For those of you that might be familiar with the Laytonsville Loop there is a major detour now that effects the cue sheets for this ride. When you come from Sunshine Road and make a left onto Howard Chapel Road you will see construction signs telling about a detour around the bridge that connects Howard Chapel Road to Jennings Chapel Road going through Patuxent River State Park via the bridge.

I went down to the bridge anyway thinking I could portage across. The road is 2 miles from Damascus road and once I got there I discovered there is no bridge to be found, heavy machinery and pilings of what look like a new and improved bridge to come. Signs say reopening is due in September of 2002. Riding back out of the park I made a right onto Elton farm road. This road winds back down into the park only to turn into a gravel road. Not recommended for road bikes from our ride in Myersville last year.

If you ride back up Howard Chapel road to Damascus Road, this is where they tell you to detour. However making a left on Damascus road takes you to Georgia Ave. (Rt. 97) and then you will have to make a left heading north on Georgia Ave which doesn't provide a safe shoulder to ride on and is a high speed driven road. You take Georgia Ave north until you make the left onto Jennings Chapel by-passing the bridge.

Instead I made the right onto Damascus road and was able to pick up the Laytonsville Loop via Griffith road and continue on to Rt. 108.

Steve