Adventure No. 3: Biking the W&OD Trail -- 44.6 miles biked

Miles biked: 44.6

Time on bike: 3 hours, 15 minutes

On Monday, July 5, I decided I needed a long bike ride in my life, so around noon I headed to the Washington & Old Dominion Trail to pedal as far as I could and back before my 4 p.m. kickball championship party. I figured I could get in about 40 miles or so.

The trail stretches 45 miles from Shirlington to Purcellville, VA, so I knew I wouldn’t make it the entire way — I’ll save that for another day — but a good portion of the riding was new to me. I had ridden the first 7 or 8 miles west before, but nothing beyond that.

With the temperature near 100 and the air thick and humid, the riding was far from easy. Add the fact that I didn’t have a true water bottle and had to stop every time I wanted a drink to twist off the top of my canteen, and it wasn’t the smoothest ride.

However, it was mostly flat and on a relatively smooth bike path surface, which only had a few difficult crossings — there were two intersections at which I waited for a good 4 minutes — and made for mostly relaxed riding. The trail is also stocked with biker-friendly amenities, such as water fountains, benches, bathrooms, “stretching posts” and even a bike pump. I kid you not.

So there wasn’t much to complain about (except, maybe, the weather).

After about 10 miles, I biked through the town of Vienna, crossing the main street that had clearly advertised a large fireworks show. There was also a happening community park adjacent to the path featuring all kinds of recreational opportunities. That’s something I really love about this Northern Virginia area — it seems like everywhere I go, there are basketball courts, baseball diamonds, soccer fields and tennis courts. Just a wealth of things to do outdoors.

After Vienna, I rode through quiet countryside for a stretch of nearly 20 miles, crossing the occasional road but mostly just passing by grassy hills and some farmland on both sides of the path. This was probably the hilliest part of the ride, but still wasn’t very undulating.

Around the 20-mile mark, I passed through the downtown of Herndon, which gave off the quaint-small-beautiful-town feel. I passed over a river, past a few stores and that was about it. I’m sure there was more to the town, but I was quickly through it, knocking off a few more miles before I had to turn around.

I ended up covering roughly 22 miles before pulling over, finishing the water I had and taking a quick 6-minute (approximation) breather. Then I was back on the 520, covering my tracks to get back to Arlington in time for my party. Thankfully, the wind was mostly with me on the way back, and I cruised at a 20-mph clip.

I’d say I had earned the right to indulge for the rest of the day.

Adventure No. 2: Biking the Capital Crescent Trail — 29.3 miles biked

Miles biked: 29.3

Time on bike: about 2 hours, 15 minutes

Maximum speed: I have no idea

Roads taken: Capital Crescent Trail, Rock Creek trail (on roads and the trail).

On Sunday, May 23, I needed to get out of the apartment and do something constructive, so despite rainy-looking conditions — since when has rain scared me off? — I decided to go for a decent ride before hitting up my man Slava's "Lost" barbecue in Adams Morgan. There were still many trails in the D.C. area I hadn't biked, including the Capital Crescent Trail, which runs parallel to the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal trail, a 184-mile multi-use trail that runs to Cumberland, Md.

So I biked over the Key Bridge, part of my normal commute to work, and then walked the bike below the bridge to what I thought was the Capital Crescent trail. But after about a mile of riding on muddy, dirty gravel, I realized that I was on the C&O rather than the CC, which is paved and runs closer to the Potomac river. I backtracked a little and was able to walk the 520 down a path to the CC.

Then I proceeded to ride a good 13 miles or so on a beautiful, well-paved path that took me all the way to Bethesda, Md. It followed a slight grade, but never got hilly enough that I had to use my lowest rung of gears. It was mostly smooth riding on a fairly popular path, especially as I got into Maryland. Even on a cloudy, it-might-start-pouring afternoon, there were a good number of walkers, bikers and dogs on the path.

Overall, nothing really stood out about the path. For a short time, it was right on the Potomac. But as it got toward Maryland, it crisscrossed over the C&O to the east, leaving the water and beginning to weave its way through neighborhoods and parks, trees and intersections. 

Eventually, I emerged from trees to a busy intersection in what looked to be downtown Bethesda, where lots of people milled on a Sunday afternoon. There were a lot of shops lining the streets. But I had no interest. I wasn't dismounting the 520 anytime soon. So I crossed the intersection and rejoined the trail as it led me through a city tunnel, which was kind of cool. 

After passing over Connecticut Avenue, the path became packed-down gravel, which I didn't mind at all. Actually, with the riding entirely flat, I cruised along, going at one of my fastest paces of the day. And within a couple miles, I came to an intersection where there were signs for the Rock Creek Parkway. When beginning the ride, I had hoped to meet up with the parkway, which I could take all the way back into central D.C. 

I asked an older couple, who seemed to know the area well, about the best way to ride back into the D.C., and they told me to follow them. And, sure enough, after a couple miles on a somewhat busy road, we came to a fence in the middle of the road blocking cars from entering. The nice fella told me that we had reached the north entrance of Rock Creek Park, a good chunk of which isn't open to vehicles on the weekend.

Sweet, I thought. No cars on a road that usually allows them? That was something I didn't even experience on my West Coast trip.

So I thoroughly enjoyed a good chunk of miles spent riding downhill on roads only manned by cyclists. It was quite enjoyable and relaxing. 

Then I came to the intersection where Beach Drive ended and busy traffic took over on Rock Creek Parkway. So I joined up with the bike path on the right side of the road, and the riding became much less smooth. For the next few miles, I was on a busy, bumpy, crack-filled, narrow bike path that was inhabited by several cyclists as well as walkers and runners. I had to keep my focus at all times on the road ahead of me, constantly ready to hit the brakes or unclip. Hey, at least I was still riding downhill.

And then that was it. The path took me all the way down to Ohio Drive on the Potomac, just east of Georgetown. I stopped at the river for a few minutes before heading back into town to bike up to Slava's crib a couple miles to the north.

It had been a nice, exploratory ride on a Sunday afternoon — another neck of the greater D.C. area checked out via the Trek 520.

Adventure No. 1: Biking the Mt. Vernon trail — 43.2 miles biked

Miles biked: 43.2

Time on bike: about 3 hours, 30 minutes

Maximum speed: I have no idea

Roads taken: W&OD Trail, Four Mile Run Trail, Mt. Vernon Trail

Places stopped: Along the Mt. Vernon Trail (for water), at the end of the Mt. Vernon Trail (to turn around), at the field by JFK Airport (to rest and watch the planes take off).

I'm writing this a week after the fact and before I came up with the idea for this blog, so please excuse my lack of details.

Last Saturday, I woke up determined to go on a morning adventure. I had plans for the afternoon, but in no way did I want to waste my precious weekend. I hate sitting around, especially at my apartment. I've found that it never leads to anything good — too much eating, watching TV, etc...

So I got on the Trek 520 — which, by the way, doesn't ride quite as smoothly as it did a year ago and might need some minor repairs, but it's still my baby; I can't imagine life without it! — and took back roads for less than a mile to reach the W&OD Trail, which is a 45-mile trail that heads west all the way to Purcellville, VA.

After a quick mile or two heading east on the W&OD, it became 4 Mile Run trail at an intersection. I biked alongside a small, stagnant (and kind of smelly) river, riding up and down minor dips in the trail, until I reached the Mt. Vernon Trail intersection, which gave me the option of either heading north toward D.C. or south toward Alexandria and, ultimately, Mt. Vernon.

The Mt. Vernon trail is 18 miles long and mostly hugs the Potomac River. I was excited about some riverside riding on a beautiful, but not too hot, day, so I began riding south on the trail. Soon I reached Alexandria, and the trail briefly became Union Street, which runs through the Old Town section of the city in which my Dad grew up. Old Town is a bit touristy, but it's also beautiful and is filled with waterside parks as well as a harbor from which cruises up and down the Potomac take off.

I continued south, briefly losing my way near a bridge ramp that I had to take west to find the actual trail — not just a road. But from there, I was on the trail for the final 10-plus miles or so. And it was beautiful and diverse. At first, I hugged the river, riding through marshes on wooden bridges and passing through all kinds of ecosystems.

Then the trail headed a bit inland, crossing the scenic George Washington Memorial Parkway — at least as far as "highways" are concerned — and I enjoyed shade provided by overarching trees. It was an extremely sunny day, but I had no worries about getting burnt because of the tree-covered trail. It made it seem like it was 6 p.m. in the evening rather than noon.

Just a couple miles before Mt. Vernon, the trail crossed back below the Parkway and wended along the river. I passed by an outdoor wedding — who, seriously, wouldn't have an outdoor ceremony? If I ever get married and the bride's cool with it, I'm definitely getting hitched outside — and took a moment to look out over the river, which seemed peaceful and was pretty quiet. There were no sailboat races going on. Not a lot of action.

The trail had been mostly flat the entire way, but it got a little hilly — not much, I must say (however, remember that I'm writing from the perspective of someone who climbed some outrageous hills in Northern California) — toward the end, and I downshifted to wind my way up the trail for the final mile or so.

And then I reached a parking lot. And that, well, was it. I guess I could have explored the other end of the lot, which was packed with cars and bike racks — the trail was fairly crowded with bikers of, it seemed, all levels — but I had a feeling there wasn't much to see. I was at the end of the trail. Period. So I lied down in the grass, resting and relaxing for a few moments, and then got back on the 520.

The ride north was pleasant and seemed to go quicker than the ride south — isn't the way back always faster? I didn't retrace my ride, completely, however. I had to finish the Mt. Vernon trail, so I continued north at the 4 Mile Run intersection. And upon reaching JFK, I stopped for a few minutes to enjoy the sights of a park that is literally right next to the airport.

It's the coolest thing, because you can lie in the grass and watch airplanes fly directly overhead. I snapped a few pictures of planes zooming by, and then I continued north. The trail hugs the river, passing by several scenic outlooks with great views of the District and all the bridges heading into Washington, DC — giving plenty of opportunities for bicyclists to get into the city — until it reaches the Key Bridge, the northernmost bridge, where I usually make my way into D.C. when commuting to work.

On this afternoon, however, it was time to head home. So I hooked a left away from the bridge at Wilson Boulevard, and after climbing three decent hills and a few miles, I was back in Ballston, the section of Arlington where I reside.

And I'd biked a solid 43.2 miles. It wasn't a memorable ride, but not a bad start to my season of adventures, either.

Many more to come...

It's time to get outside

Welcome, everyone, to a blog that hopefully will show that I won't spend too much time the next three months like I am now — on a couch.

My goal over that time period is to get outside as much as possible and explore the surrounding outdoor wonders of the greater Washington, DC area. I hope to make short drives into Northern Virginia to take on the best hikes in the area — hikes that are both beautiful and as challenging as possible (note: I don't expect any of them to push me as hard as some of the ridiculous tramps I went on in New Hampshire last summer, some of which began with 2:30 a.m. wake-up calls; but the fact that they're in new territory for me should make them interesting and difficult in their own way).

I also anticipate getting out on the Trek 520 to explore the plethora of bike routes that dominate this area. Some are longer than others. Some are more scenic. But they're all enticing in that they are almost primarily on bike trails and easy to follow.

The last few weeks have been difficult for me, as I've thought about what I was doing a year ago — biking down the West Coast every day. It's not easy to think about that while sitting in an office nine hours a day. I hope that by getting out on these adventures whenever I can, I will at least somewhat satisfy my need to live adventurously on the road or the trail!

Finally, this is an interactive blog. So please let me know if you have suggestions for explorations I can go on in the area. I'd prefer to not drive more than an hour — two at most — for any adventure. Additionally, I wouldn't mind having some companions for these trips. So if you're in the area and up for an adventure, hit me up!

Peace and love,

— Jake