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)