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Cat 8: sunrise over the future Potomac Yard metro station.

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In keeping with my theme of “bicycles depicted in public art,” see cross-posting here for the Mount Vernon Recreation Center mural, as well as a portion of The Mural at Greenhill Properties, below:

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I say “a portion” because the whole mural is the length of a football field. Read more here. The street address is 611 S. Pickett Street in Alexandria, although the mural is actually on the north side of the building, on Edsall Road.

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Update: the company pinky-swears that they’re expediting a third, correct order. I will (1) believe it when I see it, and (2) let you know if/when it arrives.

Thank you to everyone who’s requested a misprinted gaiter. If you’ve given me your address, your gaiter should have arrived or be on its way. I have a few on hold for people who expressed interest but who still need to make specific delivery arrangements (Laurie E., Nadine, LuisFilipe). A few more people told me they’re picking theirs up at HDCC tomorrow. Beyond that, I only have a few gaiters left, and I’ll bring those to HDCC tomorrow. If you can’t make it to HDCC, check with drevil if you ride out in the wilds of Murriland, or with Hancockbs if you ride out in the wilds of Prince William County, because they agreed to distribute the extras. Thanks!

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@Laurie E. 204980 wrote:

I had some problems with PayPal years ago and cancel my account. Can I cash app you the $1 for mailing or meet you at Jones Point Park one afternoon?

Sure, let me know when you’re planning to be at Jones Point Park, and I’ll meet you there. Thanks.

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@drevil 204962 wrote:

1/12/21 – Bat

On January 12, 1966, ABC premiered its Batman television series, starring Adam West as the caped crusader and Burt Ward as Robin.

Happy hunting!

1/12/2021 — Bat. Here’s my bike visiting Primetime Baseball LLC, which has crossed bats in its logo.

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@drevil 204836 wrote:

1/11/21 – Plane

“On Jan. 11, 1935, the aviator Amelia Earhart began a trip to Oakland, Calif., from Honolulu that she would complete the next day, becoming the first person to fly to the United States mainland from Hawaii.”

Happy hunting!

1/11/2021 — plane. Planes flying in the “missing man” formation at the Air Force Memorial.

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Benjamin Banneker Park in Arlington is named after Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806), a free Black mathematician, astronomer, and surveyor. The grandson of an enslaved African and a white indentured servant, Banneker had little formal education and was largely self-taught. He computed the lifecycle of seventeen-year cicadas, built a clock entirely out of wood while still a young man, published six annual farmer’s almanacs, and corresponded with Thomas Jefferson. He was also part of the initial team that surveyed the boundaries of DC, and the original SW-9 boundary stone is within the park.

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@drevil 204733 wrote:

1/10/21 – Nut

In my research, George Washington Carver may have been born on January 10 (or January 1), 1864, but other sources say he may have been sometime in June also. He’s probably most well known for his work with peanuts, but I thought it would be tough to find “peanut”, so I’m shortening it to “nut”. Happy Hunting!

1/10/2021 — nut (or in this case, walnut):

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@drevil 204580 wrote:

1/9/21 – Balloon. Happy hunting!

1/9/2021 — balloon. Here’s my bike at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center mural, which has a hot-air balloon as well as kids holding balloons:

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Some backstory on this mural: local artists designed it, and then five youth teams helped paint it during the 2010 Art on the Avenue festival. The mural was supposed to be temporary, with a new mural being painted every two years as part of Art on the Avenue. But the community loved it so much they petitioned to keep it.

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@awitt 204594 wrote:

I want 2 sets of hangtags (one of each date) as well as a gaiter (correct text). Can I order now and prepay for the gaiter or do I need to wait for the gaiter to be delivered to you before I can order one? I want it all in one package when you deliver the gaiter.

I’m not totally sure there’s going to be a correct-text gaiter. I’m waiting to hear back on whether they can expedite a third printing, or whether they’re going to cut their losses and just refund my money. I should know more by Monday. So please don’t prepay for the gaiter now. Thanks!

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@komorebi 204384 wrote:

Tracking info says that the gaiters should arrive tomorrow! Let’s hope that the curse of 2020 doesn’t strike again …

Argh, I thought 2020 was supposed to be over! Either that, or I jinxed myself. The company printed the gaiters with the wrong artwork again. Incidentally, if you’re ever in the market for custom gaiters, I don’t recommend going with the Neck Gator. Nice people, but not very competent. I’m still waiting to hear back on whether they’re going to expedite a third (!!!) order or give me a refund.

In the meantime, I have lots of gaiters with the wrong year (2017) and the wrong number of days in Freezing Saddles (77). Maybe the messed-up logo is an apt metaphor for these messed-up times we’re living in. I’m happy to give away the gaiters for free. Three options for delivery: (1) if you’re in Alexandria or Arlington, PM me your street address and I’ll deliver them to your mailbox or wherever you indicate; (2) come find me at Hump Day Coffee Club (in Shirlington, in the breezeway next to Guapo’s) next Wednesday, January 13 between 7:15-7:45 a.m.; or (3) send me $1 via PayPal to cover shipping, and I’ll mail one to you. In the optional “Write a note” field, enter your mailing address so that I know where to send the gaiter.

I also have a limited number of FS2020 and FS2018 zipper pulls ($1) and FS2019 ankle bands ($2) available. If you’d like one, come find me at HDCC or send me the appropriate amount via PayPal plus $1 for shipping. For example, if you’d like the complete set of one FS2018 zipper pull, one FS2019 ankle band, one FS2020 zipper pull, and one bad gaiter mailed to you, that would be $1 (2018 zipper pull) + $2 (2019 ankle band) + $1 (2020 zipper pull) + $0 (gaiter) + $1 (shipping) = $5. See pic below.

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@drevil 204396 wrote:

1/8/21 – Bell (but not on a bike) OR an Elvis

1/8/2021 — bell. I was thwarted several times in my quest to find a bell. I was all set to go to the Netherlands Carillon, until I remembered the bells have been removed for restoration. I rode to Virginia Theological Seminary, which has a set of bells from the same foundry that cast the original Liberty Bell and also Big Ben, but I discovered when I got there that the bells aren’t visible from the ground. I tried several nearby churches, but they were all either bell-less or had shutters covering up their bells. So finally I took the easy way out and stopped by a local Taco Bell.

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My first week of quaxing has yielded:

• a biscuit from Bayou Bakery
• fish tacos from District Taco
• a jigsaw puzzle from Labyrinth Games
• a biscuit from Junction Bakery & Bistro
• a donut from Good Company Doughnuts
• a kouign-amann from Abyssinia Market
• a scone from Bread & Water Company
• innumerable weird looks from passersby while I try to get a selfie with me, my bike, my purchase, and the store sign all in the frame

I can’t wait to see what next week brings. I do most of my riding in the mornings before work these days, but eventually I’m going to run out of coffee/breakfast places to hit. Guess I’ll just have to start sneaking out for lunchtime rides.

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Tracking info says that the gaiters should arrive tomorrow! Let’s hope that the curse of 2020 doesn’t strike again …

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Hi, teammates! It was great to see BicycleBeth and steph<3bikes at the happy hour, and I hope to meet the rest of you virtually soon. I live in Alexandria and am a transportation rider: I went car-free last year and rely on my bike to get around. This is my seventh Freezing Saddles, which I guess makes me one of the old fogeys. The fact that I'm working from home and no longer bike commuting will mean fewer miles for me than previous years, but I'll try to at least make it out for my ten miles each day.

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