Today’s Date: July 30, 2024

Today’s Start Point: Alexandria, Virginia

Today’s End Point: Woodbridge, Virginia

Today’s Miles: 25.42 Miles

Cumulative Miles: 4,393.07 Miles

The headline is that I slept for nine hours. I haven’t slept that long since the trip began. Leslie didn’t need to leave for the airport until 11:00 am, so there was no need to literally get up at the crack of dawn to start riding. We went to a traditional diner for a traditional breakfast.

We said our goodbyes knowing that I should be done by the end of next week, so it will not be long. She went to the airport and I went toward the Potomac River to find the Mt. Vernon Trail. Luckily I had an easier time finding the trail than leaving it yesterday, and I was off heading south.

The trail from Alexandria to Mt. Vernon is pretty, sitting between the Potomac River and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The trail itself is heavily wooded and winding and every now and then I would catch glimpses of the river to my left. The trail also contains numerous bridges that help even out some of the hills, although there are still many hills to navigate over.

I took it slow because even though it was hot and muggy, the sun was not out. The weather report stated that I should expect rain at 2:00 pm, and since I had a late start I planned on only going 25 miles.

I continued on the Mt. Vernon Trail until its end point at Mt. Vernon. The trail took me to the entrance of the park containing Washington’s home. I didn’t enter the park but will do so at a later time (in a car).

I thought with the end of the trail I would be back on the roads for the remainder of the afternoon. Wouldn’t you know it but I hopped on another bike trail that ran along the remainder of the George Washington Memorial Highway and then Highway 1 going south. Of the 25 miles I rode today, I think there were less than three miles on open roads.

Although the trail was good-paved with no worries about traffic, it was not very scenic. The view is what you would expect on a highway.

Eventually I went off the path along the highway and passed through the town of Occoquan, Virginia. It was a charming old town that has preserved much of the older buildings. The Occoquan River flows through and there are a couple of quaint old bridges that cross it. This would make another fine stop when Les and I can tour this area (in a car, not bikes).

I made my way to my final stop at Woodbridge, Virginia at about 2:00 pm. Just as the meteorologists had not predicted, the sun came out.

The hotel is nice but sits in the middle of a food desert, so it looks like Uber Eats for tonight.