Hains Point: Escaping Quarantine

Laurie and I, tired of riding alone in our neighborhoods, decided to meet again in DC. This really isn't the best plan, we decided, because it's about 10 miles for her and almost 25 for me. She got there way before me and was looking for more miles, while I ended up calling for a ride home because I didn't have enough time or energy (i.e., food) for a 50-mile day.

I didn't bother with pics on my way down - but should have because it was a new route. I rode to Rosslyn without using the W&OD or Custis until the last 5 miles. I started like the Sunday ride - through Mantua, to Nutley, to 29, to Vaden, to the Vienna Metro. Lately, I've been walking through the Metro station with my bike to get over 66 because the bridge is closed (and has been for months). Then I risked the trail to Nottaway Park (not too many people) and rode through Vienna past NFCU, across Gallows to Shreve Rd.

All of that is familiar Sunday-morning territory. But at Shreve, instead of turning right toward Annandale, I turned left toward Falls Church. I did this last weekend to get to the farmer's market without using the W&OD. Have I mentioned the trail is packed with runners, families, and cyclists, almost none of whom are wearing masks? There's no social distancing on the trail, which is why I'm distancing from it.

On Shreve, I only rode about 1/4 mile or less before turning on a little trail that crosses over the W&OD to Fowler St. Then:
Fowler until it ends at S. West St.
L on S. West
R on Park Ave.
L on Little Falls
R on Fairfax
L on 29 (a little hairy)
R on Sycamore (I did not want to risk riding the ramp from 29 to Wash Blvd)
L on Washington Blvd.

I've always wanted to ride on Washington Blvd. with its rolling hills and bike lane. It was as nice as I'd imagined. Then these quick turns through Arlington:

L George Mason
R 14 st.
L Glebe
R 15 st.

Fifteenth St. runs parallel to the W&OD. From there, I could not figure out how to easily get to Rosslyn. Spout Run is like a highway with no shoulder. Rte. 29 is full of traffic and lights. The side roads all seem to run perpendicular. So it was here, at the end of 15 st. at mile 19, that I threw in the towel and got on the Custis. It wasn't packed, but I did pass people. Few wore masks. I rode for 5 miles to Roosevelt Island where Laurie was waiting patiently.

When I saw her, I was ready to stop for a snack, but she'd ridden just over 10 miles and was anxious to go. She didn't even let me stop before she hopped on her bike and rode away. We made our way down the Parkway trail another few miles before crossing over the Memorial Bridge.

I kept my distance behind her so as not to suck in all her germs in her draft. :)

Laurie up ahead, a social distance

On our way to Hains Point, we passed this "Floral Library," which was a nice little surprise.

Laurie wandering among the flowers.

We saw a few monks on our way, and they ended up stopping at the same place.

How many different ways can we view the Washington Monument? I'm not even a fan of monuments, but this one always seems to be in the background!

Laurie in her Covid gear. We didn't wear the masks the whole time, only when around others or on the trails. In the city, most of the riding was on the road.

After the tulips, the pictures are quite a bit more gray.

We went around the Tidal Basin clockwise, so we ended up at this park at the end of the Memorial Bridge. Not THE Memorial Bridge. The other one. No, not the Arland D. Williams Memorial Bridge (over the Potomac, south of the 14th St. Bridge) the other one. The Francis Case Memorial Bridge (who knew there were three?) that runs over the District Warf, where Evan Brothers Seafood is. There were people lined up on the street (6 ft apart, mostly) waiting to get in there. I could smell steamed shrimp.

Overlooking the Warf, up a spiraling walkway, is Benjamin Banneker Park. We sat there to look at our maps, and I FINALLY got to eat something. We sat on separate benches and were careful not to touch anything.

Here is Laurie, a social distance away.

The walkway up to the bridge to Hains Point was not made with a mind for those worried about heights.

The Spy Museum in the background. I've still never been there!

The Wharf under the blue roof with green Hains Point in the background. 

The bridge wasn't too picturesque, but it was prettier in the moment when you could see the river and the park up ahead.

Laurie and I in our Covid masks in case we encountered anyone on the bridge.

Then, as if by magic, we were back in the green. DC is a funny place that way. I suppose all cities are. Green is so unexpected when it happens.

Did I mention that the wind was out of the East so my whole ride downtown was into the wind? So when we started out at Hains Point, we were into the wind again. But at least we could stretch our legs on the open road.

We rounded the corner at the end of the point then coasted back with the wind behind us. That was such a relief I thought maybe I could do the whole ride home. But it was 2:30 and we were supposed to play bridge with mom and dad at 4, so not possible.

Laurie and I said our goodbyes on the Parkway trail. She headed for Old Town, I headed for the Italian Store in Arlington. Riding up the hills out of Rosslyn proved challenging with a mask on. I didn't want to take it off because there were SO MANY people, but I could not breathe.

Then Steve couldn't meet me yet, so I rode past the Italian store to 15 St. near Kenny and Mary's house. Then there was traffic on 66 so I continued on to Washington Blvd. (I got my wish twice that day) and rode the rolling hills almost all the way to 29 where Steve finally caught up to me.

I was beat - and hungry! So happy to have a ride home.

Then Laurie and I won at bridge. So not a bad day!

Distance: 39 miles
Speed: 12.8 mph - putzing in DC, navigating crowded trails

Flox, flox, and more flox

Since I'm riding few places in these quarantined days beyond my neighborhood streets, I thought it appropriate to dedicate one post to the flox one of my neighbors has been planting for years.

I ride by this house every time I ride towards George Mason. I've been passing it for more than a decade, and I think they've been planting the flox that whole time.

The bank used to be covered in English ivy. You can still see what's left of it on the left under the big tree. The owners started pulling out the ivy and replacing it with flox one row of plants at a time years ago. They have nearly replaced the whole bank. I love riding by each spring to see the fruits of their labor! 

Meanwhile, there is flox everywhere, and blossoms of pear, cherry, dogwood, and now, my favorite, red buds. My sinuses don't like it much, but it's a beautiful time of year to ride.

Cherry Blossoms Covid Style

On March 22, a week before Governor Northam invoked a stay-at-home order for all Virginians, Laurie and I rode individually to meet each other in DC. Laurie had thought we could see the Cherry Blossoms, but I thought we should stay away.

I can see why the stay-at-home order is necessary, because without it, it is hard for even the most cautious among us to figure out the boundaries. I didn't want to be in the crowds at the Blossoms, but I thought it would be fine to be on the W&OD trail where I'd be riding quickly past the people scattered along the trail. I was kinda wrong about both.

The trail was CROWDED. On the way down, I was so surprised. I hadn't anticipated that many people who don't usually make use of the W&OD would be out because their soccer games were canceled or their sports TV had gone dark. There was a lot more navigating and passing close than I expected or was comfortable with. But still, it was a beautiful day, so I found myself bowing my head and holding my breath when passing people. Probably not effective at all, but kind of instinctual. I couldn't stop myself.

I stopped on the GW parkway trail to touch base with Laurie who I thought was riding toward me. I thought I was heading for the Memorial Bridge, but I had confused it with the 14 St. Bridge. Because she had arrived first, she was going to ride up the parkway in my direction, and I thought we should have passed by then. She said she was waiting on the bridge. Just before I hung up with her to ride toward the Memorial Bridge, she said, "Wait, I see you. You're already here."  Lucky catch!

On my way up to the bridge, I passed these daffodils. Always an early and happy sign of spring.

The Memorial Bridge was closed to automobile traffic to thin the crowds at the Cherry Blossoms. People had been encouraged to view them online, from home. I was happy to follow that order, but now that we were here, it seemed easy to cross the bridge keeping a "social distance." There was almost no one there, AND we could ride in the road.

That's the Lincoln Memorial at the end of the bridge

Once we crossed into DC, it was kind of surreal. Especially with the cherry trees in bloom. It was so quiet. The roads and sidewalks empty.

So we figured, why not? Let's go see them.

We stopped on a bridge on Ohio Dr. to take these pictures. No one was there at the time.

Under the trees on the right, you can see almost nobody among the trees. Normally it would be a throng.

Notice the blossoms lining the river in front of the Washington Monument. And the sky.

We tried to take a selfie while remaining a distance apart. As we were doing this, more people came onto the bridge, and I began to feel crowded.

We turned down a path under the trees but didn't get far before I decided it was too close. We took a few pictures before leaving.

The area in front of the Jefferson Memorial was so quiet, this woman was sitting reading a book. With more normal times, she would have been trampled!

Then we headed back over the river, this time on the 14 St. Bridge which was open for traffic, so we had to ride on the pedestrian section which was closer quarters, but thankfully, I didn't have to pass anybody.

Looking back at the Washington Monument

Then we were out of the city. Laurie and I rode on the GW pkway to the connector trail together where I turned off to head home up the W&OD. Riding along the pkway, I began to question whether I should even be riding with Laurie. I felt like I was riding into the air she had just left, and that of everyone else on the trail. Is this germ-phobic paranoia or reasonable caution? Who knew at this point. The rules were changing everyday and we were all trying to be reasonable and careful and smart.

On the W&OD on the way home, no more second guessing. It was clear to me I shouldn't be on the trail. It was just too crowded. I rode quickly and did my best to keep my distance. At one point, someone actually sneezed as I passed, and I just wanted to be home. I was so relieved when I got to Vienna and could take the roads the rest of the way home.

I resolved, no more trails after that. It's been more than 2 weeks and all roads since then.

Distance: 48
Speed: 12.8 (coasting cherry blossom viewing speed)