Hitchhikers

Memorial Day (a public holiday in the US for the non-Americans reading) was a rest day for us and we spent it in Washington DC. We took a train into the city from Springfield, anticipating bigly huge crowds. We had to steel ourselves for the masses, we have not spent much time in busy areas lately. Perhaps the overcast weather kept people away but it wasn't particularly crowded. We observed various military groups and high school bands setting up for the afternoon's parade. We didn't stick around to see the parade start and instead went to some museums. We visited the National Air and Space museum and the National Museum of the American Indian, both were great. Later, we trekked back to Springfield.

Last night's accommodation was 5 miles off the route so this morning we set out to rejoin the main route again. For the uninitiated: we're following a route and using maps put together by an organization called Adventure Cycling. It means that we don't have to do nearly as much planning and puts us on bicycle-friendly roads most of the time.

Today's route was mostly on bike paths.

First up was the Mount Vernon bike path, a lumpy bumpy affair that runs alongside the Potomac River and up to the Lincoln Memorial. After the vigorous shaking we endured, I'd be surprised if our bikes have any bolts left still attached, everything is probably held on by dried mud at this point. However, the scenery was pretty good and we enjoyed a break in a park looking out over the river. It also took us right up to the Lincoln Memorial where a group of cyclists invited us to a 50th birthday party in Maine in a couple of weeks. We'll see if the timing works out! Overall score: 5/10. (Mike would probably score it lower, he did not enjoy the bumps).

Next up was the Capital Crescent trail, heading out of Washington DC into Maryland. We stopped early on this trail to eat lunch. Mike discovered a spider in his handlebar bag. Every now and again we find hitchhikers of the bug variety on our clothes or on our stuff. Since we don't like to carry more than we have to, these hitchhikers are unceremoniously disposed of. Mike had to empty his bag onto the grass in order to shake out the spider but I'm sure he rode faster in the afternoon without the extra weight. The trail continued along a canal then turned north towards Bethesda. It was pretty well paved and the scenery was great. We saw a deer but no manatees. Overall score: 8/10.

Finally we merged onto the Rock Creek trail. This took us up to Rockville where we're staying tonight. This trail was winding and had short but steep hills. We thought about ditching it for the road but the road was busy with no shoulder, plus we would have had to do some additional way-finding work. We stuck with it and eventually emerged back into civilization. Overall score: 6/10.

Today we rode 54 miles. I called it a "short" day this evening but Mike maintains it's only a "shorter" day. I foresee a "chow-dah" vs "chow-derr" incident arising (Simpsons reference for those who are confused). Tomorrow: we don't know how far we're going. Stay tuned to see if we figure that out.

Just like home

Rocket Rach

Potomac River

Mike and Abe

In the Capital

From the Capital Crescent Trail

More Crescent

Submarine tree