VA Capital Trail - Camping

I didn't know I could lie and stare into space for over 3 hours and not feel bored or restless. I was at a camp site on the Chickahominy River where I landed after riding 47 miles in 90 degree weather.  It was up to 99 degrees when I arrived at 1:30 in the afternoon. I was covered in heat rash and pounding down water and orange gatorade, hoping I would eventually pee.

I'd set out at 8:30am from Richmond for a solo bike/camping trip.

My ride was pretty pleasant despite the heat--until the last 15 miles anyway. I rode through a lot of history, but didn't manage to stop and read all the historical signs. There were too many! I did stop in New Market and read about the "colored regiment" that fought and lost many. Wierfdly, I passed a man wearing a suburban looking shorts and a T-shirt who also had a fat (w/ 4-inch links) chain draped around his neck. What was that about? 

It was a really nice trail. Generally like this the whole way. 

Way more woods than I expected. I'd thought it would be all open cornfields.

I stopped to eat at the historic and quaint Cul's Courthouse Grill. 

I thought I should eat outside because I was ruby red in the face and so desperately sweaty, but when I opened the door, I found a homey and spacious dining room with big ceiling fans turning over tables full of licra-clad cyclists and one busy waitress hustling across thick slabs of wood that were the old floor boards. It was pretty cool in there, figuratively and literally, and I figured I couldn't be more smelly than the others, so I stayed.

It was a nice reprieve to get out of the heat but I stayed too long. The mercury was rising outside and it would be a tough final 15 miles to camp. When I finished, I packed up my left over pita bread, thinking it would be a good snack for later. 

The final miles before camp were tough. My thermometer read 99 degrees and I'd run out of shade. 

I could feel myself overheating, so I ended up stopping every 5 miles when I found a patch of shade to cool off. My "smile" starts to look a little forced.

Finally, I arrived at the Chickahominy. Riding over this bridge was a little brutal even with the breeze. When I stopped to take pics I could feel the heat rising up around me - and honestly, that sun was burning through me.

I arrived covered in heat rash, feeling a little ill from the heat and all the water I'd been drinking. I didn't have to pee at all. I set up my tent first thing.

 Then I headed to the pool. I hoped to cool off but the sun was relentless and the water was warm. No showers at the pool either. The one saving grace was the cold gatorade they had for sale. I bought 2 and headed back to camp where I turned my tent the the river, left the flap of a door hanging open, and laid on my back staring at the buzzards circling over me all afternoon. It was so hot I couldn't even touch my sleeping bag. After lying there for several hours, I finally fell asleep for an hour.

After my nap it was time for dinner. I'd hoped/planned the camp store would have SOMETHING I could eat. There were restaurants 5 miles further down the road, but there's no need to explain why that wasn't happening. The camp store had ketchup and mayo and an entire rack of potato chips. And fishing lures. So this was dinner:

Afterward, I took a much needed shower (disgusting bathrooms) and hung our writing/reading and generally watching the sky some more.

I'd planned to go to bed as soon as the sun set but the quiet and the sky were too captivating. It was 10pm before I crawled into my tent.

In the morning, I fought the squirrels off for my left over pita bread (a good thing I saved that - I had to ride 15 miles before the first store, and again, they'd only have chips). 

Then I cruised home. No stopping to read historical markers. No stopping for pictures. My whole day was about beating the sun--which I mostly did. Here I am back at my car around 11am with 93 miles under my belt for the weekend!

A HOT but great trip!

Fairfax County Parkway Ride

Riding the Fairfax County Parkway isn't TOO much fun--especially at the beginning with all the traffic and trash and gravel and glass. Yeah, not the ideal riding conditions. But I do enjoy this loop because, if I do an extra loop at Mason, it's exactly 40 miles and it involves quite a few open stretches of trail.

Today I thought I wouldn't ride because it was supposed to be so hot. But the 99 degree forecast turned out to be "only" 92. I left at 4 pm with the promise to take it slow. I headed out to Mason then down 123 to burke Center Parkway. From there I caught the Fairfax County Parkway north towards Reston. Riding in the afternoon meant I had some shade which saved me. The early part of the trail is downright trashy. But there are only a few intersections until you get to 29 where you have to get on West Ox. Once I get there, I'm riding with one thing in mind:

This ride is tough because my own designated stop is 26 miles in. I don't get to the W&OD until mile 25. By that time I've been riding along the side of a highway for 15 miles. My water is low and I'm starving. Once I get here, I feel like I'm home - or at least turning to head in that direction.

But I still have one more mile to the lily pad lookout. This is a bench I've been stopping at for years. I just noticed today that it's overgrown with bushes. I used to lean my bike along the back of the bench. How did these bushes get so big? This is the same bench I've photographed before.

I like it because of this plaque. I love that this guy loved to bike; his name has "schwin" and "wind" in it and he was an airline pilot. So I always sit here and eat my snack, drink what's left of my HOT water, and look out over the lily pads and thank Joe Schwind for the place to rest - he was "a good friend."

The picture from my phone doesn't do it justice. The view isn't spectacular, but the many lily pads are. Right now they are even in bloom.

 While sitting here on this day I became chilled - a sign I was overheated. I walked around a bit, drank the last drops of my water (there is a water fountain at Sunset Hills Road around mile 30 on this ride).

On the final push into the end, I saw the weirdest dog: its body and head like a cat in shape and sheen, but its legs were those of a dog. Bizzaro.

Also, by now it was 7:30pm and the trail was deserted. It reminded me of the days when I used to ride by myself 30 years ago and the trail was so isolated feeling that it made me nervous. Not so today. It was just as quiet, but it takes a lot more to make me nervous these days.

As a final point of entertainment I happened upon the Vienna Green concert in the amphitheater in the center of town and stopped to hear an average rendition of a Bruce Springsteen song. Then I was off for the final 7 mile leg home.

Really proud of myself for getting out and riding 40 miles on this humid 90-plus degree day. Of course, dropped two tenths of a mile per hour in the final stretch home - 13.3 to 13.1 because of the hill on Picket. Darn hill. Still, I was satisfied. I'm to that point with riding this summer where I crave it. Gotta get those miles or I feel like I will pop!

First WWO Ride

I must have dreamt I wrote this post because I was sure it was done. But here I am looking for it and it's not. So this will be brief.

After months of trying, I finally made it out for a Washington Women Outdoors ride. This ride started in Nokesville and went about 35 miles. I had the cue sheet, but alas...

We stopped at about mile 20 at a pony farm.

I snuck a few pictures, but didn't take to many being in a new group. That's Barbara sitting on the grass in the yellow. She was the ride leader. Other people I met: Jessica, a just-retired orthopedic surgeon, and someone else who worked in special education, but can't remember her name (of course). They were smart, independent, career women. I feel like biking attracts those kind of folks, but perhaps that's just my bias. :)

We spent more time than expected at this grocery because the road was closed for a terrible accident. We were grateful that we weren't involved as it seemed to have just happened. We eventually worked out a detour (not always a simple thing in the country where there are fewer roads) and made our way back.

It was a beautiful day and a pleasant ride with a really interesting and friendly group of women. I hope to get out with them again soon!

Distance: 35 miles
Speed: 13.6

Friday ride to Alexandria

When the weather permits, I like to ride to Old Town to meet Steve after work. I love this ride because we meet up, go to chadwick's for a beer, then he drives me home. Just love it when I don't have to back track. When I turn off the W&OD and take the Custis Trail (instead of W&OD all the way to Shirlington, it's almost 30 miles).

Arriving in Vienna which is about 7 miles into the ride for me. Nothing interesting to record before that but traffic. It was an amazing blue sky day.

Leaving Vienna, heading into Fairfax.

This very fun couple rode past me at Gallows Road. They were cranking music, riding fast, wearing tatoos, and sort of dancing in their saddles. I snuck a pic.

Crossing 495.

Just me and my bike.

I don't know what this building is, but there is usually an old guy here, leaning against a huge 1980s gray sedan, with the driver's door open, cranking music. If you catch his eye, he will sometimes wave. Missing on this day.

Pedestrian bridge over route 7 in Falls Church.

The elusive Four Mile Run. It is both everywhere and nowhere.

Crossing 29. We're in Arlington now.

I like this little spot in Arlington, although if you don't know where you're going, you could lose the trail getting here. But it's a nice little shaded 1/4 mile.

Then it opens up and follows 66. This section is always loud and hot. A little desolate feeling.

Turning left onto the Custis trail. By turning a bit north and then following 66 in on the Custis, I add a few more miles. :)

Riding along the north side of 66. There are some pretty good downhills through here. I hit 30 mph the other day, despite all the traffic.

Just crossing through Rossilyn and heading down to the GW parkway.

Crossing over the GW parkway.

Bridge down to Roosevelt Island parking lot.

Bike portraits.

Pedestrian bridge to Roosevelt Island.

Bridge along potomac leaving Roosevelt Island. It looks picturesque, but it's too long, full of splinters and very bumpy. But also green and shady!

One lane underpass - GW parkway.

Stopping for a snack in view of Lincoln & GW monument.

Gravelly Point Park by National Airport where everyone watches the planes take off.

Marina along GW parkway - forgot the name of course!

Arriving in Old Town.

Jones Point Park under Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

Potomac River.

Cute house while walking with Steve to Chadwicks.

The pay off!