Cherry Blossom Ride

After the plan to ride to see the cherry blossoms was originally thwarted by below-freezing temperatures and no blossoms to be seen, a group of five of us braved the gorgeous blue morning and mild temperatures to head downtown and see one of Washington, DC's best-known displays, the Japanese Cherry Blossoms that surround the Tidal Basin. 

The ride involved three pickup points, and in spite of a bit of disorganization on my part about timing, we finally came together as Victoria Angulo and I headed up Beachway and over to Bluemont Park to meet up with Nomi Taslett and Bill Cook, and then down the Four Mile Run trail to pick up the club's newest member and a soon-to-be neighbor, Andrea Fus, who will be moving into her lake house with her family in the fall, after major renovations are complete.

The weather was very accommodating as we headed east and stopped for photos at Gravelly Point, just north of Reagan Airport, and where the planes fly close and directly overhead as they land.

Veronica, Nomi and Andrea

Veronica, Nomi, Andrea and Bill (not pictured: me, the photographer)

We travelled up the Mount Vernon Trail north and across Memorial Bridge and gathered at the entrance to the walkway around the Tidal Basin. The blooms were at peak color and it was a photographer's paradise. Here are a few of my best images.

By 11:30am, we were ready for the return ride. Bill took off ahead of the pack in his speedy recumbent, and we others crossed over the 14th Street Bridge to the Mount Vernon Trail and back to the Four Mile Run Trail at a more leisurely pace. It was funny but at the exact time we reached the intersection of the trail and Walter Reed Drive, Bill happens to arrive. He had stopped for a bite to eat in Shirlington Village, and it was quite a surprise to meet him again at that spot.  

Andrea said her goodbyes at Mount Vernon Avenue, near her current home, and the remaining three of us continued on. Nomi split away at Columbia Pike as Veronica and I stopped at the relatively new Cafe Sazon on Columbia Pike at the bike trail for some refreshments.

The final push home was a bit daunting as the temperature was now close to the mid 80's. Veronica and I plowed ahead, slowly made our way up the hill on North Manchester, and went our separate ways at Waterway and Stoneybrae. That last climb up Stoneybrae after a 26 mile ride is a serious challenge, but all my winter training paid off as I made it home, exhausted, but pleased that it was a fun time for all.

The May 4 National Harbor Ride is soon approaching, so mark your calendars and get your bikes in shape. More info will follow.

I'll be sending out emails about ad hoc riding around the Lake if anyone would like to join. It takes about an hour to do the loop from Potterton to Beachway to Blair, then left on Columbia to left at Aqua Terrace. I then usually ride to the end of Lakeview to the right, then back over Lakeview to the Women's Garden bridge and back home.

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Happy riding!