CYCLING SANCTUARY - Spokes Magazine

SANCTUARY continued from p.9
Photo: Bill Thompson
Photo: Bill Thompson
Beletsky, himself, keeps it interesting by varying the
routes, biking into different areas such as out towards
Vienna, or over to the Neck District (which is north,
towards the Bay), or Ragged Point (below the Neck
District and west).
The Dorchester County Tourism Office offers a
cycling brochure showing all these areas and suggested
routes for each. Most of the rides are posed
as out-and-backs, but the map shows how easily they
could be combined.
Assistant Director Fisher says they’ve been overwhelmed
by the response to it, noting it’s their most
requested brochure. Like Beletsky, Fisher also mentions
other attractions along routes, like Spocott
Windmill on Rt. 343, heading out towards the
Neck District, and Old Trinity Church. Constructed
sometime before 1692, it’s thought to be the oldest
Episcopal Church and is a nice stop on the way out to
Taylor’s Island. Bike even further south to Hooper’s
Island and you’ll be treated to spectacular bay views
while cycling through small fishing villages and towns.
Says Betsy LaPadula, “It is quite something to see the
lifestyle of the watermen of in this region.”
Wherever your biking preference, the perfect hub
for any weekend in the area would be Cambridge.
This small town is going through a huge revitalization
with new restaurants and stores opening “almost
every week it seems,” says Fisher. One of the newer
restaurants, Bella Luna is already attracting a lot of
attention and rave reviews (the pasta with sausage
and sun-dried tomato is a real winner). It joins the
Bistro Poplar, a French restaurant which just made
Chesapeake Life magazine’s list of top 20 restaurants.
For a hopping nightspot with live music, there’s
Jimmie & Sook’s, and if water views are your thing,
Portside and Snapper’s won’t disappoint.
For off-the-bike entertainment try strolling along
Cambridge’s historic High Street, popping into one of
its five art galleries, antique stores, or any handful of
other shops and boutiques ranging from the eclectic
(Pear Tree South) to the hip (Sunnyside). For accommodations,
the Holiday Inn Express and the Hyatt
Regency are just a few minutes drive from the downtown
area, but if you want a four-post B&B experience,
the stately elegance of the Victorian Mill Street
Inn would certainly satisfy.
If biking the pristine and historic area isn’t enough of
a reason to visit, Fisher reminds that “there’s a lot to
look forward to” and a visit to the website (www.tourdorchester.org)
will fill you in on all of the county’s
upcoming events—the Taste of Cambridge in July,
the Seafood Festival in August, the Native American
Festival in September, and the Kite Festival in October
to name just a few.
Ride with Professional Cyclist, Floyd Landis!
Save-A-Limb Ride
Metric Century – 30 Mile – 6 Mile Family Fun Ride
Benefits the
Save-A-Limb Foundation
Register Online Today!
www.savealimbride.org
Photo: Bill Thompson
Sunday – September 13, 2009 – 8:00am – 2:00pm
Oregon Ridge Park – Hunt Valley, MD
Picnic, Fitness Fair, Kid’s Carnival & Fun
FREE
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8 June 2009