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This ride is a living Memorial to Dave Keuch, a kind and gentle man who always had a great smile and was greatly loved by his fellow riders and friends. Dave knew the great motorcycle roads of Maryland and Pennsylvania like the back of his hand, and this loop covers some of his favorites. Dave's original loop started at his house in Comus, MD, but went right by the location of BMWBMW's Square Route Rally. I put this route together for use by folks attending the Rally so it starts there, at Camp West Mar, Thurmont, MD.

The first 2/3's of the Dave Keuch Loop are two-lane country backroads that weave and roll along and through the Maryland and Pennsylvania countryside. The ride's major stop is in Gettysburg, home to Civil War battlefields and museums, countless restaurants, galleries and shops. From Gettysburg it is a quick hop back to the Rally site (though we wouldn't let you take a 4-laner back without throwing in at least one more great backroad!) This easy 85-mile loop is quite popular for good reason!

Directions

* Turn right out of the Rally site onto Brown's Road, then a left onto Rt. 77.
* A bit less than a mile turn right onto Pleasant Valley Rd.
* A little over 3 miles you will turn right onto Sr. 491/Raven Rock Road. 491 turns into Sr. 550 as you pass Fort Richie [Warning - High Security Area, not a great place to pull over and start taking pictures].
* After about 5.5 miles on 491/550 turn left onto Monterey Lane.
* After 1 mile turn left onto Rt. 16 (Gas and convenience stores here.)
* After 2.5 Miles turn right onto Bear Trail Rd./Mentzer Gap Rd. - be watchful, this one is easy to miss!
* After about 100 yards Bear Trail Rd./Mentzer Gap Rd turns into just Mentzer Gap Rd. to the left (don't turn right here, just follow the main road to the left.)
* Follow Mentzer Gap road until a Right Turn on Old Forge.
* Old Forge Road winds through the Mont Alto State Forest and past the Waynsboro Dam (a good place to stop) and ends at a left turn on South Mountain Road.
* Follow South Mountain Road for a bit less than 2 miles to a right turn onto Rt. 233 North.
* Rt. 233 winds through the Michaux State Forest, at the Rt. 30 crossing there is a great old forge and waterfall. After 12 miles make a right onto Shippensburg Rd.
* Follow Shippensburg road for 3.7 miles to a left onto Rt. 234. This leg takes you through the fragrant Pennsylvania rolling farmlands and orchards, home to some of the finest apples this side of Washington State.
* After 6.3 miles on Rt. 234 make a right turn onto Rt. 34 south in Biglerville. Rt. 34 takes you right into Gettysburg, you will soon begin to see the signs and monuments for the great Gettysburg Civil War Battle.
* From Gettysburg, head south on Rt. 15 for about 17 miles to a right turn onto Rt. 550 North (just north of Thurmont.) For a neat 3.5-mile variation that will keep you off of the 4-lane Rt. 15 south for a while you can take Rt. 116 west out of Gettysburg - it loops around through prime Glider country to a left on Rt. 16 east (which becomes Rt. 140 in Maryland) back to Emmitsburg and Rt. 15 South.
* Follow 550 for 4.2 miles to a left onto Foxville-Deerfield Road. After about 4.5 miles you will make a right onto Rt. 77. It is then a short 1.7 mile hop to a left onto Brown's road and the Rally Site.

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Ted Verrill