Throttle, Towns, and Thin Crust: Riding with Uncle Beardly

Cinomod Retsbew
Mar 21
3 min read

Severn, MD ➝ Harpers Ferry ➝ Charlestown ➝ Williamsport, MD | A solid day of backroads, good food, no regrets, and an appreciation for mesh jackets.

Some rides are about clearing your head. Others are just about chasing good food and cold drinks. This one? A bit of both—with the added bonus of riding alongside Uncle Beardly (Terry), who used to have a beard worthy of its own GPS tracker and Instagram following. These days, he’s working on the comeback tour—beard 2.0 is in progress.

We took off from Severn, Maryland, aiming for a mix of scenic roads, small towns, and a lunch spot that could justify sweating through our jackets. Mission accomplished.

Backroads > Highways

We ditched the highways early, sticking to two-lane roads that delivered just the right mix of curves, cornfields, and “I wonder if this is still Maryland?” moments. The scenery gave us open farmland, rolling hills, and small towns that look like they haven’t changed since payphones were still a thing. At one point, I think we passed a llama farm. Or a very weirdly shaped goat. Either way, it was a vibe.

Quick Stops: Harpers Ferry & Charlestown

Harpers Ferry was our first real stop. It’s historic and charming, but we didn’t linger—we were on a mission for nothing. A quick stretch, a water bottle chug, and a few jokes about Terry's beard collecting more wind resistance than my saddlebags. ( we didn't really say that, but the muse was upon me)

We dropped into Charlestown next. No casinos this time. Just a ride through to see the sights and keep the breeze flowing through our mesh jackets.

Destination Delicious: Cushwa Brewing & Rad Pies

Eventually, we rolled into Williamsport, Maryland, looking like two microwaved versions of ourselves. But it was all worth it once we hit Cushwa Brewing Company and Rad Pies.

Let’s break this down:

Rad Pies served exactly what the name promised. Thin crust, delicious toppings, and that perfect balance of crunchy and chewy. I didn’t even care that I was sweating like a linebacker in August—I was too busy inhaling that slice.
Cushwa Brewing came through with exactly what we needed to cool down. I went for a dark beer—smooth, roasty, and slightly sweet, the kind of brew that makes you sit back and reconsider your life choices in a good way. Terry grabbed a bright, hoppy IPA that smelled like citrus and confidence. We clinked glasses. Victory achieved.

Also, shout out to the staff—friendly, fast, and completely unfazed by two grubby bikers asking for “a hot pie and a cold beer, please.”

Estimated Ride Time:

Total Saddle Time: ~3 hours
Distance (round trip): ~140 miles
Road Type: 90% scenic two-lane roads, light elevation, mix of curves and open stretches

Ride Highlights:

MD-32 & MD-75 – Open farmland and light rolling hills
MD-180 – Beautiful rural stretch with occasional roadside stands
US-340 – Scenic views heading into Harpers Ferry
WV-9 to WV-51 – Easy, curvy roads through Charlestown
MD-68 into Williamsport – Relaxing finish into beer-and-pizza paradise

Final Thoughts

This wasn’t an epic journey across states—it was a laid-back loop with just the right amount of sweat, scenery, sarcasm, and snack stops. A ride that reminded me why bikes beat cars, backroads beat highways, and pizza beats everything.

Until the next round of throttle therapy—

Brake. Bite. Breathe.

– Dom

_____________________________________________

Google Maps Route Link

You can use this link to view or embed the route:Severn, MD ➝ Harpers Ferry ➝ Charlestown ➝ Williamsport ➝ Severn

(Double-check the route settings to make sure it's set to “avoid highways” for that proper two-lane road magic.)