Today’s Date: July 29, 2024

Today’s Start Point: Ashburn, Virginia

Today’s End Point: Alexandria, Virginia

Today’s Miles: 43.63 Miles

Cumulative Miles: 4,367.65 Miles

Les was staying another day and we had decided on spending the night in Alexandria, Virginia, which would be a relatively short ride of about 40 miles on bike paths. I know I am repeating myself, but the bike path system here is amazing. It is actually a useful system that you can use for getting from point A to Point B.

I didn’t get away until 8:30 am, having the luxury of sitting down to have breakfast. After that, it was out the door into the steamy climate.

The major bikeway into Washington DC is the Chesapeake & Ohio Bike Path (C&O Path), which I had ridden through Leesberg, Virginia yesterday. Our hosts, John and Kristin live in a subdivision. I had to ride one-tenth of a mile to get to a bike route. I would ride this bike path for four miles to the C&O Path. Of the approximately 40 miles I would ride to get to Alexandria, 95 percent of the route would be on paved bike paths.

Once I got on the C&O Path, it was very smooth sailing. The surface was perfect and flat and had a center yellow line. There were other riders on the C&O Path, either commuting, training or casually riding along.

I had stopped for a Gatorade break when an older gentlemen wheeled up to me. He wanted me to listen to his bike to see if I could tell what it was. I used my stock answer of “it must be your bottom bracket”. He nodded sagely and we talked about other things. He was a local cyclist who had ridden his whole life. At one point I asked him his age, and I was shocked to learn he was 81 years old. We continued talking and talking and talking. He was a sweet man and had some good stories, but the temperature was rising and Leslie was waiting. I extracted myself as politely and as gently as I could. He was still talking as a rode off.

The C&O Path continued on towards DC, through wooded areas and suburban commercial areas. It was really starting to heat up. The fact that you can use cycle paths to go to many locations is great, unless you get lost among the paths. I stumbled along and eventually found the Potomac.

The C&O Path goes straight east to the Potomac River, when it merges into the Mt. Vernon Trail that goes south along the River. It is a beautiful ride, cruising along the western banks of the river with wonderful views of DC, including the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials and the Washinton Monument. It would have been easy to hop across the Memorial Bridge to DC, but the heat and the thought of Leslie waiting meant that continuing on was the better decision.

As the name suggests, the Mt. Vernon Trail goes to George Washington’s home, which is about 11 miles past Alexandria, Virginia. I will be using that route tomorrow when I leave Alexandria, but for today I exited the Mt. Vernon Trail at Alexandria.

Whenever I have to use Google for directions I always have trouble not getting lost (see above). I was lost again and neither Google or Garmin were very helpful. I finally found my way with a combination of apps and asking people.

We are staying in Old Town Alexandria and the town is perfect for an afternoon R&R. The town has restored colonial buildings with trendy restaurants, cars and stores. I feel bad for Les because after the ride this morning I have trouble walking around in the heat. She was a good sport about it.

Les was already at the hotel when I got there and we went out for an afternoon of eating and a little bit of drinking. The heat forced us to duck into this and that wine bar. We are planning on a nice dinner tonight and then Les has a flight in the early afternoon tomorrow. I will try for a short ride since I will not be leaving until Les goes to the airport.