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Maryland Spring Covered Bridge Tour & lunch at Kountry Kitchen
On Sunday, May 5th ODCC will take a relaxed drive up Route 15 to the Thurmont, MD area, driving through the Utica Mills, Loy's Station, and Roddy Road covered bridges. We've done these bridges in the fall, and it's such a nice scenic drive we're going to do it in the Spring, too. Following that, we'll take a short drive to the Thurmont Kountry Kitchen for lunch. The club made an unplanned stop there last October and the restaurant welcomed the nearly 30 of us with open arms. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed very good food from an extensive menu.
NOTE: Seating at the restaurant is limited to 28 people. Please register ASAP, and if there will be two of you in the car please register both. Once 28 registrations are reached, there will be a waiting list. If anyone drops out, we'll notify the next person on that list.
We will meet at the Chick-Fil-A in Leesburg at 9:30 am, have a short drivers meeting and leave promptly at 9:45 am. for the drive to Utica Mills covered bridge, then on through 2 other bridges to the restaurant. Total driving time to reach Kountry Kitchen is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Please be on time.
Since it's difficult to keep everyone together through the traffic lights on Rt 15 in Virginia, we'll make a quick stop at the Frederick County Park and Ride off Rt15 at Mt. Zion Rd. It's an easy off-on from Rt. 15.
We've identified some nice scenic, Corvette friendly back roads between Rt 15 and the bridges so this should be a very enjoyable day. This will be an easy relaxed cruise, not a blitz like some other trips have been.
Lessons learned from prior events: There will be NO crossings of, or left turns onto, Route 15. Once we leave the highway to head to the first bridge, we won't see it again until the drive home.
A Google Maps link for the route can be found here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3ZNuJg3g6esosxD47
We urge you to download it to your phone. If you have an iPhone, you can install Google Maps from the App Store and download this route.
A map of the route after we cross into Maryland is shown below.
Utica Mills covered bridge
The original Utica Mills covered bridge was built in 1843, and crossed the Monocacy River, but was badly damaged by the same storm that caused the great Johnstown Flood. The remains were gathered by locals and the 101 foot span was rebuilt in the current location over Fishing Creek.
After passing through that bridge we'll continue on Utica Rd, Hessong Bridge Rd, Black's Mill Rd and Old Frederick Rd (If you came last fall, you'll recognize those) to Loy's Station covered bridge.
Loy's Station covered bridge
Ninety feet long, the original dates to 1848 and crosses Owens Creek The original was badly damaged in 1991 when a pickup truck was set on fire while in the bridge as part of an insurance fraud scheme. It was rebuilt, and reopened to traffic in 1994.
Well then head to Rocky Ridge Rd and the Roddy Road covered bridge.
Roddy Road covered bridge
Built in 1856, and the smallest of Frederick county's covered bridges at 40 feet, it also crosses Owens Creek.
From here, we'll proceed to the Thurmont Kountry Kitchen for lunch in a room reserved just for us.
We look forward to seeing many of you there.
Registration is required
Registration cancellations will be accepted
Attendees pay for their own charges