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Hugging the Coast

5/28/2018 9 Comments

Day 30: Alexandria, VA, to Annapolis, MD

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On the National Mall early this morning
June 2, 2018

​As we were waking up and packing up early this morning, our host Deb announced she was riding with us for a while — she’s definitely intrigued with bike touring and the East Coast Greenway.

So Deb led us up the rest of the Mount Vernon Trail — beautiful — along the Potomac, then we crossed over Memorial Bridge into D.C. It was a beautiful morning, clearing skies and soft air. We loved having the Mall and the monuments almost to ourselves early on a Saturday —just us and a scattering of runners.

We found our way past new construction to the Anacostia Trail, a complementary route of the East Coast Greenway on the east side of the city and the trail’s namesake river. Our first 25 miles were nearly all on greenways as the Anacostia merged with the main route and a few more trails. They were wonderful, making for carefree, feel-like-a-kid again biking right out of the city.
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On the Mount Vernon Trail headed to Washington DC. Thanks for riding with us, Deb!
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A painter capturing a bridge on the Anacostia Trail. “It looks like fun,” I told him. “This isn’t fun,” he told me. “Fun is sitting in a chair drinking a glass of wine. This is work.”
The rest of our miles, some 43 more, were a mix of trails (WB&A rail trail and some side paths), suburban streets, and country roads, with fairly gentle rolls.

We haven’t seen the harbor and historical downtown of Annapolis yet because our warmshowers host lives a few miles outside of town. Warmshowers is a nonprofit that matches bike tourists with people willing to put them up in their homes for the night. Cindy is our first warmshowers stay — we had a few nights booked in Florida and Virginia but the hosts have had cancel for various reasons.

Turns out we hit the jackpot: Cindy welcomed us and our bikes inside, showed us to our bedroom and bathroom for showers, then began feeding us — for hours! We moved from afternoon snacks and fun conversation to dinner on her deck and more conversation, then dessert and more laughs. She hosts cyclists partly in honor of her brother Glen, an avid bike tourist who lost his battle with cancer this past year. Once again, we are grateful to be showered with such kindnesses, including hugs and slobbery licks from Cindy’s two big sweethearts, Cooper and Charlie.
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We ate for about four hours, but we did move from the kitchen to Cindy’s deck and back inside.
9 Comments
Silvia link
6/3/2018 03:36:14 am

I don’t think I can feed you this well!

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Lisa
6/3/2018 04:27:12 am

Please don’t!! We are rolling out of here!

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Babs
6/3/2018 04:45:46 am

I am so impressed by all the kindhearted folks who opened up their hearts and homes to you both. Your journey and your blog are very inspiring.

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John Govoni
6/3/2018 09:12:08 am

Ditto on the big heartedness. Makes me feel like the old America I know and love!

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Cindy Davis
6/3/2018 11:51:27 am

You guys were the best. So much fun. Now I have two new besties!

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Lisa
6/3/2018 04:49:17 pm

Yes indeed! You have two fun places to come visit, too.

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Poyee Oster
6/3/2018 03:24:10 pm

A random act of kindness turn kindle spirit. Cindy has a sweet face matching her soul. Great story. Hope you continue to experience great people moving forward.

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Lisa
6/3/2018 04:50:54 pm

We do, including you, Poyee! By the way, I saw a street named Poyee today just outside of Baltimore. I would have taken a photo but it was pouring!

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linda ehrlich
6/3/2018 03:28:25 pm

Warmshowers! What a great name. Good karma continues

Reply



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