Virginia Beach Bike Ride 12/16/14

The bike trip through North Central Virginia Beach on December 16th 2014 was slated to start at 9:30 am but we actually didn’t leave due to some late arrivals until around 10:00am. There were 60 turns on the queue sheet that was provided by the trip leader and if someone started late they may never have caught up with the group. Seventeen hearty souls head out from the Virginia Beach Library on a chilly morning with the leader and the sweep familiar with the area. The temperature at the start of the ride was around 48 degrees and eventually warmed up into the mid to upper fifties. Using Stephaney Lane & Seaman Rd we rode east of Edinburgh Drive crossing Caren Rd, Little Neck Rd, North Lynnhaven Rd, and Kings Grant Rd to the subdivision (sub) of Lynnhaven Acres. Then talking Watergate Drive & Kings Grant Rd we headed north to Little Neck Rd. Heading north on Little Neck Rd it narrows after about a quarter of a mile from a dual divided road to a regular road and there we jumped on the bike path that parallels the road. At Middle Plantation Reach we headed into Middle Planation sub coming out on Harris Rd and heading east. At the end of Harris Rd we stopped for a rest before turning around heading west then at Lamorelle Ln we turned right entering the Lynnwood sub heading north. We emerged back on the bike path at Little Neck Rd heading north until the intersection at North Little Neck Rd in the Lynnfield sub. We headed east to the end then we started to head west when Bruce decided to see if he remembered a house he had been to years earlier. The whole group followed a short distance down a road before he disappeared down a drive way. As the group waited there was socializing and some of the group started exploring other roads in the area. The good thing was that everyone would have to pass my location before getting back to North Little Neck Rd so all I had to do was wait for everyone to return before continuing with the bike ride. We started again heading west on North Little Neck Rd and rode to the other end before turning around. At Little Neck Road we turned right heading south on Little Neck Rd with some taking the bike path and others riding on the street since Little Neck Rd is narrow & is heavily traveled by contractor vehicles. At Greenpine Ln we turned off Little Neck Rd and entered Middle Planation Hill sub heading west eventually coming to Oxford Drive near the Kings Grant Landing Apartments. Heading south on Oxford Drive at the roundabout we got onto Kings Grant Rd riding to almost the end before turning around and heading east back to the roundabout. At the roundabout we headed south on Oxford Drive making a right onto Little Neck Rd and turning right at Seahorse Way going into the Groveland Park sub of Virginia Beach. From Seahorse Way to Seagull Rd to Royal Palm Drive to Royal Palm Arch to Catalina Ave before making a right on Virginius Drive. We then made a left on Sweeney Rd and a right back onto Edinburgh Drive heading west crossing Caren Drive. At Lynnshores Drive we made a right heading north again to Crab Tree Lane, then another right on Thalia Drive, and another right on Shadow Lane heading east. From Shadow Lane we made a left turn onto Pine Tree Drive heading north then a left turn onto Thalia Drive heading south. At Thalia Rd we made a right turn and at Thalia Point Rd we made another right turn then rode to the end just before the little island. Turning around we headed back crossing Thalia Rd close to the Steinhilber’s restaurant and then turned left on Cedar Lane in the Thalia Acres sub of Virginia Beach. From Cedar lane we made a left onto Etheridge Ave, a right on to Lynnville Crescent, a right on Thalia Rd and an immediate left onto Edinburgh Drive. Heading east again we made a right onto Robbins Lane, a left onto Rundel Lane, a right on Kirkwood Lane, a left onto Rumford Lane, and a right onto Lynnshores Drive where we headed back to the Virginia Beach Public Library using Seaman Rd & Stephaney Lane. In total we rode 23 miles and everyone returned except for Ed who had been dropped at the start of the bike trip by his wife and he rode back to Ghent via Virginia Beach Blvd. After the ride twelve of us ate lunch at the Bangkok Garden (Thai) restaurant in Loehmanns Plaza across from the Virginia Beach Public Library and during lunch we got confirmation that Ed made it home safely.

Steve