This is a Lynn Kristianson route first ridden by the club in 2010. While the first day hasn't changed much over the years, the second day has. This year the second day returns to something like the original trip north to Maryland, but without all the climbing on the Maryland side of the river. Instead, riders will travel from Point of Rocks to Brunswick on the very flat C&O Canal Towpath, so bring your fat tires if you have them.
Starting from the Holiday Inn Express Warrenton, riders head south and west, down to Griffinsburg where the route turns south into Madison County down to Somerset. From there we head west for many miles on 609/Scuffletown Rd with wonderful Blue Ridge views and moderate terrain, to a control in Dyke. From there we ride the very scenic 810 through the foothills in Greene and Albemarle counties.
After Dyke, the terrain gets a little more hilly through Crozet and down toward the James River. Brown’s Store at about the 200 kilometer point may provide welcome relief as riders near the turning point of the route a little southwest of Scottsville.Moving east from the mountains, the terrain moderates through Fluvanna and Louisa counties. After a possible dinner stop in Louisa, the route heads NNW toward a control in Orange.
The route out of Orange passes through Rapidan and then turns east on fully paved roads to the familiar Algoquin Trail. Bypassing the narrow, dark roads around Kelly’s Ford, the route heads north to Brandy Station and then east to Remington. Crossing US15, 29 and 17 a number of times, riders return to Warrenton from the southeast.