derBayerische March/April 2022 - 9

G R E A T
Most devoted Pie Run attendees
know that this is THE PLACE to
purchase pies for Thanksgiving, but it
is so much more. Harry Black
purchased the farm in 1961 and
celebrated 60 years in business in
2021, having a stated mission of producing
high-quality, great-tasting
fruits, berries, and vegetables. Today,
the farm covers 100 acres with 70
percent devoted to orchards and the
remainder dedicated to vegetables
and other crops. Tasty apples,
peaches, cherries, nectarines, pears,
apricots, and all the different types of
berries are among the major crops
produced. In the early 1980s, the
original open-air market was closed
and the retail store with its 50 x 50
addition with heating and air conditioning
and blacktop parking was
introduced - this is the venue that
greets us every year. Over the past
few years, the farm has further
expanded by creating a playground
area for both young and old, a " cut
your own flowers " area and one of the
most popular additions, the bakery.
Besides the fresh and frozen pies,
one can select a variety of pound
cakes, apple dumplings, cookies,
crumb cakes - and apple cider
donuts. There's something for everyone,
even if you are not a pie person!
After meeting in the parking lot
and invading the Orchard upon its
P I E
R U N
X X V I
year due to an incident with a box
truck in June. It was still under
repair.
The third leg had us traverse
■ Tourmeister Steve Pera leading a group in his Porsche Cayman GT4
with navigator Michael Goedde.
9 a.m. opening, leaving just a few
items on the shelves, all the participants
gathered for a brief drivers'
meeting addressing important safety
information, and then began departing
in five-minute intervals on the
first leg of the tour.
The weather this year, with the
late changing of the season, meant
that we were treated to some spectacular
scenery. The fall colors were
much more vibrant than in past Pie
Runs; I cannot recall one where the
colors were only just past their peak
this close to Thanksgiving. Speaking
of weather - those with summer tires
probably left home with temps
around freezing and were hoping that
the mercury would soon rise. At the
start, all was ok (at 41 degrees) and it
gradually warmed up to a reasonable
fall temperature at our destination.
On the first leg of the tour, we
drove over two of the three Frederick
County covered bridges: Roddy
Road and Loy's Station. The tour
included many other scenic
uncovered bridges, including the
Four Points and Sixes crossings.
On Saturday, it began to rain
lightly at our first stop at Loys
Station, and then it picked up until it
suddenly cleared about 30 minutes
before lunch. The second leg was a
short 25-minute journey crossing the
LeGore Bridge, with a stop at Utica
Park as a regroup/final bio-break
point before lunch. The third
Frederick County covered bridge
(Utica) could not be negotiated this
Gambrills Park by going up
Hamburg Road and then down
Highland School Road as part of the
fun. With twists and turns galore,
this very narrow segment of road is a
dream when it is not highly traveled,
and when negotiated under dry
conditions. Throw in the rain on
Saturday, with leaves covering the
road surface, and local adventurers
sharing the road, and there were
some white knuckles seen at lunch.
On Sunday, the roads dried and
the leaves scattered beautifully. One
only leg of the trip had traffic with
which to contend. The third leg also
featured the sole traffic signal of the
entire tour, and all groups but one
made it through together!
After what many said was the
best Pie Run route ever, most stayed
to enjoy lunch at the Bavarian Inn,
reached after crossing the final
bridge of the day, in Wild and
Wonderful West Virginia. On
Sunday, we called off the search
party for the Blue group as they
arrived intact a few minutes after the
group that started behind them.
The Bavarian Inn got the nod
this year as part of our rotation of fine
German restaurants frequented on
the Pie Run. For more than 40 years,
the Asam family has been managing
the inn, on its 11 acres, sitting atop
a promontory overlooking the
Potomac River. The inn is inspired
by boutique European resorts,
offering guests outstanding accommodations,
food and service. Lunch
this year was in the dedicated
Brewpub room and a limited menu
was on offer to our large group
each day.
Keep your eye out for
announcements for the Pie Run in
2022. You won't want to miss it!
■ The pre-tour meeting at Catoctin
Mountain Orchard.
March I April
9
http://www.catoctinmountainorchard.com/
derBayerische March/April 2022

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