Spring has sprung in the DMV and it was a great weekend to spend outdoors. First, Carole and I took the boat out for a spin, up the Chesapeake Bay to the Severn River and inland to Round Bay. After taking a lap around St. Helena Island, we headed back out the Severn and decided to go into Annapolis for a spin up and down what is called Ego Alley. However, there was yet another sailboat show in town and EA was closed to puny little motorboats.
Later that night we returned to the South River, along with the Darmodys and the Makowskis, to a fund raiser for the Historic Londontown Museum and Gardens. Much fine food and drink as part of a Pirate-themed event - someone else had my idea of going as Roberto Clemente...
Saturday was supposed to start out cloudy and cool and then go into the 90s in the afternoon, so I left early to drive up to Westminster MD to do a 43 mile bike ride. However, 5 miles in it started pouring, so I stopped and took a quick look at the weather radar on my phone - my entire route was under yellow and red blobs of rain storms. I turned around and got back to the car, staying ahead of the worst of the rain, and drove into downtown Westminster to wait it out at my favorite coffee roaster, Furnace Hills Coffee.
However, the rain didn't seem like it was going to let up, so I started driving towards clearer skies but everywhere I went it was raining. I went home, had some lunch and decided to explore the newly signed MD Bicycle RT 32.
I kinda felt like Washington National's pitcher Stephen Strasburg must feel when, after pitching two innings there is a 3 hour long rain delay. By the time I got going, the heat had hit and it was in the high 80s, and 91 by the time I finished - it was kind of a slog. The ride itself might be a useful route for commuters who work at NSA and live in Clarksville but (a) it is not very scenic; and (2) it dead ends at a guarded entrance to NSA, so no use in serving as a connector to places further east. Plus, there had just been an escapee from one of the nearby Jessup prisons and there were police cars patrolling every street.
My original plan would have been a 43 mile ride with about 2200 feet of climbing, the two pieces added up to 43 miles with about 2500 feet of climbing.
Saturday night Carole cooked a find meal at home Saturday night Carole and I drove up to Fells Point for oysters, crab soup and Old Bay spiced shrimp salad rolls and a stroll around Fells Point.
On Sunday, after coffee at the Frederick Coffee Company, Carl and I did a 4.7 mile hike that used to be called The Volkswagen Loop, for the old abandoned VW Beetle about 2 miles in, but now it will have to be called the Volkswagen Chassis Loop - most of the car has disappeared or been taken away by scrap metal recyclers. Lots of mountain bikers out, very nice weather for a hike to end the weekend.