The Ninth Annual

GREENCASTLE GREAT ESCAPE

June 9 - 11, 2023

Come to Greencastle, Pennsylvania the weekend of June 9 -11 for one, two or three days of great cycling in the valleys of south central Pennsylvania.

This year there are a few changes from previous Great Escapes.  While on Friday and Sunday we'll be starting from our traditional ride start at Antrim Township Community Park -- and you'll still be able to choose from the same great selection of 20 or more rides -- on Saturday, we'll be starting from Cowans Gap State Park, about a 30-minute drive from where most riders will be staying.

From Cowans Gap there will be a couple of rides north to the twin boroughs of Orbisonia/Rockhill Furnace and the historic East Broad Top Railroad, the only surviving narrow-gauge railroad east of the Rocky Mountains, and the Rockhill Trolley Museum.  A trip to the EBT will be especially exciting this year, because steam is back!  Old No. 16, a 2-8-2 Mikado built in 1916, has been completely restored.  Here it is on its first tourist run Saturday, February 18:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X706rc94rmc.  There will also be scenic rides to the Shade and upper Path Valleys (which can be combined with EBT rides), as well shorter jaunts to Burnt Cabins and Shade Gap.  And, despite the way it looks on the map, these rides are mostly rolling, not hilly.

Start times for the rides will be 9:30 a.m. Friday from Antrim Township Park (where we will be parking in Lot #10 at the north end of the park), 8:30 a.m. Saturday from Cowans Gap State Park, and 8:30 a.m. Sunday from Antrim Township Park.  Rides are leaderless and without SAG support, and participants must sign liability waivers at the start of each ride, just as they would if they were going on a normal BBC weekend ride.

Some evening social functions are being planned.  On Friday evening there will be an informal gathering at Brother's Pizza, adjacent to the Comfort Inn, and on Saturday the group will get together for a more formal dinner (probably at the John Allison Public House or B Street 104, whichever one can best accommodate our group).  And, we may be able sneak in a happy hour at Hidden Key Brewing Co., Greencastle's new brew pub.

Another (slight) change this year is in where most of us will be staying.  The club has reserved a block of rooms at the Comfort Inn across from I-81 Exit 3, although by June 9 it will likely be a Holiday Inn Express.  Because the motel is in the midst of a transition, on-line reservations cannot be made at this time.  Instead, participants can book a room with either a single king-size bed for $119 per night, or two queen-size beds for $121 per night (plus tax) by calling the motel's front desk at 717-597-8164 and identifying themselves as members of the Baltimore Bicycling Club.  These rates will also apply for those who wish to arrive a day earlier or stay an extra day.  Rooms will be held until May 26, and reservations can be canceled without penalty up to 72 hours before the scheduled check-in.  Each room has a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, television with HBO and pay-per-view, and free Wi-Fi.  A complimentary breakfast is included.

If you are unable to get a room at the Comfort Inn – or if you just want to save a few dollars – the

Super 8 on PA 16 just east of Exit 5 offers the same amenities, including a free breakfast, but has smaller rooms and lower rates.  The Castle Motel (NOT the Castle Green Motel) on US 11 just north of town offers a CLEAN room with all the amenities offered by the other two motels, minus the free breakfast, for a very low rate (which used to be around $35 per night).  However, according to one recent reviewer, the motel now only rents units by the week.  There are also plenty of motels just off of I-81 in Hagerstown and Chambersburg, as well as a couple of bed-and-breakfasts in Greencastle and nearby towns.

For more information, contact Phil Manger at phil.manger@gmail.com or 717-643-1575.

Click HERE for a downloadable registration form.