WWO - Mason Neck Hike & Bike

December 28: definitely time to work off some Christmas cookies. Unfortunately, I'd been sick--caught a cold from Steve just before Christmas, so as the holiday progressed, I got sicker and sicker. 😐 And yes, I just discovered the emoji function on blogger, so I guess we'll be seeing more of those! 

But back to the point, I was sick. Terrible cough and cough-induced soar throat. Stuffy head, sinus pain. Generally, everything associated with my head hurt. When I went to bed on Friday night, I let myself imagine canceling and it sounded so wonderful: the idea of spending a day in bed. But competing with that was the bloated feeling after many days of eating and drinking too much. I needed some exercise! So I pushed through. I got up at 6:45 a.m., packed up, and headed to Laurie's. 

We started out from her apartment complex for a 15ish mile ride to Mason Neck. I thought we were leaving from one end of the parking lot (waiting below) and Laurie was waiting for me to leave from the other end of the parking lot. Eventually I figured out she wasn't coming and went to look for her.

I need to look at a map to get a better sense of where we were, but it involved Beulah Road for a bit, Route 1, Telegraph, and then the long road down to the park (don't know the name--Gunston Road?), but it is narrow and has a new and much needed bike path.

Just as we turned onto the road to the park, we saw a hawk perched in a tree, so we stopped for a look. I didn't take a pick because it was too far away, but I'm pretty sure it was a red shoulder.

No shoulder with 50mph speed limit - new bike path started a mile or so down the road

There is a horse farm along this road where Hannah used to work. The horses were out grazing looking serene. There is something about horses...

We were supposed to be at Mason Neck for the WWO hike by 10 am. We arrived at 9:50 after taking our time then hustled into the bathroom to change into a dry first layer. We also brought boots, but I forgot to bring a bag to carry my wallet and water etc., so I had to shove everything into pockets.

The WWO group heading off for a 3.5 mile hike

I love hiking in the winter. The light is always interesting because of the low sun and the glassy water. Plus, the birds that have stayed behind are more visible in the bare trees.

View of the Occoquan Bay

Lisa (goup leader) in front

A great blue heron fishing (successfully) in a pool

There are always a few boring pictures. But why not include them?

After walking along the coastline for a bit, we headed inland.

A large beech tree caught my attention in the sunlight.

Lisa, our leader, made a wrong turn at some point and we missed the lookout she had planned, so we hiked to a different point. I didn't have my glasses, so I didn't bother pretending to look at the map, which means I have no idea which body of water we ended up looking out over, but that's ok. It was pretty.  Someone thought they saw a beaver, but I doubted it. There are lots of logs floating along the shore, and only room for perhaps one beaver, and there was no evidence of the massive destruction they can render.

With the missed turn, I'm sure we went further than 3.5 miles, although Lisa never acknowledged that. But we hiked for over 3 hours I think. Maybe 5 miles?

Here is the group at the final lookout point. Lisa (the leader) front right.

I had one of my moments where I wished I had a micro lens. Love taking pictures of lichen for some reason!

In the end, Laurie and I cut out early and took the road back to our bikes to shave about 15 minutes off the hike. We had started to get worried about time. I can walk 3 miles in less than an hour, so this hike was definitely taking longer than we expected.

We changed back into bike shoes, packed up, and rode the 17 miles back to Laurie's apartment. I had only one energy bar with me and my energy was sapped from my cold, so I was looking for something to eat sooner rather than later, but it came later. We stopped at Wegman's and split a Mediterranean impossible burger with goat cheese and yummy fries and Laurie had a beer (no way for me. I could feel my illness brewing in my head and was ready to lie down. A beer would not have helped my energy level!).

At home, I tried to rally for the night. I drank a beer, ate some Thai food, and curled up with a book, but my eyes were so red and puffy from sneezing that I could barely see the print. I fell asleep on the couch at 7:30 pm, woke and went to bed at 9:30, then slept until 7:30 am. Twelve hours of sleep! And then I stayed in bed until 9 am. I didn't get up until I saw on the weather that it would start raining at 10 am and not stop for the rest of the day, so I hopped up and took the dog for a walk. It was so nice to finally feel rested. Great way to end the Xmas holiday and exercise the cold away. Felt much better today (the next day).

And that was that - the final ride of 2019!

Distance: 34 miles
Speed: 13.2 mph

WWO - Galesville, MD

Laurie and I headed over to Galesville, MD on the eastern shore for a WWO ride. It was a beautiful 40-50 degree day and only a 40 minute drive from Laurie's apartment.

Debbie (a different Debbie) led the ride. She and I have ridden together before, but never when she has been leader. Debbie likes to ride ahead, so I knew we'd keep a good pace. Exciting!

We stop regularly to let the riders regroup as there are several different paces happening.

After a bit, we all warmed up and stopped to strip off a few layers.

At the midway point, we stopped at High's to pee. I didn't know there were any High's left around here (or there)!

This ride was solid rolling hills - up and down the whole way. Really beautiful and fun. And we rode fast. Debbie says her target speed is 16mph, so she is perfect for me to ride with - pushing me my hardest to keep up with her racing bike on my heavy but trusty touring model. The average speed didn't really reflect our pace because of all the coasting/waiting/stopping for the rest of the group. But generally, Debbie, me, Laurie, and two other women rode really well together between 15 and 20mph.

We arrived in Galesville to a beautiful blue sky and glassy water.

We snap a pic for mom, but I forgot to send it

When it was over, Laurie and I were hungry so we stopped at Fat Boy's Crab Shack in Gambrills, MD on the way home. It was a teeny but fun little place full of locals watching the Ravens game. I stood out a bit with my tight biking pants, bright blue socks, and Birks. Too bad no pic of that, but here's a blurry image of the shack itself off the website.

Laurie and I both got an IPA and a crab pretzel. That thing was warm and gooey and awesome. The perfect end to a great ride. Will definitely have to go back and do this again.

Distance: 36 miles
Speed: 14.5mph

Great Pumpkin 2019

 It was time again for the Great Pumpkin Ride put on by the Fauquier Trails Coalition. I love this ride because of the time of year (just in case you were starting to think it was already too cold), the food (pie, soup, and other pumpkin-based delights), and the festive atmosphere (costumes, which I love to look at but hate to wear). 

The plan was for me to leave at 9 and laurie to leave at 9:30 so we could meet up on the trail (I was riding a little further). We drove separately and saw each other for two minutes at the start before I had to take off.  

I think we need new clothes. We're always wearing the same thing!

The first rest-stop on this ride has no food, which is funny because the food is one of the best things about this ride!

Just a church and a water spigot. And some porta-potties. I remember the first year I was so put out, but I'm used to it now.

There was a beautiful, subtle sky. At one point, the road turned to the left with this golden horizon behind it and a burnt looking field and the riders were passing in front of it with all their colored shirts. I tried to take a picture from my bike but I couldn't because...I had a band-aid on my thumb! Who knew a band-aid could cause such trouble. I couldn't text because my phone didn't recognize I was touching the phone. Then I couldn't take pictures. Ugh!

This is the church with all the pumpkins and mums out front. I have pictures from two years ago so didn't bother taking more--with the thumb and all.

But I did take a picture of my food (embarrassing). The first two years I ate blueberry scones here, then thought: why blueberries? It's October! So this year: orange scone, two pumpkin muffins, and a banana. Yum.

This is the ride where I saw my first spectacular purple house. See past pumpkin ride here. So today, I stopped for this cute house. Nowhere near the commitment to purple, but cute just the same. The other house, it turned out, was just around the corner.

Laurie and I planned to meet where the 68- and the 53-mile rides meet back up after the 68 takes a jaunt to add miles. Laurie made a wrong turn on her ride which ended up serving us. She arrived about 5 minutes after me at the meeting place. 

Here she comes!

Everything was golden, but the sky was gray, so it doesn't really translate to the pictures.

Laurie's friend John was out riding as well. They're in clarinet quartet together. He was riding the 53, so we saw him on and off as we kept to the 68-mile trail, which deviated in places.

This is the best rest stop--at Mt. Horeb church. Pumpkin soup made by the Mennonites. It was excellent. Had to be full of cream. Also, pumpkin pie, pumpkin seed garp, pumpkin bars. And other usual things like pb&J and bananas. I had some of everything. Rt. 11 chips too. Last year we got whoopie pies too. Gotta admit I missed them this time!

The next rest stop was at Old Bust Head Brewery.  They have to make this worth it because you have to work to get to this place. Laurie and I were both feeling our legs, and it's a lot of up and down.

But then we got there and ate a quesadilla, black beans, pumpkin bread pudding, and a mini beer. Yum!

This guy rode with Charlie Brown and Snoopy
hitching a ride, looking for the Great Pumpkin no doubt!

We also met some nice folks who do the ride every year who told us they do the Bon Ton Roulet in the Finger Lakes every year.  I've looked at this ride before, but it seemed most do 80 miles per day for seven days. That seems like a lot. But these folks told me lots of folks do the 40-55 mile version, or switch back and forth. That sounds more doable. I'll have to try that once I get started on my states for the second round!

Laurie and John eating their pumpkin sweets

Something about that snack (was it the beer?) gave me a burst of energy. After riding a few miles out from this stop, I got frustrated with the group I was in. They kept breaking my momentum on the hills. I knew they were stronger riders, but it turns out they were less consistent, or less skilled? I don't know. They would pass me on the flats but bog down on the ups and downs. I passed them on an uphill and ended up never looking back. I sprinted in to the finish only dropping from 15.3 to 15.2 mph (the end is all up). I felt great!

The beginning and end of this ride happens on a bike trail - for about a mile. On the way out, it feels like the ride hasn't started yet. It's crowded and there's no room to pass. But on the way home, everyone is spread out and there's often no one. And it feels like you're back even though you're not, because it's so flat!

And that's it. Pathetic pictures this year but great ride. I was supposed to go to Bust Head with Laurie and meet Deidre and Christian, but Laurie had to head home because she unexpectedly had tickets to THE WORLD SERIES with Chris (fun!). I finished so long after Deidre and Christian they were ready to go home by the time I was heading there. It was kind of sad - I was looking forward to that beer. Instead, I ended my night exhausted on the couch with chips and salsa and a Bass Ale.

Distance: 68 miles
Speed: 15.2 mph