This morning I rode the rest of the Mt. Vernon Hotel (see below). I rode from my hotel on King Street in Old Town Alexandria north toward the National Airport to the end of the trail at Roosevelt Island (between Key Bridge on the Kennedy Center on the Virginia side of the Potomac). I also crossed the 14th street bridge and rode (dodged tourist) over to the Washington Monument. I went over there because a student of mine at SU is an intern with Amnesty International and they were having an event on the Mall. They had a life size model Guantanamo cell; a bunch of folks were dressed in Orange jump suits carrying signs against torture, closing Guantanamo, and "counter terrorism with justice." I got to see our student and hear the head of Amnesty USA speak. I may also be in the background of a BBC news report!
The ride was much like the ride to Mt. Vernon from Alexandria as reported below. It's an enjoyable ride, but little chance for riding fast because of the narrowness and curves in the trail, the pedestrians, and the ocassional street crossing. The neatest thing was riding past the end of the runway at national while a plane was landing right over my head.
The ride across the 14th street Bridge was fine, but once you get across there are no signs directed cyclists to particular routes, so you're fighting pedestrians, policemen on horseback, and traffic. I did see a number or bikers actually riding in the traffic rather than on the wide sidewalks around the mall. I don't recommend riding in the area of the mall, but with some experience one might be able to find pleasant places to ride.
Of course, the views from the trail on the Virginia side across the river to the monuments is great.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Hi Barry......I lived in Arlington for 17 years and the Mt. Vernon Trail was one of my favorite places to ride. Great views! I would pick up the trail in Arlington and ride down to Mt. Vernon, treat myself to a milkshake at the snack bar, and head for home. But you're right, Barry, it is NOT a trail for working up a good head o'steam! And it only got more congested in the years I lived there (1980-1997). I switched to the W&OD Trail, which I could pick up just as easily from my house. No river views, of course, but the W&OD offered a wonderful two-wheeled exodus into 'real' country, west of Dulles Airport. Cows, creeks, pastures. I don't think that's the case today. Development in the 1990s+ brought subdivisions and plenty of people. We're lucky to live where we do--loads of pert darned quiet country roads to choose from!
Post a Comment