Doggone It

From the Vienna Patch:

A bicyclist reported he struck an unleashed dog around 2 p.m. March 16 while riding along the W & OD Trail at Maple Ave. The rider fell off his bicycle and sustained minor injuries. The dog’s owner collected the animal and ran away from the crash.

http://vienna.patch.com/articles/police-log-4e79414e

March 25th 5K run

Walter Mess Plaza Dedication and 5k Run

On Sunday March 25th at 3 PM there will be a dedication to Walter Mess, Chairman Emeritus of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA). The dedication will occur at American Legion Post 130 building located at 400 North Oak Street, Falls Church, Virginia. The program features Congressman James Moran, City of Falls Church Mayou Nader Baroukh, and NVRPA Chairman Brian Knapp, among other speakers. At 4 PM the "Walter Mess 5k" will begin. For more information please check out the link below:

http://www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/wod/

Construction Starting

Sometime in the next few months a contractor will be doing bank stabilization work just east of Difficult Run where the trail was almost washed out last year. Trail users will be diverted to the bridle trail. Also, Dominion Power will be doing some major regrading of a small hill next to the trail close to Northside Park.

FOWOD Walk/Run 5K

Date: Sunday March 25, 2012
Time: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

The Friends of the W&OD are involved in a 5K foot race and a ceremony in honor of Walter Mess, chairman emeritus of NVPA on Sunday, March 25, 2012. Info is here: http://www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/wod/

Northern Virginia Model Railroaders

The Northern Virginia Model Railroaders will be holding their next open house on March 17th from 1 to 5 pm at the train depot at Mile Marker 11.8 in Vienna (Ayr Hill crossing). See http://www.nvmr.org for further information and details.

Pauls Ride For Life

Pauls Ride For Life is advertising its fourth occurrence on the trail for this April 28th. See http://www.PaulsRideForLife.org for further details.

W&OD Trail from Reston to Vienna

The trail was mostly clear of snow and ice this morning between Reston at Sunrise Valley Dr and Vienna. I didn't see any other cyclists but there was only one stretch just east of Sunrise Valley where there was snow and some ice. However, there may not be some patches of ice where there's been melting and re-freezing.

Trail Patrol New Member Orientation

An orientation session for new members will be held Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 10:00am at the Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, VA 20190-3311

New members should attend to learn about what the Trail patrol does, requirements for becoming a member, and other information.

Contact:

Dirck Harris
Trail Patrol Training Coordinator
Dirck_H55@verizon.net
(703) 698-8808

Trail Patrol seeks new members

Responsible adult of any physical ability who walks, runs, skates, skis, cycles, rides a wheelchair, sits astride a horse, pushes a carriage, or just strolls on the trail is welcome to become a trail patrol member. The Patrol operates under the sponsorship of the Friends of the W&OD, whose purpose is to support and enhance the Trail. The basic responsibilities of a patrol member are to:

 Promote the safe use of the Trail
 Provide information about the Trail to the public
 Assist Trail users when help is needed

Volunteers should be willing to commit a few hours each month to the Patrol's on-going effort to keep the W&OD Trail safe, to maintain and, hopefully augment the luster of this bright jewel of the region.

Volunteers may choose to serve on the trail or behind the scenes in support of the patrol -- or both. Even a small contribution of your flexibly arranged time will be helpful, and the experience should be both rewarding and fun. If you wish to help in these capacities there is a role you can perform.

For further information please contact the W&OD Trail Office at (703) 729-0596 or WOD@nvrpa.org. To apply on line go to www.wodfriends.org and go to the trail patrol tab.

Giving Thanks 5k--Thursday November 24, 2011

Time: 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Location: Vienna
Notes: "Giving Thanks 5k" event from 8 AM - 10 AM. The 5k runs from approximately the Vienna Train Station out to Clarks Crossing Park then returning to the station. About 400 people expected for this event.

Information on accident needed

I am looking for anybody who may have information on an accident
occurred on October 8th 2011 around 1pm on the WOD trail . Behind Firestation number 6 on Falls church. Just past lee hwy (around mile 6 on the trail)

I spent several days in the hospital as a result of the accident. I do not remember the accident at all and I am hoping to find a witness that can help me piece together what happened then.
thanks,
Santiago Davila
email_adr = santiagodc@live.com

Town of Vienna, Virginia Police Department

Media Information Release
Request for Witnesses to Bicycle vs. Car
Hit and Run Crash
On September 29, 2011 at approximately 3:45 p.m. a white colored Honda
Civic bearing Maryland license plates struck a juvenile bicyclist at the
intersection of Maple Avenue, SE and the Washington and Old Dominion
Trail.
The bicyclist sustained minor injuries but the striking motorist fled from the
scene. The driver of the vehicle that fled is described only as a Hispanic
female.
Anyone with any information regarding this crash is asked to contact MPO
Sheeran at jsheeran@viennava.gov or 703-255-7826.
For further information please contact:
MPO Bill Murray- Town of Vienna Police Department
Public Information Officer at wmurray@viennava.gov or 703-255-6396
See Something? Say Something! Help Police Fight Crime.
Call 9-1-1.

Trail Events--September 24

Pet Carnival

Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: Loudon HS
Notes: Paws 4 People Puppy Prance & Canine Carnival sponsored by Paws 4 People Foundation. Section of trail to be used is from Loudoun County High School (mile marker 35.5 near bridge) to Foxridge Park. At most a one mile dog walk event. Approx 150 people for this event.

Charity Walk
Time: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Location: Vienna-Clark's Xing
Notes: Walk for Growing Hope" sponsored by the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna. It is a walk from the Vienna Town Green out to Clark's Crossing and returning to the Town Green. Approx 250 participants for this event.

Trail Damage

This weeks deluge did a bit of damage to the trail next to Piney Branch, west of Vienna.

Alzheimer's Tour De Canal, Sept 11, 7:30a to 5:00p

The Alzheimer's Association, National Capitol Area, Tour de Canal, has
been moved from the C & O Canal as a two day, 184 mile ride to
a one day ride on the W & OD Trail.

Starting times will be staggered from 7:30 to 2:00, and leave from the Herndon Station parking lot.

Riders will be doing 20, 50, and 90 mile rides.

Rest/water stops will be in Bon Air, Herndon, Leesburg, and Purcillville.

iPod Oblivion

Any of this sound familiar?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10463227

Trees down between Vienna and Reston

There's one large tree down just east of Difficult Run. It's possible to get around it on the shoulder. Another tree is partially blocking the trail just west of Hunter Mill Rd.

Trail Event- August 27

Civil War Hike

Date: Saturday August 27, 2011
Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Wiehle-Hunter Mill
Notes: Civil War Hike. Monthly hike of Civil War reenactors from Wiehle Avenue to Hunter Mill Road. Time of event is from 9 AM to 5 PM. Approx one dozen hikers for this event.

Trail Event--September 3

Hail the Trail', Saturday, September 3
Hail the Trail, part of Dominion Power's Trail Mix, will be held on Saturday, September 3 from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at 10 different locations along the W&OD trail. Volunteers are needed to support the 'Park Station' Hail the Trail site in Vienna. Volunteers will meet at the Vienna Community Center and help remove trash and invasive species. Each volunteer will receive a free t-shirt! The first 100 volunteers on site will receive a free pastry courtesy of Vienna Fresh Market. Visit Dominion Trail Mix ( http://bit.ly/rafX9Z )for more information. To register as a Hail the Trail participant, visit: http://bit.ly/qnj6dk.

ROAMing?

There were some unusual visitors in Vienna late yesterday afternoon- 30 velomobiles. They started their trip July 28th in Portland, Oregon and ended their journey in Georgetown last night. FABB arranged a stop in Vienna at the caboose and everybody present got a good look at these exotic machines. To give you an idea of how fast they move, the first sighting was in Leesburg on the east side of town; one hour later they were in Vienna- that's from the 32 mile marker to just east of the 12 mile marker. At one point out west going downhill one of the riders recorded a speed of 70mph. A more detailed look at their journey can be found here: http://www.rolloveramerica.eu/