57: exhausting sleep, riverfest, dave and john, something seriously wrong with me, water quality management, talking trees, tornado watch, fairfax water, 6-acre bridge park, my happy place, 4-mile run, trixie & co.

June 8, 2025

Potomac Mills to Fredericksburg

I had no idea that sleeping could be so exhausting. After nine hours in the sack, I ate breakfast then felt the need for an hour-long nap.

Or, maybe, I was just exhausted.

Looking at today's route, I realized that all I need to do is dodge the city traffic for seventeen miles. If I can make it to Mt. Vernon it's all bike trail to where I'm staying tonight.

As it turned out, it was pleasant riding all day. Only rarely was I even on a road, and never competing with traffic. My route took me behind a couple of malls like this.

this small section of backroad in the middle of Fredericksburg had no traffic

I'm supposed to take a right here, but when I saw this festival going on I went straight instead. Because I'm not in a hurry, and always on the lookout for interesting things, I started walking my bike past the booths.

fire truck demonstration, or maybe another cat rescue. I always find it interesting how they stabilize and level the trucks. The front wheels aren't touching the ground.

At first, I thought it was a collection of twenty or thirty booths...

...but as I continued walking I saw that it went on for blocks. There had to be at least a hundred vendors.

I bought a mocha and what I thought was a chocolate croissant, but turned out to be some type of Middle Eastern equivalent. Still tasted good, though. As I was enjoying my snack, the rain started coming down more heavily, to the point where I wanted some shelter so I could finish eating. I saw a booth with a little extra space inside and a couple of friendly-faced vendors, so I asked if I and my bike could hang out in their tent for a few minutes until the worst of the squall passed.

I remained invisible for a while as the two guys would call out to passersby. It wasn't in the “Look over here! I’m hawking my wares!” sense, in which you gather your coat around you, look down, and walk faster. Rather, I got the sense that they just like people. “Love that shirt, man!” "They're gonna win it this year!" and "Thanks for coming out to the Festival and braving the rain!"

We were able to chat between customers and I got to know them a bit better.... Dave and John.

When it was time to leave, I glanced over at one of the posters and realized that I needed to buy it. Dave sold it to me for what has to be less than the cost of production. After I paid, it dawned on me that he didn't even charge for shipping. I tried to pay, but he wouldn't accept any more money. When I laughingly pointed out, "You know, your business model has something to be desired," Dave responded with a shrug and said, "It's not about the money." I believe him, and I also hope his business does well.

Heather and I have watched The Princess Bride every Valentine's Day for the past thirty years.

my route took me up and around the festival

I couldn't decide about my rain jacket and kept putting it on, then taking it off. At one point in the day there was a very light mist and decided "Nah, it's not enough to warrant throwing it on. Then, slightly more than a mist, "I could get it out, but it's not raining bad enough." Then a little more, and a little more, and by that time I was already wet... but still comfortable.

At this point it was really coming down.

Sometimes I think that there is something seriously wrong with me. I should NOT be having this much fun riding through this deluge.

after the rain stopped.... more backroads

I'm curious how not mowing benefits the water quality. Land management I can understand, but water quality?

There were about fifteen large tourbuses lined up, all of them regurgitating tourists who want to see Mt. Vernon. I'd love to visit, but didn't feel comfortable leaving my bike unattended, even if it was locked up.... another time, then.

How old are you grandmother, and what would you like to tell us?

We KNOW what you'd like to tell us: "Bill, you're asshole twice over, and I hope Dianne gave you herpes."

a peculiar mailbox, but not a very good picture

I kept seeing these small blue dots on the road

I thought they were placed to show where fire hydrants are, but they're pretty small so I don't see how they could be much benefit. Plus, I didn’t see any hydrants near them.

The trail goes under this massive bridge (Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge) which crosses the Potomac. This is part of the 65-acre Jones Point Park. The area of the park under the bridge covers 6 of those 65 acres, and I saw people grilling, playing basketball, and, in one area, having a birthday party.

surprisingly quiet considering all the traffic overhead

I turned onto Four-Mile Run and was on that for… I don’t know, something like four miles?

My hosts, Kathy (87) and Scott (65), are relatives of a friend. They're owned by Trixie, a 12-month-old a Jack Russell terrier. If you know anything about dogs, you’ll understand that Jack Russells have the energy of a 6-year-old with 10 shots of caffeine and a small hit of cocaine. They’re like that drop of water on a frying pan when you’re trying to determine if the surface is hot enough.

Fortunately, I like dogs, and kept reiterating that fact to Kathy and Scott as she leapt onto my uncovered legs, and later onto my uncovered arms. The “Trixie! No!” which was repeated did about as much good as if she were a two-year-old in her oppositional years, and the only way to prevent her from using me as a climbing wall was to scratch her stomach. This resulted in a belly flop and a tongue loll, which appeared to reinforce her behavior, because as soon as I stopped she began her frenetic seizure-like movements.

They're early-to-bed-early-to-risers, and retired at 6:30. That left me time to work on the blog, which I did until 1:00 since I got ten hours of sleep last night and wasn't able to fall asleep.

The friend who connected me with Kathy and Scott sleeps on this couch when he visits them, and told them: “You can never sell this couch.” I agree, because it's the most comfortable couch I've ever slept on.

Heart

Comment

Link

Today's ride: 33 miles (53 km)
Total: 1,538 miles (2,475 km)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	12
Comment on this entry	Comment	0