Yesterday's ride was "educational," as Marty McFly would say. I decided to use my D.C. bike map and for once, actually ride in the city that I claim to live in. (Which, in reality, is Arlington, but "DC" sounds so much cooler.)

The only problem I could foresee was how to get downtown without getting mauled by an errant MetroBus driver. Unfortunately, this required riding on some sidewalks (after the Rock Creek Park trail ended and required me to cross the RC Pwky), which was NOT fun as the monuments were crawling with tourists. Silly me, I thought it being a holiday would mean people were spending all day in church! Apparently not, and I felt like a complete tool for having to ride on the sidewalk until I hit Jefferson Dr.

Being on the New Bike, I didn't have a bell, and I was a bit worried I'd run down some toddler or old person. (That leash law I talked about earlier would help out a lot here.) For some reason, either no one hears and/or understands me if I say, "On your left" when I'm trying to pass someone. However, I noticed a lot people didn't need a verbal warning. New Bike has Campagnolo components, and true to Campy fashion, the freewheel is super noisy… so whenever I coast, my bike emits this loud zizz-zizz-zizz-zizz sound and people turn around and go, "What the…?" — as if some gigantic bee is about to land on them.

Anyway. My turnaround point was RFK Stadium, and I figured I'd give my friend Bobby a shoutout by taking a photo of me with his old 'home' in the background.

Notice the quintessential thumbs-up Bobby pose there.

I originally intended to head back through the Mall and past the Washington monument as before, but instead I figured I'd risk the [surprisingly minimal] traffic and go down Independence and then cut across the Tidal Basin. (Yes, my bike rides on water.)

Actually, I just did the sidewalk thing again. Which turned out to be worthwhile, as I spotted a giant, black furry dog wearing sunglasses. (Turns out they're Doggles.) Back across the Arlington Memorial Bridge, then around to the Mt. Vernon trail, where I stopped and took this photo:

One of many large clusters of daffodils planted along the trail (marked on the map below). I passed on taking a photo with the Lincoln Memorial in the background, as the smelly shores of TR Island were in the way.

Cyclometer says 24 miles ridden — the map isn't entirely accurate, as I'm not going to point out where I live, so the start point isn't right. You just, just in case there's actually someone reading this and feels the need to egg my house.