Halloween came and went - and still we had Daylight Saving Time. It is pretty hard for me to believe extending DST a few weeks in the beginning and a week at the end really saved anyone any energy, but it definitely made me more energetic to get some exercise in before it all ended. So, this was the last opportunity to squeeze in a tri-sport weekend of biking, hiking and kayaking - pretty much in that order.
Carole was driving to Beltsville to run with her friend Bernadette, so I decided I'd bike down that way and use Carole as a sag wagon to take me back. Hurricane Noel was moving up the east coast, but was staying well offshore. Since it was rotating counter-clockwise, it meant I had NNW winds essentially at my back for much of the ride. I thought I could find an alternate route to get me across Route 1 and the railroad in Beltsville, but no such luck - I wandered aimlessly for a while until cutting through an industrial park and going over the Muirkirk Road bridge. I passed the site of the old Rhodes Tavern and made my way to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center where there are all kinds of low traffic and closed roads to bike on. I went all the way out on Beaver Dam Road and circled back, slogged up Research Road to the gate into Greenbelt and after 34 miles met Carole just as she finished her run.
The next day Carl and I did one of the easier Appalachian trail hikes, a a 6 mile out and back from the Route 70 AT pedestrian bridge to Washington Monument State Park. There is a little bit of up and down on this hike, but it is pretty mild. A good deal of color in the woods but this is not a prime year for brilliant foliage. When we reached the monument (which looks like a giant beehive) the hawk counters were at the top, having excitable discussions about raptors and pheasants and booby hatches. We climbed to the top, looked around and headed back - other than photo stops we pretty much did a non-stop hike.
After getting back from hiking, I completed the weekend triathlon by putting the kayak in at the Supplee area of Rocky Gorge. The water is way down and the launch ramp is closed, but you can carry your boat down about 100 feet and put in. The wind was still up and was in my face for most of the outward 4.5 miles, but of course was at my back for the return. I saw the obligatory herons, a few deer and a few eagles, but no bald eagles and very few boaters. I used the 9.2 mile paddle to get more comfortable using the new wing paddle and just enjoyed being on the water. I have to admit though - a day of being on salt water always gives a better feeling than the same time on fresh water. Time to get back to the Bay.
A Googlefied map of the paddle and some other pictures of the AT hike:
Now that DST is over and the clocks went back to where they belonged, it is depressing. Mornings are OK, but when it pitch black at 5:00pm and 65 degrees out, my psych is just not adjusting.
Posted by: Lynn Winters | 09 November 2007 at 09:04 PM