Multi Use Path Courtesy

Since today was beautiful, took a rather scenic walk with the dog through Rock Creek Park by the Smithsonian National Zoo. Of course, you simply needed to walk outside of you did not check the weather forecast to know that it is shorts and t-shirt weather 🙂

“Passing on your left”

Proper trail etiquette dictates that when you are passing someone, usually from behind, you always pass on the left side and provide an audible signal to that effect. Since bells are required in the District of Columbia and many other states, a simple “ping” is all that is needed. Of course, saying “Passing on your left” will help those unaccustomed to the bell signal.

Tally

Here goes. The list of those who signaled they were passing when approaching from behind.

Cyclists

Yes 7 33%

No 14 67%

Runners

Yes 0

No 11 100%

One runner had to stop because my dog was in the way and shook his head in disgust as he continued running. Hmm…had you let me know you were coming and passed on the left and not the right, you might not have been inconvenienced by my dog.

Moral of the story

When you are passing someone in a car, on a bike, in a stroller, or jogging, kindly signal that you are passing and always pass on the left side. 🙂 Not only will it make your trip more enjoyable, you will avoid 99.9% of crashes t00!

2012-03-042021-01-26

2012 WABA Vasa Ride

6:00 AM Sunday Wake Up!

Let me start by saying that I normally get up for work at 8 AM..so getting up at 6 AM on a weekend….ouch! I volunteered to help with setup / registration as well as being a ride marshal for the 59 mile course. There were 15 and 31 mile routes as well, all with the promise of warm blueberry soup which is actually made with bilberries, the “Swedish” equivalent.

8 AM – GO!

It was a bit chilly so only 275 registered riders showed up of the 400 registrants. Additionally volunteer ride marshals such as myself were part of the group. Since we were not on a closed course, we had some casual riders join in as well.

Starting at the “House of Sweden” at 30th and K Streets NW, which happens to be very close to Georgetown University where I spend 8 hours a day :), we headed out on K Street which is under the Whitehurst Freeway, a scene from Batman Begins I think, and then on the Capital Crescent Trail as we headed into Maryland. We zigged and zagged and rode MacArthur Boulevard up into Maryland and then on Glen road. On the way we had a Powerade pit stop and a turn around at a remote convenience store. We traveled down the bike / pedestrian / horse only portion of Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park.

Mile 50.8 BIG HILL

After a nice ride through Rock Creek Park, we see the sign for Brandywine ahead on left. I signal and then my jaw drops….it is probably the steepest, longest hill I have seen in the District of Columbia! I have to admit that I had to get off and walk a small portion as my knee was hurting me a bit. Perhaps it would have scared everyone out of doing the 59 mile route, but an ‘*’ on the cue sheet would have been helpful! Just kidding, though I think I would have rather had the hill early on 🙂

10 Minutes to spare…

So the group I was riding back huffed it as we were back on the CCT for the home stretch and made it back with 10 minutes to spare. Just in time to enjoy some blueberry soup..in a cup. Here are some stats from my bike computer. Unfortunately they include my limping ride home.

Travel Time: 4 Hours and 31 Minutes
Total Time: 5 Hours (Vasa Total. Does not include ride home)
Mileage: 61.59 Miles
Average Speed: 13.6 MPH
Max Speed: 30.6 MPH

While not as fast as my average speed for the Air Force Classic Crystal Ride from 2011, but this course was much more difficult as far as elevation changes and was not a closed or marked course.

Second Longest Ride

So this was my second longest ride. I am not sure if I will do more of these as I should train for them, but find my bike riding to work quite monotonous. I need to find more fun routes to go I think.

My good friend Shane was tempted me with Fondo’s in NY and other cities, but I think I want to do something local. Last year the Gran Fondo DC was cancelled, and I am not confident in my swimming abilities, but would like to try a Triathlon one of these days so say I have done one. Turning 34 this year, I think I better do it soon! LOL

History: Vasaloppet

Check out the event details at WABA.org. Here are some details from the WABA page in case it gets taken down.

WABA’s Annual Vasa Ride is our bicycle-themed tribute to Sweden’s legendary Vasaloppet, the world’s longest running cross country ski race in Sweden. Since 1922, thousands from around the world participate in the 90Km cross country ski race the first Sunday of March. Vasaloppet commemorates the trail of renegade Swede King Gustav Eriksson Vasa, who led the rebellion to free Sweden after a long and dangerous pursuit on skis. So why the warm blueberry soup? To keep riders warm and energized of course. It’s as much of an institution as the race itself! More info on the Vasaloppet.

2012-02-272021-01-26

Last GU Hoyas game and I finally got it

Okay….so I know this is probably obvious for those who are really into Basketball, but I never really paid attention until tonight.

Want to be number 99?

Perhaps we were ahead by enough that my mind wandered a bit more than usual, but I realized tonight that none of the players had a number that could not be represented on both hands at the same time. Basically the tens could not be more than 5, nor can the 1’s. The following are valid numbers for players. Even if you are the most famous player, you don’t get to make an exception.

How many valid basketball player numbers are there?

Perhaps a question for “Are you smarter than a 5th grader.”

Here they are 0 or 00, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31,32, 33, 34, 35, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55.

Who cares?

Right..not nearly as important as Georgetown WINNING tonight! Down with Notre Dame!

Thank You

Seniors….Jason Clark and Henry Simms!

2012-02-192021-01-26

50th Anniversary US Space Flight

50 Years After…. 11 years of continuous ISS habitation and international collaboration.

While volunteering at the National Air and Space Museum today, a docent kindly told me about the historic event that is upon us. Not only is tomorrow the day we celebrate our countries presidents, Monday, February 20, 2012, marks the 50th anniversary of John Glenn’s trip around the earth in a Mercury-Atlas capsule. Dubbed “Friendship 7,” this was the first time that American’s had put a man in space.

While doing my kids demonstration today, I was proud to let them all know that tomorrow is a day not to forget in space exploration.

Don’t forget Able, the Rhesus monkey, that in May 28th, 1959 paved the way for US space flight. If you recall 2 years earlier, the U.S.S.R. attempted to send a dog into space, but the dog did not survive. Trailing the U.S.S.R., in both earth orbit and space walk, the United States has been the only country to send a space explorer to the moon, something which China plans to do in the future.

Now 90, John Glenn continues to tell stories of his space exploration.

Read all about John Glenn’s amazing career and check out photos and historical information at Nasa.gov