Day 4: Washington, DC

Date:           July 12, 2019
Distance:       42 miles
Average Speed:  9.9 mph

Maximum Speed:  35.1 mph

Feet Climbed:   1501
Day Trip:       Annapolis to Washington, DC

 

Di and I were up by 7:30am and in search of coffee and breakfast by 8am.  That is pretty amazing for us.  We walked down Main Street and stopped when we saw a place that was packed with people.  The place was called Chick and Ruth's Deli and apparently is a landmark for downtown Annapolis.  The food and prices were what you would expect from a good diner, but the menu did describe something that I had not expected.  A small notice in the menu stated that every day at 8:30, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the restaurant staff and patrons were welcome to stand and recite also.  I decided not to tell Di about this practice because she might have found it strange and that may have endangered the immediacy of my coffee and pancakes. 

What Main St, Annapolis looks like at 8am

Chick and Ruth's is not very large and many patrons were local

I ordered a pancake with an over-easy egg and Di ordered a spinach omelet.  She usually eats healthier food than me, but you can't go wrong with pancakes and eggs!

Di looks happy with her coffee and healthy breakfast

They make a good looking omelet at Chick and Ruth's

That is what my pancake looks like after only only bite

This is the pen given with my bill - c'mon, really?

 Just after the bill came, a voice came over the speakers announcing that it was now 8:30 and time for the Pledge of Allegiance.  Everyone immediately jumped up and joined in the recitation, as did I.  Di had a look of bewilderment in her eyes and I explained that this happened every day and I had read of it in the menu but had not told her so I could relish this moment.  We then both stood and recited the pledge, con brio! Hey, when in Rome...

Wall mural at cafe at which we chose not to eat

We went back to the hotel and watched a little of Le Tour and Wimbledon while drinking water and packing.  After about an hour, at 10am, we were ready to go.

Di adding tape to my handlebars before leaving the Maryland Inn

It was hot already.  It was only 10am, but it was toasty.  We rode through some very busy streets as well as some interesting neighborhoods, but after about 30 minutes we were on one of the main roads of today's route.  It was at this time we met Manfred, a fellow cyclist who was on the last day of his tour that started a week ago in Boston.  Manfred was riding to Washington, DC to meet up with his wife, who had chosen a more reasonable mode of transportation and had already arrived in DC.  Manfred has travelled quite a bit and bicycled in many of the places he visited, so he had many stories to share with us. He spent three years in the Philippines and he plans on opening a bike touring agency there.  One of the things Manfred shared with us are the Velominati, the Keepers of the Cogs.  They are a group of cyclists who comprised a list of rules for cyclists.  Most we all follow already, some are new to me, and some are seriously tongue in cheek.  Here is a sample rule:

1. Rule #56: Espresso or macchiato only. When wearing cycling kit and enjoying a pre or post ride coffee, it is only appropriate to drink espresso or macchiato. If the word soy/skim latte is heard to be used by a member wearing cycling apparel, then that person must be ceremonially beaten with Co2 canisters or mini pumps by others within the community.

More such gems can be found at http://www.velominati.com/.

Things were going swimmingly until we came upon a barrier stating Road Closed!  Apparently, the road was flooded up ahead and a city worker had been stationed to tell us that all motorists, cyclists and pedestrians were prohibited from using the road.  Manfred quickly consulted with Google Maps and came up with a detour that would only add five miles to our route.

Eh, what can you do?

The detour was scenic (row crops!)

Di and Manfred checking the route

We are undeterred by the detour

Bucolic biking

Checking the route yet again

 A little after 12:30, we stopped at a Walgreens to get something to drink.  I told Di I could go for a chocolate milk and she returned with a 52 ounce bottle.  The calorie content was 980!  To put that in context, the entire calories burned on today's 42 mile ride was 1,100. In other words, that was some pretty good chocolate milk.

Fairlife? They've got to work on their marketing.

Shortly after leaving Walgreens (it felt a lot hotter than that)

Manfred was a lot of fun to ride with and we were compatible riders with one notable exception - he didn't like to stop for red lights.  He would quickly glance left and right and then dart across the intersection.  If I was in front and started slowing down at the light, he would yell encouragement to me such as, "Yes, you can make it!", or "it is all clear!"  My favorite is when he came flying by me yelling "We can jump this one!" and sped through the intersection just as the cross cars started accelerating.  We always made it through with plenty of room to spare, but I'm not sure Di and I will make it a habit. (Though later in the day after Manfred had left us I did yell to Di that "We can jump this one!" as we went through an amber light).

Manfred packs light

Around 2pm we needed to take a break and so Manfred parted ways with us.  Safe travels Manfred, it was fun riding with you.

Di checking the map during a break

We rested for about 30 minutes and then began the final leg into town.  The ride was a mix of busy traffic, wide sidewalks and bike paths.

This bike path had a lot of natural beauty

You can ride on some of the sidewalks here

We made downtown DC around 3:30.  It hadn't been a very long day, but we were both tired.  We are unaccustomed to the heat and it is probably affecting us.  (More than once today while riding through neighborhoods we were offered the advice to stay out of the heat.  Ha ha!) 

We made it!

Hmm, that water looks inviting

They have a structure here they call the Washington Monument, but we already saw that in Baltimore.

Ersatz Washington Monument

A lot of people were protesting all at the same time about different things

We made it to the Hampton around 4pm.  It wasn't a particularly long or grueling day, so why did our bodies feel as though it was? Who knows! In any event, I went across the street to Panera to pick up dinner and brought back pasta and chicken salads and also a greek salad for each of us. We lay on the bed with the air conditioner blasting and feasted (as much as one can on salads).

Oh yeah, I also washed my clothes. Di insisted.

The return of the clothesline

Tomorrow we are off to Leesburg.