I spent a very leisurely morning getting out of the hotel and riding a few blocks to enjoy brunch at a local diner.
Then it was off to begin the day with one of my favorite rides, the Mount Vernon Trail. I've included a few pictures below, but the pictures really don't do it justice. This is a very well maintained trail that winds along the Potomac river and through Old Town Alexandria. The trail was packed with other cyclists, joggers, skaters and walkers out enjoying the day.
I took my time riding down the trail but it ended all too soon at George Washington's home, Mount Vernon. From there I followed the Tidewater Potomac route down through Fort Belvoir and then down a mile and a half section of US Route 1. Route 1 in this area is a major artery full of high-speed, often impatient drivers and has little to no shoulder. Cyclists are killed here every year, so I rode with extreme caution, occasionally just pulling off the road to let traffic by.
Lorton Road between Route 1 and I-95 is nice and wide with a marked bike lane. West of I-95 the road narrows to a twisting two-lane with no shoulder. Fortunately traffic was fairly light today and I didn't have any problems.
I left the route a few miles down Chain Bridge Road and rode a familiar route home. I was happy to finally make it back home, but have to admit that, sitting here typing this up a few days later, I'm already thinking about my next trip!
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