South Alexandria, Virginia

Day two started a bit later than Monday. I didn’t gobble breakfast from my open refrigerator. I fueled on pancakes at the hotel and then whipped across an urbanized stretch of suburbs and to a park and then down along Rock Creek. At one point I was pedaling along beneath a canopy of trees when a leaf fluttered down in front of me. A small but beautiful scene in a big and lovely park. Then the terrain got a little difficult. Some rocky and bumpy stretches of trail and my handle bars loosened. Luckily I was carrying my wrench and solved the problem when the ground leveled. Day two had its own brain meltdown. I reached a tunnel and walked my bike through it. Hugging the narrow walk at the side and someone told me later there is a bike trail around the tunnel but the sign is posted at the tunnel entrance and not at the trail. Day one had a boo-boo too. My mind on the ride I walked into a gas station and got distracted and walked into a ladies room. No ladies were embarrassed but I sure was as I was washing up when one walked in and asked if I’d made a mistake.

It was hot Tuesday in the Washington area but not as humid as I expected.

It also appears we’ve got the GPS working once again. Maybe that should’ve been my lead? This means you can track Wednesday’s leg to Capitol Hill. It should be cooler and I’ve no objections to the change in weather.

My last worry deals with the GPS. It’s mounted on a basket on the rear of the bike and it has batteries and wires and I’ll have the backpack tomorrow, stuffed with petitions. And I’m going into one of the most security-sensitive cities on the planet. Walt and Denny have called ahead and explained to the House Gallery and asked that Capitol Police be notified. I don’t have a scratch yet and getting slammed to the pavement could bring that to an end.

I’ve spotted some beautiful things, as I’ve mentioned, but was disappointed just east of Denton when I saw two American flags dumped on the shoulder of Route 404. And there is garbage too but nowhere near what I expected. There are also a great many cyclists in the immediate Washington area. Even some out in Glendale but the bike trail there was so quiet it was sometimes a spooky experience. Yet the trail is straight and smooth and free of four wheeled vehicles. We did see a gasoline price in Virginia today of 3.45.9. Are you happy hearing it? You know, your doctor can find just a little gangrene but it doesn’t mean the patient is getting well.

We’ve got a lot riding here and it isn’t only me. It can’t stop tomorrow.

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