C&O Canal Ride


After an early morning errand in Takoma Park, MD, I hopped onto the C&O Canal towpath at Caderock, MD for a bike ride.
At 8:30 AM, it was sprinkling just a bit, but the towpath is hard packed through this section, so it was a pretty easy to ride from mile 11 to mile 23.
Just after Seneca Creek Aqueduct (where I saw these turkey buzzards) it was obvious that this area had been hit with a bigger storm, and the towpath was wet and muddy. So, for the next 8 miles out, and 8 miles back, I was splattered with mud. It was a blast!!
Besides the turkey buzzards, I saw three herons and a black squirrel with a red tail.

Mount Vernon Trail

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Round trip on the Mount Vernon Trail after dropping Roger off at the airport at 6 AM. Started at Roosevelt Island. Busy through Belle Haven with all the training groups out. Got more authoritative with my “Passing” as I went along. Very enjoyable. Fifteen minutes faster than the other time I tried this in July 2005.
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The pictures are a view across the Potomac River just before 6:30 AM, a sampling of the mural near the industrial plant coming into Alexandria City, and me at the halfway point.

Three AmiGals

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From the left: Valerie, Peggy, and Kris before the DC Diet adventure race. The event was unsupported, no fee, no awards, etc., but an excellent time was had by all! My only complaint was that it was advertised as around 29 miles, but it actually was closer to 40, though 2 of the miles were on the metro train. We covered the distance on foot, canoe, bike, and metro.

Mount Vernon Bike Trail

bike trail 01I headed out early on Sunday morning to cycle the length of the Mount Vernon bike trail which runs along the George Washington Memorial Parkway. I parked at Roosevelt Island. I was amused by these idiots who parked their car with their bikes hanging over half of the trail.

planeWhen I was approaching Reagan National Airport, I whipped out my camera and held it up to try to get a picture of the plane. This is what I got – the plane flying off the corner of the frame. Though a bit blurry, I was tickled with the results.

powerplantI never knew this power plant was on the edge of Alexandria City. I thought the elbows coming out the side of the building and down to the bike trail were cool. The trail was right next to the Potomac River here, one of several places in the 17 miles.

oldtownThe ride through Old Town Alexandria is along Union Street. These flowers caught my eye on the way by. The trail goes to Jones Point next, where there is a dog park, which I briefly visited because the signs indicate there is a detour through there…no trail, just dogs. Backtracked…

marsh This marsh is in the Belle Haven area of Fairfax County. There is a really long wooden bridge which crosses over the area. These bridges are probably my least favorite part of the trip since they can be slippery. From Belle Haven, the trail gets curvier, hillier, but shadier.

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I made it to Mount Vernon after climbing a killer hill – long and straight up. At least it seemed that way after 17 miles. I had to stop twice to get all the way up it. Upon reaching the end of the trail, I rode around the circle in front of the mansion and then headed back the way I came – minus the dog park detour…

Riding the T-rails

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On Sunday, I went out my door (almost literally) to the W&OD bike trail for my longest ride since high school – 31 miles. The W&OD is along an old railroad bed. The trail is very urban here – lots of road crossings, and people biking, running, and walking.

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A lily pond in Arlington County.

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A firetruck being cleaned in the City of Falls Church.

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The view going over I66 in Fairfax County.

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A train mural in the Town of Vienna.