Bicycle Fun Club – Lotus and Water Lily Festival – July 16th

[Judd]

What: Bicycle Fun Club Ride to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens for the Lotus and Water Lily Festival
When: Sunday, July 16th, 9:30 a.m. departure
Start: Crystal City Water Park
Route: It’s about 12.5 miles one way. We’ll take Long Branch > 14th St Bridge > Case Bridge > I Street > 3rd St > Anacostia River Trail West Bank > Kenilworth Garden

Things to know:
The Aquatic Gardens are located right off the Anacostia River Trail
The path to the Aquatic gardens is a mix of gravel, grass and dirt with some roots. I had no trouble on 25s when scouting for this event.
Bring a lock. Bike riding is prohibited within the gardens. A cable lock should do. There are racks in the Gardens that aren’t great.
There is a ranger guided tour at 11.
More info on the festival: https://www.nps.gov/keaq/planyourvisit/lotus-and-water-lily-festival.htm

Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: I am a Murlander and meeting at the Crystal City Water Park is far/scary.
A: That’s more of a statement, than a question, but feel free to meet us at the Aquatic Gardens instead. We should be there around 10:30.

Q: I’m going to be really tired from the Tour de Pharmacy and Kitty Climate Ride Fundraiser
A: We really need to work on the definition of question with you. I’m going to be tired too, which is why the ride starts a bit later in the morning. The Aquatic Center is serene and has lots of shade. You can take a nap there if you want.

Q: What if I’m hungry afterwards?
A: Judd Lumberjack rarely passes through Navy Yard without a stop at Bluejacket for food and beer.

Q: Can I mark this ride as a commute on Strava?
A: Absolutely not. You will be immediately kicked off the ride and then beaten with a dictionary.

Q: Is this the best casual group fun ride around?
A: Yes, unlike some other competing group rides, no one has ever gotten herpes during a Bicycle Fun Club Ride.

Topic

[Nadine]

Hey Judd, I’m in! And also I have a question.

Mary E is planning to meet us on the newish bridge over the RR Tracks &.the Anacostia boathouse. She thinks we’ll be there at~ 10:15. I’m to text her if you change your plans and take us over the 11th at or SCap bridge.

Will try to get there early enough to ask you about this tomorrow, I. case you don’t.see this

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[Rod Smith]

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[Rod Smith]

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[Rod Smith]

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[Boomer Cycles]

Shots from today’s Bicycle Fun Club ride

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[Boomer Cycles]

And more shots…

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[Boomer Cycles]

And since I can am only upload 4 pics at a time for some odd reason…

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[Boomer Cycles]

More pics from today’s Bicycle Fun Club ride

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[bobco85]

Thanks, Judd & komorebi, for yet another awesome Bicycle Fun Club ride! Here are some of the pics I took at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens:

(left) little turtle; (center) white water lily flower; (right) so many lotus flowers
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(left) size comparison; (center) lotus flower bud; (right) the world beneath the lotuses
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(left) pink hibiscus flowers; (center) water pooling in a lotus leaf; (right) in a field of lotuses
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(left) pink lotuses; (center) blue star water lily; (right) pretty pink water lily
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(left) bee chilling on a Queen Anne’s lace plant; (center) dragonfly just before take-off; (right) raspberries that were ripe for picking but were too far away from the edge of the boardwalk to reach
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[Judd]

Thanks to everyone that came out. If I’m counting right we had 19 people for at least part of the trip.

For those that couldn’t make it, the Aquatic Gardens are worth the visit and the festival continues for the rest of the week. The gardens are worth repeating and it will probably be a regular stop on the Anacostia River Trail.

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[Judd]

@JustinW 162839 wrote:

Two more – first timers for the BF Club!

Thanks for coming Justin. I hope you and Helen had a great time and come out to future BFC rides.

[JustinW]

@Judd 162866 wrote:

Thanks for coming Justin. I hope you and Helen had a great time and come out to future BFC rides.

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Thanks for the great ride and fine company. The Gardens were quite a sight. Some of the lily pads were simply massive! I wanted to try to ride one….maybe one day.

[drevil]

Wife and I missed the ride by a week, but the flowers are still out. We also ran into some of the original participants… or maybe they never left?

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens by ricky d, on Flickr

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens by ricky d, on Flickr

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens by ricky d, on Flickr

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens by ricky d, on Flickr

Without the posting of last weekend’s group ride, I still would’ve had no clue it was right off the ART and ridden right by it like the other dozen times before. Cheers!

[KLizotte]

^ Gorgeous photos! Thanks.

[Author]

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