Houston, we have a problem. Lack of signage, incorrect signage, Google maps sending me one way and then telling me to make a U-turn, etc. have contributed to cutting my rides short for the past two days and it’s frustrating. Just when I was patting myself on the back for making it halfway in such good time. Yesterday I was supposed to be in Mount Vernon, VA but I didn’t make it out of Maryland. Today I was supposed to end up in Woodbridge, but couldn’t get out of Alexandria.
I’ll start at the beginning. I did a little internet research to find some breakfast. A place called the Old Georgetown Grill seemed to have good reviews, so I walked over. It was empty. Completely empty. I went in and ate there anyway, and it was awful. If a breakfast place in a city like Bethesda is empty on a weekday morning, it’s probably for a reason, as I found out. I walked around a bit afterwards and did some people watching. People in Bethesda seem pretty fit. I saw lots of runners, and many places where exercise classes were going on.
Today was really the first day I would be riding in the rain. I didn’t mind at all, although everyone looked at me with pity. I waited until my phone had fully charged before I took off in the wrong direction. It’s important to make sure your phone is charged on a trip like this, especially if you’re going to ride in the wrong direction. And don’t drop your phone in the toilet. I turned around and found my route. I made my way to the Capital Crescent Trail, which was where I was supposed to be yesterday. It was awesome. I put my music on and headed in the direction of Alexandria. My front tire was a little squishy, so I made a note to take care of that later.
I honestly didn’t realize that my route would take me straight to Lincoln Memorial, which was very cool. A nice couple from Delaware agreed to keep an eye on my bike while I climbed the steps to get a good look at Mr. Lincoln. The weather cleared up a bit, and I was feeling happy at the opportunity to see the sights in DC. I would have loved to hang out and watch the planes taking off from Ronald Reagan Airport, but I had to get going.
I needed to switch to the Mount Vernon Trail, at this point. My map told me to cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge to access the trail. A sign on my side of the bridge clearly stated “NO MOUNT VERNON TRAIL ACCESS”. It lied. It took me 15 minutes of asking people and then giving up and going across the bridge to figure that out. This trail becomes very hard to follow when you get to Alexandria. I was starving, so I stopped for lunch on the waterfront, but after that, I lost the trail. There I was, standing next to my bike, and a couple approached me on their bikes with a familiar look on their faces. They were lost too. They asked me if I knew how to get on the Mount Vernon Trail, and I told them I didn’t and I had to give up because I couldn’t make it to Woodbridge today. We wished each other well and parted ways.
I got settled in and walked up the road to a Mexican place that had been recommended. It looked cool and had a nice vibe. I sat down at the bar and chatted with the friendly bartender. The two gentlemen next to me each had margaritas bigger than their heads in front of them (and no food). I ordered some food and it was fantastic. If you’re ever in Alexandria, I highly recommend El Paso. Yummy. A man sat down next to me, and we had a nice conversation. His name was Mark. He was impressed by my ride, and offered to pay for my dinner, which I was extremely grateful for. It was nice to have company while I ate, for a change.
Not sure where I’ll end up tomorrow. I need to get back on my route and stop getting lost or I’ll never make it to Key West. Cross your fingers!
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