Over the mountain and through the woods...

It started out clear and cool this morning. I loaded my bike onto the car and made my way back to the Washington and Old Dominion Trail. It was just me today, because my regular biking buddy had other plans today. I went to the usual parking lot at mile 24, and by 8:30 am, I was well underway. I biked through Ashburn and Leesburg, across the Catoctin Range to Clarke's Gap, and down into Purcellville, Virginia, at the foot of the Shenandoah Mountains. The D.C. suburbs now extend out to Leesburg, but past that, you are mostly riding through woods or farmland. (See the picture from my blog 2 weeks ago today.) The weather held up, and I kept up an average speed of 10.1 mph for just over 4 hours, finishing my ride in time to make it to my daughter's end-of-season soccer party. I'm exhausted enough to be considering a nap, but I feel good knowing that this will make my whole work week easier. I think I hear my pillow calling me. It's nap time...