Old Town to Roosevelt Island

I love the Mount Vernon Trail.

One mile and the thighs stiffen. Two miles and the endorphins kick in. And I understand the lure of the journey. The call to sailors and hitchhikers and hobos.

I ride north from Old Town. Slipping past soulless office buildings and wrought iron fences flanking the railroad siding. I skirt the power plant on a wooden bridge above the river through a steel cage and sail silently into the trees on the edge of Alexandria.

A flotilla of boats flash white sails in the bright afternoon sun through the veil of spring leaves. The whisper of bicycle tire on asphalt turns to a rude, clumsy rattle as I clatter across another bridge through swampland. Still water and old trees keep the trail cool and quiet around my rowdy interruption. Sweetness fills the air and I wonder if it's too early for honeysuckle to be in bloom.

I leave nature and the coolness for sun and traffic and concrete. I leave the Potomac at high tide for the George Washington Parkway at rush hour. Past National Airport and through Gravelly Point, where the jets swoop low on their approach bringing tourists and lobbyists to the center of the world.

Then back to the Potomac. Cruising alongside the river that hauled tobacco to England and soldiers to the wilderness when this was a small town or empty farmland.

Under the bridges, over the Humpback where I walk my bike so I don't force some poor rider headed south off the trail and into oncoming traffic.

Here are the monuments. The skyline of a city that has few buildings taller than 14 stories. Domes and spires and trees and the obelisk at its heart. Past the Memorial Bridge, built just to let Presidents get to Arlington National Cemetery and back home quickly after laying a hasty wreath for men who paid the last full measure of devotion.

Past dogwoods and dandelions, a north wind presses against me like an unseen hand, holding me back. Every stroke of the pedals seems pointless. I curse the headwind. I see a handful of wild geese leave the Potomac into the same wind, praising it. It gives them effortless altitude. They leave the water and are gone.

I race alongside a rowing crew from Georgetown. They against the current, me against the wind. We both press on to Roosevelt Island -- a wilderness in the center of the city.

It is my halfway mark.

Pretty coeds from Georgetown run along the trail, long pony-tails bouncing from shoulder to shoulder. The ones running toward me smile. Sometimes they wink. I wonder if they would have when this bike carried 50 pounds more in the winter. Now, I smile and enjoy it. I get flirted with more on these 10 miles of trail than in a year of happy hours.

I reach the island, turn and head back 12 miles to make it 20 even.

The wind is at my back. The sun is at my back. The day and its worries are behind me. What more could any sailor or hitchhiker or hobo want?

--

Today's Stats:

Temp: 75 Degrees - Sunny

Winds Calm

1.5 hrs/20 miles

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On the Road Again

After rain and a week of bad medicine -- I hit the trail again today. Worked out some stiffness and got back on track.

I rode from the office to Roosevelt Island -- in the Potomac right off Georgetown. Great views of the monuments and bridges and all the DC skyline. That's the Lincoln Memorial through my spokes.

Rain disrupted my schedule for most of a week. Then I had a bout of dizziness my doc linked to Lipitor. He'd put me on the stuff April 4. I couldn't balance on my bike -- and missed a week of the best weather since last fall!

But, after quitting the meds and waiting for the sky to clear -- I returned for a 17 mile ride from the office to Roosevelt Island and back. Oh, yeah -- with a stop at Indigo Landing for a couple of beers with co-workers.

Averaged about 12 mph for the ride. Can't seem to break that average.

Trying the same ride tomorrow!

Temp: 75 degrees -- Sunny

Calm winds

1.5 hours -- 17 miles

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Cherry Tree Tour

Got in 20 miles and got to see the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin. Set out on the trail, but got distracted by the trees across the river. I crossed the I-395 bridge and landed near the Jefferson Memorial.

The road around Hains Point was largely blocked off. There was some traffic, but not too much. So I got to tool around looking at the trees as sunlight flickered through their branches.

All told, not a bad day.

2:15 hours/20 miles.

Temp: 64, Sunny
Wind: 10-12 NW


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Check Out My Route

Got the map and cue sheet for my ride on June 8!

Check 'em out.

Working the Knee

I worked out some of the stiffness with a short ride after work.

Great day for a ride! Even got to see some of the cherry blossoms -- like these in Old Town Alexandria.

Left the office and headed south along the Mount Vernon Trail. Got back to the office early enough to head out along the upper portion of the trail for about a mile and a half before coming back to the office.

Back in time to hit happy hour.

This beer and biking thing is a great training routine!

1 Hour/13 Miles

Temp: 75/Sunny
Wind: 13 mph NW

Training Day

I can remember now that when I was a kid, "Captain Kangaroo" was sponsored by Schwinn bicycles and Bactine.

That relationship finally hit me today.

The sun was shining. It was 70 degrees. I hit the trail a day early.

I hit it hard.

That's my knee.

Some stiffness. Some bruising. Lots of blood.

Pulling out of my parking lot onto the street, my rear wheel hit a piece of gravel. I was still clipped into the pedals and couldn't get my feet loose. No idea what happened. The fall dazed me. One second I was riding. Next second, I was under a parked car.

Maybe instead of asking for donations, the ADA should just take bets on how far I make it in June. Bet my friends would bet on that!

Didn't get much better.

I tried following a bike route I'd never used before. Across to George Mason then down to WO&D and onto Four Mile Run which would get me to the Mount Vernon Trail. Ran into problems with the front derailleur. Couldn't get it to shift smoothly into first or third gears.

So.

I spent most of my time riding, adjusting the derailleur, riding a little more, tinkering a little more. Finally decided to pack it in and try again Wednesday.

Think I'll also stick with the Mount Vernon Trail for most of my rides. More scenic -- and far fewer traffic crossings. The WO&D section I rode pretty much had me walking and waiting at intersections more than actually riding.

And my office is halfway along the Mt Vernon Trail. I've been taking the bike to the office with me and riding after I get off work. That's worked better than the route I tried today.