 213N) ---> Route 213N ---> Route 310E (which turns into Route 896, Boyds Corner Road in Middletown) ---> Back to Route 9N

Yep, that makes much more sense though I never thought of Boyd's Corner Road as being in Middletown which contributed to my confusion.

[RBEmerson]

213's a nice ride during the week at least.  Weekends... two lanes, limited passing, and the brain dead are out in force...    Also, keep in mind that little towns like Kennedyville, as well as big towns like Chestertown and Centreville, view speeding as a major revenue stream.  For that matter, all of MD's that way.  Anything over 10 over, in the open bits, is asking for a ticket.  

[FJR_Jim]

Yep, that makes much more sense though I never thought of Boyd's Corner Road as being in Middletown which contributed to my confusion.

Yeah, it must be the outskirts of Middletown. My sister lives right there near the airport that is there and hs has a Middletown address. Ny floks live closer to the center of Middletown a few miles down 301. Sorry for the confusion!

[JReazor]

Sorry for the confusion!

No problem. Sometimes it doesn't take much.

[jackinthebox4]

barley mill road is just off rte 141 and it's a nice bit.
centerville road is off barley mill and it's a nice bit.

add those two roads and you really got something

[FJR_Jim]

Ran Route 9 this weekend and got a good scare from the county police set-up with radar in Port Penn. I looked at the speedo and I was doing nearly 40 in the posted 25MPH. Whew!

[JReazor]

Ran Route 9 this weekend and got a good scare from the county police set-up with radar in Port Penn. I looked at the speedo and I was doing nearly 40 in the posted 25MPH. Whew!

I passed an FJR on RT 9 in Port Penn on Saturday afternoon. Don't know what time it was but I was headed north out of town while he was headed south.

[exo5]

RT 100 is a great ride. Goes from 141 through rt 1 in PA. I rode it today. Very fun and remote. very little traffic.  

[02Tac]

I have done Rt1 in the cage when going up to West Chester.  Have not had the chance to do it on the bike yet, but I am sure it will be fun.

[chornbe]

I have done Rt1 in the cage when going up to West Chester.  Have not had the chance to do it on the bike yet, but I am sure it will be fun.

I trust you mean 100, not 1. If so, then you're only minutes from the local favorite, Rt. 82 between Delaware and Kennett Square. Very fun section of road.

[02Tac]

I did mean 100.  I am down in the Dover area, but next time I am up that way on the bike I will ck out 82.  Thanks for the tip.

[chornbe]

Holler for me if so.  

[FJR_Jim]

I trust you mean 100, not 1. If so, then you're only minutes from the local favorite, Rt. 82 between Delaware and Kennett Square. Very fun section of road.

I stumbled onto 82 awhile back while blindly following my GPS. Great road!!