By pure dumb luck (misinterpreting a road sign and taking the wrong turn) I came across a low hassle route down to Sandgates, MD. I believe it is shorter in time and distance than going down route 4 (if you're coming from the north) and across the bridge at Solomons, and shorter in time and much less hassle from the route 5 way down if you're coming from the south. Take route 5 off the Beltway south towards Waldorf. Roughly twelve miles and before Waldorf, turn left on route 381 for Brandywine. Follow this good country road until it terminates at route 231 at a "T" in Patuxent "City". Turn right on 231 for two miles until it rejoins route 5 at Hughsville. Then follow 5 and 235 as previous directions have indicated. Instead of heavy traffic, many big trucks, and multiple traffic lights, this route (381/231 portion) has not a single stop sign and only one traffic light (at route 301). There was virtually no traffic and I was on the Beltway 50 minutes after pulling out of the parking lot at the Seabreeze restaurant in Sandgates. The distance was 43 miles. Incidentally, the Kelper had been fed so well on high grade donated oysters, that it was not interested in doing anything but preening, bathing and sleeping, during the period I watched it (11:15- 12:45). I made what may be good photos with a 600mm from almost minimum focus length in good diffused light. At least they looked good through the viewfinder! Bob Mumford Darnestown