Eastern Shore / Ed Irmler Memorial Skate

Saturday, October 23, 2021 @ 11:00 AM
(Rain date is Sunday, October 24, 2021)

Please join Washington Area Roadskaters for our 23rd annual “So Long to Summer” Eastern Shore Skate. This year's event has a plot twist. The ferry is closed until 2022. It's at the shipyard for Coast Guard inspection and restoration.

The roads are flat, have mostly excellent pavement, and have wide bike lanes. We plan to skate at an intermediate pace with two planned rest stops (bathrooms and refreshments available, subject to evolving pandemic-related restrictions).

We will also have a couple of regroup points for people to catch up. If you aren’t up for skating, you’re welcome to join us on a bike.


MEETING PLACE?

The skate will start at 11 AM from the municipal parking lot on the Corner of Talbot and Mill Streets in St. Michaels, MD. (If the lot is full, additional parking is available farther down Mill Street)

Google Map Directions to the start of the skate:

http://bit.ly/cZfEvn


Apres Skate

Our post-skate meal will be a carry-out picnic in the Municipal Parking Lot. Area restaurants are not able to accommodate groups of our size, due to distancing requirements.

Our traditional restaurant, Ava's Pizzeria & Wine Bar, is offering carry-out. You may place your order days in advance, or you may wait until the day of (though note that Ava's opens at 11:30 AM, after our skate will have started). Please estimate a pick-up time of 3:30 PM, and I'll call Ava's en route if it looks like our ETA will be significantly earlier or later.

Ava's is at 409 S. Talbot Street, St. Michael's, MD 21663, only a few blocks from our parking lot. Click here or call 410-745-3081 to order.


WHAT TO BRING?

  • A mask. (if needed for restaurants or rest stops or for skating in pacelines).

  • Water or energy drinks. Opportunities to purchase are about 10 miles apart. this isn’t DC, folks!

  • Money for the Bay Bridge toll, the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, and dinner.

  • A fleece or windbreaker. It's usually windy on the Eastern Shore.

  • Change of clothes for dinner. You’ll appreciate the warm/dry clothing.

LOOKS LIKE RAIN?

Our rain date is the next day, Sunday. If the weather looks bad or questionable, look for an update on the Facebook event. Let's focus event discussion here, to reduce confusion (especially on event day) as to where to post and look.


RSVPs encouraged:

RSVP on Meetup

RSVP on Facebook

Traditional Route Cue Sheet (for reference in selecting turnaround for out-and-back)

  1. Start from corner of Talbot St. and Mill St. in St. Michaels, MD

  2. L (S on) Route 33 (N. Talbot St) 8 miles

  3. RGP after passing Rt. 370 (Unionville Rd/Old Bloomfield Rd):Carroll's Market at Exxon Mobil (our first rest stop, at 27748 Saint Michaels Rd)

  4. Continue E on Rt 33 (St. Michaels Rd) 1.5 miles

  5. R Route 322 (Easton Pkwy) 1.5 miles

  6. R Route 333 (Oxford Rd) 9 miles

  7. RGP just before High St in Oxford:Oxford Convenience Market (our second rest stop, at 203 S Morris Street)

  8. Continue NW on Oxford Rd to Tred Avon River

-Ferry stop (2021 Turn Around point)------------------------

  1. Oxford-Bellevue Ferry over the Tred Avon River The ferry is at 27456 Oxford Road. There are crossings every 15 – 20 minutes, with each crossing taking 7 – 10 minutes. $4 for skaters, $5 for bikes. See http://www.oxfordbellevueferry.com/

  2. Continue on Bellevue Rd 3 miles

  3. L Route 329 (Royal Oak Rd) 1 mile

  4. L Route 33 (St. Michaels Rd) 3.5 miles

  5. R Mill St

  6. End at the starting point, by the parking lot.

Ed Irmler

One more thing: This skate is a continuing memorial...

"For those who didn't skate with Ed Irmler, he led the St Michael's skate, led every year, and it continues in honor of him. Ed was killed while cycling in MD by a motorist who ran a stop sign. Those who've been with WAR for years miss Ed very much and remember him for the phenomenal friend, skate leader, and person he was. It's so wonderful that WAR continues to honor him with this skate." -- Meg Peters

"Ed was one of the first skaters in WAR I met. I can honestly say I can call him a mentor in the regards of street skating. He knew how to have fun but was smart about it too. I had the fortune of teaming with him and his wife on one of the CAM triathlons and i still cherish and remember that day. He was truly a great human, skater, and inspiration. Ed, we miss you." -- Chuck Opperman

Cue Sheet from the first year (1999)