Piney Branch detour: Good news/Bad news

The good news about the Piney Branch bridge detour is that a lot of progress is being made by the construction crew working to shore up the existing bridge supports. I hope the work will be finished soon. The bad news is that there has been a lot of construction traffic on the gravel detour route, and the trail is getting soft, especially near the metal bridge. Be extra careful when riding through the detour.

Night Critters

Tonight I rode home after dark, due to a meeting I had to attend. No hazards or trail issues to report, but it was a lovely night, with lots of fireflies, katydids, and frogs out there. Keep your eyes peeled for deer if out at night, as well as the occasional rabbit which you might startle. And don't be surprised to find bats swooping and weaving just overhead!

Lotus flowers in full bloom! (Reston)

The Lotus flowers in the pond adjacent to the Trail & Old Reston Ave are in glorious full bloom!

These photos were taken on Wednesday morning, 11July. On previous years you could see most of the pond from the trail -- however, this year the underbrush has been allowed to grow high, & it's only possible to get a short glimpse from the trail itself. You need to get off the Trail & follow the short path over to the pond for the full view -- well worth it!