Welcome to the Seventh Annual Ride The Ridges!
I suppose you wonder why I chose to start the bike tour in St. Marys, West Virginia. St. Marys is a nice little town and in some ways is still caught up in the past. It is a place where you do not need to be afraid to walk the streets at night or to leave your door unlocked. Unlike the big cities, this is a town where everybody says hello and people are genuinely interested in you!

You are welcome to arrive Friday afternoon and pitch your tent on the beautiful lawn over looking the Ohio River at the St. Marys Marina. You may also choose to stay in one of the many hotels in Marietta or stay in the hotel at St. Marys. The marina is a twenty minute scenic drive from Marietta.

Pre-registered riders can arrive Saturday from 7:30 AM until 8:30 AM at the marina. Spice Cake will be serving up the legendary sausage and pancake breakfast by Chris Cakes, originators of the flying flapjacks. A hearty homemade lunch with lots of baked goodies will be served at the Conaway Run Lake about 30 miles into the ride. We'll cycle on winding country lanes, pass streams, farms, woods and century old towns. Spring is still in the air as we cycle through the valleys and over the ridges. Be sure to stop and smell all the wildflowers, bachelor's button, wallflower, blanket flower, foxglove and Bishop's flower just to name a few. The vibrant colors of azaleas, rhododendrons, red buds, dog woods, crab apples and cherry trees will be gorgeous this time of the year. The 55 mile route will bring us into Sistersville, West Virginia.


Sam and Jane Crowther