Shepherdstown Loop

RANSON, WEST VIRGINIA

A windy day with temperatures in the 70s. I left Ranson and rode on Flowing Springs Road.

Bad roads come in different shapes and sizes and this is a bad road. It’s a two-lane country road with blind curves and no shoulders. A safe speed may be 45 mph but this is signed for 55 and the cars probably do 60-65. I would not recommend riding this road again. There must be a better way.

Rolling into Shepherdstown and I thought how much money I spent here. Eight years’ of college tuition payments for Bethany and Ashley. It is a lovely Civil War era town but goes back to the founding of the country when some lawmakers pushed for Shepherdstown to be the Nation’s Capital.

I followed country roads past Cress Creek golf club and the doubled back to Martinsburg.

Leaving Martinsburg, I took the bike path back to Ranson. The new Rte 9 recently opened the entire way from Charles Town to Martinsburg and features a bike path that parallels it. I was alone.

It was windy and after the ride, I felt whipped. But it was a day on the bike which beats a day on the sofa.

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