2014 April Trail Conditions

@americancyclo 82815 wrote:

Half of the crystal city connector trail was passable yesterday evening. tree just needs to move a bit further

From my experience, the downed tree only ever blocked half the trail. It remained untouched as of yesterday evening’s commute for me, and for your ride through apparently as well. So, sadly, this means there has been no progress on clearing the trail.

I didn’t go take the CC Connector this morning, opting instead to see some new scenery and soak up the gorgeous AM by riding up Long Bridge Dr to Boundary Channel and through the LBJ Grove area to get to the 14th St Bridge, so I can’t report on it as of this AM, but if someone else can confirm the tree is still there, I will gladly re-report it today and include my initial report email in the new report.

@americancyclo 82823 wrote:

yesterday was my first time seeing it, so I assumed that it had blocked the entire trail (similar to the tree across the Custis at Lyon Village) and that something had been done by the county. I was all set to report it through the ARL app, but the cones and tape made me think that it was being taken care of.

Nope. I just reported it on the app myself, assuming it’s still there. I had emailed to the trails email Tim shared a couple days ago, too. So it’s now reported twice.

Here’s a link to the online report: http://www.publicstuff.com/va/arlington-va/fallen-trees-or-limbs/fallen-trees-or-limbs-343664 if NE1 wants to go click support.

At least the trail is passable, but seems that one guy with a chainsaw could fix it in 10 minutes.

There’s a black cat that resides next to the trail in the mornings just behind the Navy Federal building in Vienna on the WOD. Travel at your own risk.

@rpiretti 82922 wrote:

There’s a black cat that resides next to the trail in the mornings just behind the Navy Federal building in Vienna on the WOD. Travel at your own risk.

Spotted a big black cat chowing down on a catch right beside the trail very near that location yesterday. Looked ready to defend it’s catch too. A little earlier there was a walker stopped on the trail looking back toward the left side. As I passed the young deer he was watching stood stock still in some light brush a few feet from the edge of the trail. Spring is finally here!!

Nice, yeah, he’s quite the hunter but looks pretty nice. He doesn’t seem to stand just next to the trail as bikes pass.

@DismalScientist 83702 wrote:

Riding the Georgetown Branch Trail, portaging down the trail to Chain Bridge, and climbing 41st Street in the rain and darkness without proper raingear does indeed suck as much as you think it would.

I guess khakis can only do so much…:rolleyes:

@bobco85 83731 wrote:

From personal experience, I’m sure at some point as your clothes get progressively wet and grimy your thoughts go from:
“Hmm, it’s coming down a lot harder than I hoped. I wish I had my rain gear”
to “Well, I can just hang my clothes to dry”
to “Shoot, everything I’m wearing is going to need to be washed”
to “Wow, this is actually kinda dangerous”
to “Well, I’m going to have to wash everything anyways”
to “Hey, this isn’t so bad”
to “Now this is stupid, but I’m actually starting to have fun”
to hopefully “Here comes a big puddle! (splash) Weeee!”

And if you happen to be riding through 5 inches of rain (the dying throes of a hurricane) in the Seagull Century of 2005, your thoughts go from:

“Weird, I can actually hear my feet sloshing in the water trapped in my shoe as I pedal”
to “Why is that guy even trying to stay dry with rain gear”
to “At least its warm rain because it’s from a tropical storm”
to “My fingertips are wrinkled like I’ve been in a bath for five hours”
to “Someday I’ll brag about this day on Bikeforums.”