SCHEDULE

Join this popular tour for four days in July, or just ride for the weekend. Whichever, you choose you will want to be ready on the morning of Saturday, July 11th when charter buses transport the entire group to Cumberland for the start of this great adventure, but be warned... This event may become habit forming!

Friday Evening - 4 pm to 7 pm
Come join us for dinner! Bring your bike and plan to register early

To help us keep things moving smoothly on Saturday morning we have planned to offer you dinner and an opportunity to register the night before. By bringing your bike along it will help us get much of the loading done and cut down on the many tasks that need to be completed before we leave the next day. You are welcome to bring along a guest or two to join you!

Saturday - Day One
45.5 Miles Cumberland Train Station (Mile 184.5) to Little Orleans (Mile 140)

This day starts at San Mar in Boonsboro where we will meet and go by bus to Cumberland. We will begin our ride at the Cumberland Train Station where the Cumberland Rotary will have our bikes unloaded and waiting for us. The highlight of this ride comes after lunch when we will ride through the Paw Paw Tunnel. Actually, it is probably safer to walk through. You may want a light! When you arrive at Little Orleans you will exit the towpath. The campground is approximately one mile from the trail. You can ride to the camp, however, there is a fairly challenging hill waiting for you. If you prefer not to deal with the hill you can load your bike in a waiting truck and ride the van to the camp where your gear will be waiting for you. If you are staying in a hotel this night you can change into your swimming suit (there is a shower house to change in) and spend some time by the pool. We eat at five in the pavilion above the pool. The shuttle will not be leaving for the hotel until after dinner.

Sunday - Day Two
52.9 Miles or 58.9 Miles Little Orleans (Mile 140) to McMahon’s Mill (Mile 88.10)

Breakfast is in the pavilion. Please don’t leave until after the group eats breakfast. This day will go quickly and you will pass the rest stops before we can get them in place if you leave early. Please use CAUTION when leaving camp and going down the hill that challenged you the day before. Once you get onto the trail you will only go about a mile before you are faced with the option of moving over to the rails to trails section or continuing on the towpath. The alternative is paved for 22 miles. When you reach Hancock note that the rest stop is down by the river. We will have a sign reminding you. Just keep in mind you can’t see it from the trail. The rest stop is sponsored by the Hancock Lions. When you get to the lunch stop do not exit the trail until you come to the place where the trail is actually wide enough to drive a car down. Exiting earlier may be dangerous as it is quite steep. Lunch is provided by the Hagerstown Lions Club. The next rest stop is just past the Cushwa Basin in Williamsport [mile 99]. You will see it from the path. After that stop you will go to McMahon’s Mill where [88] where you will have the choice to ride to the campground [about six miles over fairly flat road] or ride in the van. If you ride your bike you will receive an EXTRA MILER patch that evening at dinner. Dinner is at five in the pavilion. If you are riding for the weekend you can have your friends pick you up at the campground. There may be a fee for them to get in if you don’t meet them at the entrance. If you need a ride back to your car we will be going over after dinner. Rides to the hotel will be both - before and after dinner. Please note that dinner is catered and we are being charged for it. If you have anyone join you there will be a $10 charge for them to stay for the meal. It can be paid when they go through the line. Actually, you will be given a wristband. Anyone not wearing a wristband will be charged.

Monday - Day Three
43.1 Miles or 51.1 Miles Big Slackwater (Mile 85.4) to Monocacy Aqueduct (42.3)

Since a section of the trail was destroyed by Hurricane Agnes in 1972 and never restored we will begin the day from the parking lot at Big Slackwater [85.4]. Breakfast is in the pavilion. In the morning you will have the option of riding from the campground to the river. It is about an 8-mile trip over fairly level roads. Note – on some roads there tends to be considerable traffic at that time of the morning with limited shoulders. For those opting not to ride bikes to the river we will have school buses available to transport you. Note: We will be staying in different hotels tonight than we have in the past. If you have preferences as to who you wish to stay with [or near] let Top Dog know well in advance of the tour as reservations must be sent to the hotel prior to the trip. Also, we will be sending all of the camping gear back to San Mar. If you are planning on having someone pick you up in Georgetown you will need to keep your gear with you. The breaks and lunch today will be courtesy of the Boonsboro Lions Club. When you arrive at the Monocacy Aqueduct we will have the vehicles waiting for you just past the aqueduct. We will meet you in the parking lot with our trucks and load the bikes for you. You will be given your room key at that time, or your room number and instructions for checking in. You may leave for the hotel as soon as there is space available on the bus or van. There should be plenty of transportation to the hotels so you need not hurry. Dinner is at 5 at the Courtyard Hotel. We will be having a cookout. We will be using two hotels, located next to each other. If you are not at the Courtyard you are invited to come over at 5:00 for dinner. Massage therapists will be at the hotels. You must sign up for sessions. There will be a hospitality room at one or both of the hotels. That announcement will be made at breakfast that morning.

Tuesday - Day Four
42.1 Miles Monocacy Aqueduct (42.1) to Georgetown (Mile 0)

Breakfast will be in your hotel. The buses will meet you in front of the hotel by 8:00. Your bikes will be waiting for you at the aqueduct parking lot. We will have a rest stop at Seneca and lunch at Great Falls as in previous years. We want to leave the Falls as a group so please do not leave early. You will arrive in Georgetown before everyone else and risk missing the bus. It has happened! In Georgetown we will board charter buses forthe return ride to San Mar where you will sign the official register as a member of the 2009 Dog Team! If you are being picked up in Georgetown you can have your friends meet you on Water Street (and the corner of Wisconsin) at 2 pm beneath the Whitehurst Parkway.