Returning from the Other Washington for a Visit!

[bobco85]

For the first time since I flew out of the DC area in September 2017, I am happy to announce that I will be returning for a week soon!

I will be flying in on a red-eye Friday night/Saturday morning April 27/28 and flying out on Saturday, May 5.

I will not be bringing Chinook (my Seattle bike) with me, but I left my other road bike (Red Velvet) in Virginia so that I could do some riding while in town (likely after performing some badly needed maintenance on it after 8 months). If I can remember, I will try and grab biking maps for the various cities around here to show everyone so that they can see the variety in approaches to the promotion of cycling in the greater Seattle area (including Bellevue, Renton, Redmond, and Tacoma).

My schedule is somewhat still being figured out, but I plan to attend HDCC, WTFCC, and a few happy hours along with going on some rides with folks during the week. I want to check out some of the new bike infrastructure in the area, too. Biking plans might include gathering footage for a new video that I would use to compare/contrast biking in the DC area with the Seattle area (this is still in the brainstorming phase).

I hope to see y’all in a few weeks!

Topic

[Emm]

I’ll be there tonight, although on the lateish side likely (6:30ish). Please save me some beer

[ejwillis62]

5 miles from my work, might stop by it is going to be so nice out.

liz W.

[accordioneur]

@Sunyata 177839 wrote:

… a western-ish happy hour…

I’m not going to add a saddle horn to my bike or spurs to my shoes, but could show up wearing a cowboy hat.

[Steve O]

@accordioneur 178003 wrote:

.. but could show up wearing a cowboy hat.

But nooooo… he showed up wearing a beret-like thingie.

[bobco85]

Thanks, everyone, for coming Wednesday to Clare & Don’s a.k.a. the “Sunyata knows everyone” place! Luckily, we were able to force everyone on the other side of the table to squish together to make room for everyone (my side eventually did have to squish), and save for a somewhat annoyingly friendly bumblebee, it was awesome company.

The Alexandria Bike Month Happy Hour tonight was also fun, but somehow I completely forgot to eat something (one can only last so long on beer) for dinner.

A quick reminder: last place you can catch me before I leave (or you attend my niece’s soccer game Saturday morning) will be at the Fridays at the Fountain happy hour at the Crystal City Water Park. I’ll be there sometime between 5:30-6.

[bobco85]

First off, it was awesome to be able to see so many of you, and it was an added bonus to ride/drink/chat/joke/etc. with y’all while I was back in town!

Here are some of the biking highlights from my trip:

(top-left) Happy to see a dogwood again (not found in WA) and in bloom; (top-right) back at the ole western DC boundary stone; (bottom) W&OD caboose goodness at Bluemont Junction
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(left) Returning for my first HDCC in 8 months (of course I had my bacon cheddar scone and hot white chocolate!); (right) riding with Chris Cross (consularrider & CBGanimal) who kept going all the way to the end of the W&OD
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(left) WTFCC on a really nice day; (right) checking out the Maine Ave/Wharf PBL for the first time
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(top) Couldn’t ride this curve all the way, mostly because I was stopped by a security guard who pointed at the easy-to-read-but-I-was-distracted sign stating no bike riding on the docks; (bottom) pano of the Wharf looking from a dock
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(left) Loving my first Hains Point lap of 2018; (right) the mini-bridges between Bailey’s Crossroads and Holmes Run are still there!
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[bobco85]

(left) Had to check out the Deepthroat Garage again (check the forum for location details); (right) back on the beautiful C&O Canal Towpath
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(left) cool display of reflections of many kites at City Center; (right) beautiful mural in Brookland named “A Survivor’s Journey” by Joel Bergner
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(left) wetlands near Kenilworth Park off the Anacostia River Trail; (right) I love this installation on the boardwalk at Yards Park, plus saw the new building under construction
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(top) back at the US Capitol; (bottom) while taking this picture at the Einstein statue, I heard a “Hey Bob!” as Felipe approached, I love how that still happens even when I was only here for a week!
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(left) crew at Crystal City Fridays at the Fountain which sadly ran out of beer partway through (they had wine, but it’s not the same); (right) after riding with Robyne and Nadine through the rain along 4MR/W&OD, as we were chatting at Bluemont Junction in Bluemont Park, a light through the dark showed up, and it was Bill! Yet another happy chance occurrence!
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