Season 2 Episode 15 (9/29): The Calm Before The Storm. Annapolis, MD through Washington, D.C. to Dumfries, VA

Season 2 Episode 15 (9/29): The Calm Before The Storm.  Annapolis, MD through Washington, D.C. to Dumfries, VA – 

79 miles. 3,188’ climbing.

From Annapolis we started out on some nice country roads through woods. That was soon interrupted by a crazy, challenging u-turn across the 6 lanes of Crain Highway. Heather wondered if the Google Maps navigation programmer was hungover planning that.

Shortly after entering Northeast Washington, D.C., we passed one memorial I wasn’t expecting to visit. It was our first “ghost bike” of this trip, right at the intersection we were at, turning from Minnesota Avenue onto Nanny Helen Burroughs Ave. If you’ve never seen a ghost bike, it’s a bike painted all white and locked in place in memory of a cyclist who was killed in an accident right there. It was haunting and a reminder of our safety risks traveling by two wheels. This one was a memorial for Michael Hawkins Randall and Charles Jackson killed just this past July.

We soon were riding through the lovely Capitol Hill neighborhood and onto the more familiar monuments. Heather again displayed photo talent while cycling.

East approach to the Capitol.

Heading towards Lincoln Memorial

Amazing she didn’t fall into the reflecting pool.

Washington Monument from Lincoln Memorial

Leaving D.C., we visited the Jefferson Memorial which I’d not visited before. I love his brilliant words inscribed around the monument.

TJ’s eloquence endures.

Leaving D.C., we crossed into Virginia and enjoyed sunny, scenic riding by the water in Alexandria and along several miles of the Mt. Vernon Trail literally ending in Mt. Vernon.

Mt. Vernon Trail

We finished our ride towards our hotel by riding on US 1 which in Northern VA is pretty busy with a bike lane. For about 4 miles there's also a safe paved, wide bike and pedestrian path that's next to it. Guess who rides on the road and who on the path?

Heather sticks to the road

We arrived safe and sound with a decision looming. What to do about the wind and rains barreling north ahead of Hurricane Ian, and coming towards us?

I love riding right into the hotel lobby at the end of our day.


© Copyright Mark Segal 2022

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 6, 2022 at 5:53 PM

    Love the pics! XOXO M

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousOctober 6, 2022 at 10:06 PM

    This one is a cliffhanger! Following your epic ride with much admiration.

    ReplyDelete

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