Snow and downed trees in Reston area

The trail is still snow-covered in the Reston area as you can see in this photo taken at Buckthorn Lane looking west. Looking east from this same location, there are some big trees down across the unpaved trail. These will take a while to remove.

2/25/10. Snow Blankets W&OD

This photo shows the W&OD Trail from Maple Avenue looking east. The
Whole Foods store is on the left.

Temperatures are forcasted to hit highs in the 40s next week. This
will clear much of the sunny areas, but shady areas stay ice coated
for extended periods.

Progress in clearing snow

Karl Mohle reported (Tuesday, February 23) on the trail patrol Yahoo group "that...

Our maintenance crews have cleared the snow (mostly) off of the trail. We went from our office here in Ashburn (Smith Switch Road) out to the detour trail (Loudoun County 4H Fairground). This area is fairly clear of snow. Tomorrow we will head east and clear snow off the trail as well. As we go we are cutting down the broken tree limbs etc that we encounter (like what we did today heading west). We'll chip the limbs sometime next week...."

Snow Update: W&OD to be plowed this week

Great news trail users!

Paul McCray, Operations Director for NVRPA, just posted this comment yesterday to WashCycle:

The W&OD Trail staff will begin clearing snow during the week of February 22 to speed up the melting process. This is in line with our policies of the past which included leaving snow for cross country skiers and then clearing intersections and plowing deeper accumulations.

When we plow, we won't put the blades right on the pavement but will leave an inch or so which will melt off fairly quickly. If we were to scrape right down to the asphalt, we'd do just as much damage as road plows do on the streets and then the W&OD would have rough, patched sections throughout the year. We don't have the funds to pave the trail more often than every 15 years so it's important to preserve the surface any way we can.

 I for one will be sending a note of thanks to Mr. McCray for this action.  IF you'd like to do the same, his contact information is below:

Paul McCray
Park Operations Director - NVRPA
703-359-4614
pmccray@nvrpa.org

Trail conditions in Vienna (between Church and Maple)

Thanks to the mystery snow plow man, the trail is clear in Vienna between Church St and Maple Ave. A small crew spent a couple of hours Sunday morning clearing about a 4 foot wide path along this stretch. Some sections of the trail get much more use than others, and we think those sections should be cleared for trail users after a snowstorm. The infamous cross-country skiers, snowshoe users, and others who like a snow-covered trail can either use the other W&OD Trail that is unpaved, or in those few areas where there is no parallel trail, they can use the unplowed sections of the trail. We think local communities could be recruited to help with this plowing.

Trail Conditions in Arlington

 

  
Trail conditions in Arlington aren't much better than Vienna.  I tried taking the cyclocross out this afternoon to see if I could ride out to work and ended up carrying the thing most of the way. One bright spot: there is a half mile stretch of trail between N Patrick Henry Dr. and Madison Manor Park that is clear enough to ride on.  Of course, you have to carry your bike through a half mile of snow in either direction to get there.

Other than that, between the Custis Trail intersection at Bon Air Park in Arlington and Gallows Rd in Vienna, there's anywhere between 6 in to a foot of snow still on the trail. Basically, if you own a dogsled now is your time to shine.  For everyone else: see you in April.

Trail conditions in Vienna

Well, I'm guessing nobody is too surprised, but the trail isn't much good for bicycling these days. I haven't tried it with my studded tires yet, but given how chopped up the surface is, and how deep the snow is under the crust, it's probably not much fun. Here's a shot taken near North Side Park in Vienna.

Trail Patrol seeks new members

Any 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:
Ø Promote the safe use of the Trail
Ø Provide information about the Trail to the public
Ø 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.

Update for Lights out on the trail in Arlington

The Trail Report received the following response from Arlington Country regarding the light situation between N. Sycamore St and N. Patrick Henry Dr:

Thank you for sharing your observations about the lights on the trail! Your observations reflect the monthly report that Arlington submits to Dominion for repairs. They are aware of the issue and are making efforts to repair the lights. They are laying new cable through this section. Dominion’s work order is 7273292. Unfortunately, I do not have information about how long the repair will take. If I receive additional information I will share it with you.

I'll follow up with Dominion on Monday about when they expect to have the work done.

Lights out on the trail in Arlington

"I wanted to let you know all of the street lights along the trail between N. Sycamore St and N. Patrick Henry Dr in Arlington are out and it gets really dark along that stretch at night. Anyone running or riding there definitely needs a light.  Incidentally, that's also the area where the flasher incidents occurred which you reported on Jan 18.  I thought that might warrant an update."


This message came from a bike commuter who travels from Ballston to Tysons Corner using the W&OD Trail.  This is good information to share.  That's a long stretch along the sound barrier next to I-66.  It is an area with lots of walkers and runners. I'll try to sign him up as a contributor because this is good information to know.


It's possible to contribute using a cell phone and sending an email message or a text message.  Think about how you could be a contributor.

W&OD Trail Photo Contest

This posting is about fun and creativity. We are going to have a photo contest focused on the W&OD Trail until the end of February. With so many people carrying phones with photographic capabilities this could be a hoot. To get the creative juices flowing I'm posting photos of our winner of the helmet decorating contest we held in conjunction with ViVa! Vienna! in 2008 which had a W&OD theme..
As you can see from these photos our winner was highly creative and had alot of fun with this contest.  Now apply this same creativity to photos relating to people, animals, and scenery along the W&OD Trail.  Many of the photos will be posted on this blog and on the bikes@vienna blog and Facebook Page.  The winner will receive a new helmet, one of our Nutcase models.

Send your entry as an attachment to an email message to john.brunow@draisin.us.  Please keep the size of the file smaller (under 100K).  I'm directing the entries to an email I have that has quite a bit of capacity, but lots of entries could swamp it.  Understand these photos will be used in multiple ways to promote the W&OD Trail and bikes@vienna.

Let the fun begin.  Let's see what we capture.

Route 7 overpass in Falls Church

The resurfacing of the east bound lane has been completed and opened. The west bound lane is now closed for its resurfacing.

Suggestion about incidents on the trail

The recent posting about the incidents on the W&OD brought a suggestion from a reader.

"Here’s a posting it would help to add since you mentioned the two incidents/attacks

on trail because it may show that ALL these attacks are linked as well as

help warn women who use the trail."

Washington Post August 4th article

In addition you will find a composite picture and a news release from the Vienna Police Department in this blog back in August of 2009.

Let's work together to make the Trail safer. Report suspicious activity to the police.

Trail Safety

From: Frantz Desamour >Date: Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 4:02 PMSubject: ExposureTo:First District: There have been four recent incidents where a male has beenexposing himself to female joggers along the W&OD trail duringafternoon/evening hours. He is described as a White Male wearing a hood ormask with a protruding belly and pale legs. Since he is nude when theexposures occur he either lives nearby or stashes his clothing somewherealong the trail before the exposure. The latest incident occurred lastnight at 1950 hrs in the area of 1900 Sycamore St .As a reminder, please call the police non emergency 703-558-2222 should yousee the suspect or suspicious activity.ThanksCaptain Frantz DesamourArlington County Police Department1425 North Courthouse RoadArlington , Virginia 22201

Trail Information

The September 2006 issue of SPOKES contained an informative article on this trail. It can be found at http://yellowbiketales.blogspot.com/2008/02/washington-old-dominion-trail-in.html

Trail conditions in Reston

The trail is mostly clear in Reston. Where there is ice, there is usually a narrow asphalt section that can be ridden. Today we rode from Sunrise Valley Dr in Reston (around mile 15.5) to Sterling Blvd and we didn't need to walk the bikes. Didn't get a chance to check the stretch of trail just west of Hunter Mill Rd which is usually the last to be clear.

Icy conditions in Reston

We finally got a chance to check out the Reston portion of the W&OD Trail today. While much of the trail is clear, there is ice at the usual spots. These photos were taken late this morning (Monday, Dec. 28). They were all taken facing east.

The first photo shows ice at the Sallie Mae bridge across from Plaza America. It's not rideable without studded tires.



The second image image shows the hill on the approach to Buckthorn Lane (looking east). Both sides of the hill are ice covered.



The final image is looking toward Hunter Mill Road. This section will likely be the last to melt. There's a tree lined bank on the south side that prevents the sun from doing it's job.

No cross country ski tracks were seen on either the main trail or the unpaved trail.

Wanted: Information

In recent weeks there have been assaults on the W&OD Trail. Above is a composite drawing of a man being sought for questioning. Also above is the Vienna Police Department Media Information Release describing the incident on July 15 and giving contact information for officers working on the case.

Please contact law enforcement officials if you have information.

New Link from W&OD to 4 Mile Run

The twin underpasses that allow a transition from the W&OD Trail to Four Mile Run are open. These photos show travel from the end of the W&OD at South Shirlington Road, under I-395, and then under West Glebe Road.

Oh, what a difference this link makes. The pathway before this link caused the trail user to go to Shirlington, cross the bridge behind the WETA Building, travel city streets, and eventually connect with the Four Mile Run Trail at the corner of West Glebe and South Glebe. The reduction in time and the reduction to exposure to pretty heavy traffic make this link a delight.

Cameras at Maple Ave.

Hey gang!

If you haven't noticed, there are now "red light cameras" on top of the crossing signal poles on the trail at the Maple Ave. crossing in Vienna! The cameras are aimed right at the crosswalk, but I'm not sure if the idea is to catch motorists or cyclists. I've seen enough of both misbehave at this busy intersection, so perhaps it's an attempt to monitor both. So next time you're there, smile! You're on Candid Camera!

Valet Parking for ViVa! Vienna! on Sunday and Monday

Memorial Day is here early this year. ViVa! Vienna! starts Saturday, May 23rd and on Sunday, May 24th and Monday, May 25th bikes@vienna will be providing Valet Cycle Parking so you can ride your bike or trike to the festival and leave it with bikes@vienna for safekeeping. The service will be available from 10 AM to 6 PM on both Sunday and Monday.

This may be the best ViVa! ever if the weather cooperates. The Rotary Club of Vienna will host twenty-three amusement rides, more than a dozen food vendors, hours of entertainment, and fill over 300 vendor slots on Church, Dominion, and Mill Streets. You can examine the details at http://www.vivaviennava.org

Perfect enjoyment on the Memorial Day weekend could be a bike ride to Vienna to explore the joys of ViVa! Vienna!

W&OD Trail Patrol Seeks New Members

The W&OD Trail runs through the communities of Arlington, Falls Church, Vienna, Reston, Herndon, Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Hamilton, and Purcellville. The Trail Patrol is seeking new members to be on-scene ambassadors of safety, courtesy, information, and goodwill. All adult trail users--cyclists, walker, runners, skaters, carriage pushers, dog walkers, horse riders, or wheel chair users--are eligible to apply.

Orientation sessions are planned for this spring and summer. For further information and signup please go to http://www.wodfriends.org/ or call the trail office at 703-729-0596.

Progress on the W&OD/Four Mile Link

The I-395 Underpass which will allow traffic to move from the W&OD Trail to Four Mile Run is near completion. I do not recommend trying to use the underpass because there is still work being done, but as you can read below in a message received from a bikes@vienna customer, the time is almost here for that long awaited improvement to be used.

# IS395 Underpass - On Friday, I rode from my house to the Potomac and back on the 4 Mile Run bike path. I found that the new bike path extension under IS395 is essentially finished, so I used it. Several other cyclists and walkers were doing the same. This allows cyclists to do the Arlington loop without the long detour at Shirlington circle. There were signs at both ends saying that the new bike path was still a construction zone. Moreover, by just looking at the state of work, I could see that they still have some final installation and clean-up to do on railings. However, the remaining work is not safety related and is mostly right of way protection as opposed to user protection (i.e., stay on the pavement). Finally, at the Shirlington end, they are doing some road work that makes it inconvenient to get to the new bike path segment, but it is doable if you are careful.

Snow on the trail

The snow on the Trail is now packed and icy and will take several days to melt. The plowed spot in the photo is from a Reston Association plow; they end their plowing at the trail edge. Somehow the Reston Association has figured out a way to keep their trails clear all winter. They purchased a used trail snow plow and use it when there is an accumulation of snow on their 55 miles of trails (more than the total length of the W&OD Trail). According to the trail manager, there is no noticeable damage to the trails and no additional maintenance is needed because of the plowing.

One reason NVRPA says that the Trail is not plowed is to allow cross country skiers to use the trail when it snows. You can't see it from the photo, but there were ski tracks on the trail; the unpaved gravel trail to the right. Do cross country skiers really need two trails? There was no evidence of skiing on the main trail and it wouldn't be feasible because of all the foot tracks (and a couple of mountain bike tracks).

There are other issues involved in the decision to plow the Trail, but I seems like they can be overcome. Anyone willing to write a Transportation Enhancement grant application for funds to plow the trail?

Still icy at Hunter Mill Road

There is still a stretch of about 100 meters of ice over the trail just west of Hunter Mill Road. It's bad enough that I had to walk the bike. There are a few other small patches of ice under the Dulles Toll Road and near the Sallie Mae bridge in Reston. This photo was taken looking east toward Hunter Mill Road. Sure would be nice if these shady areas could be plowed before the snow turns to ice and then takes many days to melt.

Icy Trail!

Well, we had our first real snowstorm, and true to form, we got freezing rain on top of it. This makes for an exciting mix of ice and slush and chunky snow. The trail is a mess, as you might have guessed. I rode the mile or so from my house to the shop today, grateful for my studded tires. I'm really not sure I would have been able to navigate this without them. I sure wouldn't have felt as at ease trying. They really do keep you stuck to the path!










The picture above was taken just on the western limits of town, heading in to downtown Vienna. It think it shows pretty clearly what the overall conditions were at about 10 am on Thursday the 29th. To the right is a closeup of the surface. As you can see, there's a lot of broken up chunks of ice and a very bumpy surface from footprints. All in all, a real challenge to ride on. I was fortunate in that a maintenance truck was working its way down the trail ahead of me, so when I could stay in the ruts from their tires, it was smoother sailing. The challenge of course is staying in those ruts!



Be careful out there. I'd suggest walking for now, unless you have studs. But if you have studs, it's actually kinda fun out there... just allow more time, as it's slower going.

What's up? Tiger Lilies!

Apologies to Woody Allen fans for that groaner of a title.

But it is that time of year, when the tiger lilies are in bloom and looking spectacular along the trail.

The best I've seen are on the stretch of the trail that parallels Shreve Road. Regulars on that stretch will know where I mean... behind the house that has the lovely flowers all the time.

The saddest looking ones were the couple of plucky individuals that are lingering at the edge of the huge housing construction site near Cedar Avenue. One or two single flowers perched right on the edge of a landscape stripped bare. Progress? Growth? Sigh.

Graffiti on the Trail

I'm guessing most folks who ride through the Vienna area have already seen it, but someone spray painted that white concrete thing that has the date 1860 (I think) on it, near the town line on the east side, near mile 10.5. Until now I've really never seen any graffiti or vandalism along the trail (aside from the destruction of vending machines at Smith's Switch a few years back), so this was kinda shocking to see.


On a happier note, I got some nice pictures of the dogwoods on my way in today.

Wet! But beautiful...

Well, as you probably could have guessed, yesterday was a wet day along the W&OD. I rode to work about 9:30 or so, and it was raining pretty hard the whole way. With the added excitement of thunder and lightning... just close enough to make me glad I wasn't out there too long. There are lots of puddles on the trail, and a LOT of standing water in the low spots alongside the trail. And the various drainage ditches and small creek beds which are usually dry or nearly so are running high and wild.

On the other hand, the dogwoods are blooming and look absolutely lovely! And the peepers are loving the wet, as was the frog I saw hopping across the path last night on my way home. All in all, a fun day out there, once I got used to the idea that it was going to be wet. I was grateful for my fenders and Burley rain jacket.

W&OD Trail Patrol Seeks New Members

The W&OD Trail runs through the communities of Arlington, Falls Church, Vienna, Reston, Herndon, Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Hamilton, and Purcellville. The Trail Patrol is seeking new members to be on-scene ambassadors of safety, courtesy, information, and goodwill. All adult trail users--cyclists, walker, runners, skaters, carriage pushers, dog walkers, horse riders, or wheel chair users--are eligible to apply.



Four orientation sessions are already scheduled for 2008: The first will be held on Thursday, April 17 in Alexandria from 7 to 9 pm, the second will be held on Saturday, April 26 in the Ashburn Library from 2 to 4 pm. The third will be at the Raflo Park in Leesburg on Saturday, May 3 from 2 to 4 pm and the forth will be Saturday, May 17 at the Vienna Community Center from 10 am to noon.



For further information and signup please contact John Boone at 703-726-6993 or jmboone1@verizon.net.

Beautiful Day to Ride!

It's getting near that time of the year when riding on the W&OD is very enjoyable, as you can see from the photo of the grazing deer just off the trail near Hunter Mill Road. Between Vienna and Leesburg there were quite a few people out delighting in the sunshine and 40 degree weather. Okay, so you needed gloves.

Clear with some icy patches

Well, much of the trail is clear, or has a clear path through the icy bits. A few places, particularly between Gallows and Cedar, are icy from edge to edge, but they are short enough that you can either carefully navigate it or walk it.

One thing to be wary of is that it's frozen enough that the footprints and tire tracks are solid bumps and grooves, and they will jar you and cause your wheels to go in surprising directions if you're not careful.

There is a chance of more snow this evening (Thursday), but not a great chance, so it might get trickier.

Also today I spotted a small flock of juncos and a young fox ducking into the brush. A good ride in.

The first photo is taken near mile 10, between Gallows and Cedar, showing both clear and covered trail. The second is a closeup of the nature of the surface in such stretches.

Snow again

Well, as you might guess, the trail is a mess after Thursday's snow. I rode to and from work on Friday, and most of the trail from Falls Church to Vienna is still covered. Friday morning was particularly messy when I rode in at around 9:30... a thick, semi-frozen-yet-slushy mix that made riding, even with studs, a challenge. I found that I was either getting bogged down by slush where other people had NOT passed, or had my wheels knocked around by bumps and tires tracks where they HAD. Ugh. The best thing I can say is that I certainly got my exercise yesterday morning! It actually took me about twice as long as usual.

The ride home was considerably better. Things had been packed down a bit more, and it was cold enough to freeze, so getting stuck in slush or snow was less of a problem by far. I still wouldn't describe it as smooth, but it's much better, and there are now some open patches of pavement. It's tricky sometimes at night, as you can't see what's coming quite as well, but I think that might actually have some benefit, in that you sail on, blissfully unaware of a hazard, and thus don't tense up, which is half the challenge to riding on snow or ice.

We're supposed to get a little snow today, and it's supposed to stay cold, so I doubt it's going to change a lot out there today. Be careful, but have fun.

Bare Trees and a Fox

Not a lot of folks on the trail these days... mostly walkers and a few runners, at least by the time I'm on the trail in the morning (9am) or evening (7 or 8pm). And as y0u can tell, the leaves are basically all gone.

This morning I saw a pretty big, healthy-looking fox crossing the trail near where the den was last spring. He scrambled up the embankment and looked down at me... until I stopped to try to get a picture, when he vanished. I wonder if this is one of last spring's kits or their mom or dad. Pretty big, and I don't know how quickly they reach adult size.

Update on power line along W&OD Trail

According to the Wash Cycle and this article in Leesburg Today, the State Corporation Commission examiner has recommended that the proposed new power line between Leesburg and Purcellville be placed parallel to the Trail, on what is known as the Modified D route.

The Modified D route was created by Anderson after conducting a site visit last year. In this week's recommendation of the Modified D route, Anderson said, with overhead construction would "reasonably" minimize the adverse impacts to the scenic assets, historic districts and environment of the area concerned.

That is not likely to allay the concerns of those using or living along the trail, who note that widespread clearing will have to be undertaken whether the route is on the trail or paralleling it.

All clear!

Well, that didn't take long. Friday morning the trail was just about completely snow-covered, Friday night it was slushy all over, and Saturday evening it was clear of snow entirely, even on the bridges.

So, when's the next storm?

Studded tires are back!

Yep, it's that time of year again! Thursday I drove to work, because my winter commuter was a the shop, halfway through mounting the studded tires and internal hub gear. I finished both of those up and rode in today. The trail between I-66 and downtown Vienna was mostly covered with packed snow, with only a few short clear stretches. The photo here is from just west of Gallows Road, looking west.

It looks like several other riders have been there since the snow fell, which is fun to see. I was really glad to have my studded tires (Nokian Hakkapelittas) today, as it was pretty slippery and bumpy on the trail. I'm sure with skill and patience and a serene mind, one can navigate this with regular tires, but I find the serenity of mind is much easier to come by when I know I've got a hundred-odd metal spikes per tire keeping me stuck to the trail!



Either way, be careful out there. Pick your path based on the smoothest, best packed areas, trying to avoid any serious ruts from other tire tracks. Also, it's best not to stay too close to the edges, just so you have room to manuver. And you generally have more control when pedaling, rather than coasting.

I've also included a picture of the front end of my Miyata 210 commuter, showing the studded tire, front rack and basket, and Lumotec generator-powered headlight. Now that I've switched it over to an 8 speed Shimano internal hub, it's pretty much an ideal commuter.

It's that time of year...

... when, in addition to the change in color, you have to watch for wet leaves on the trail. Remember, they can be very slippery and cause you to lose traction before you realize it.

But they sure are pretty, huh?

This was taken near mile 9.5, between Gallows and Cedar, but I'm sure these conditions exist in many locations.

It's dark out there

It's that time of year when more people are on the trail before or after dark. On my evening commute I see many people in dark clothes without anything reflective material. Approaching cyclists have very little warning in these situations. Many cyclists are also riding without lights. I've heard of one serious accident so far this year; two cyclists without lights who collided head-on. Luckily the injuries were not major.

Lights don't cost much and even the smallest ones at least let others know you are out there.

Critter report!

Well, on my ride in to work this morning, I saw this fella avidly staring into the brush... no doubt waiting for some small creature to make a fatal mistake! He didn't even notice I passed a few feet away from him.

This evening on the ride home, after dark, I was rolling along between Cedar and Gallows when a movement just out of my headlight beam caught my eye. I couldn't see what it was at first, but quickly realized it was a fox, a few feet away and scampering off the trail ahead of me. I wonder if it was one of the group of kits from last spring.

Piney Branch bridge now open

On my commute home today I was surprised to see the detour gates had come down at the entrance to the Piney Branch bridge. There was some fresh asphalt leading up to the bridge as I headed west. There is still a large gap in the asphalt but it was a treat not to have to ride the gravel detour. My body was expecting the bumps at that point in my ride, having ridden the detour almost daily for over a year, and it was a somehow odd sensation to ride smoothly over the bridge. I hope it's permanent.

Piney Branch bridge repairs near completion

It appears that the Piney Branch bridge repair work is nearly completed. The stonework on the bridge abutments is repaired and today there was work being done on the bridge deck. It looks like the work should be completed in the next week or so.

Grape Kool-aid

It is not a hallucination: the trail smells like grape kool-aid. You have not been transported back to 2nd grade or off to Jonestown. The kudzu is in bloom (left photo near mile 10). This Japanese plant was introduced across the southern U.S. in the 1930s and 40s as a forage crop, and to reduce soil erosion. Now it is considered an invasive weed.

More purple: The poke berries are getting ripe. The berries are not edible to people, although birds and wildlife can use them. This is certainly a handsome plant! The photo below was taken directly across the trail from the Kudzu.

Caution: Tree Trimming

The crews are trimming trees along the W&OD these days. Be especially careful when passing the trucks and chain saw crews. They have been considerate in my experience, but it is still a dangerous operation. This morning I snapped a photo of two men high in the trees south of the trail near Vienna (left). One of the men is cutting the top of the tree he is in. The photo on the right is an image taken moments after the top fell. The crew was in Falls Church yesterday.

Monster plants and little friends

We have entered that part of the year where the monster plants dominate the trail. I'm talking about the ragweed. The GIANT ragweed that is 12 or more feet tall looming over us with its spikey florets (right photo near mile 10). This is a shrubby, messy looking plant, but more to the point: It is responsible for untold misery in hay-fever sufferers. It is a wind-pollinated plant, and when you are 12 feet tall, you catch every breeze, if you catch my drift.

Fortunately for those of us with limited allergic reactions, there are other, nicer, features of the mid-september W&OD. One of my favorites is Gaura. The blossoms are only open early in the morning...they are wispy and butterfly-like. The plants are also big, but not as tall as the giant ragweed. Maybe 4-5 feet tall and covered with white-pink blossoms (left photo just east of Cedar Lane).

Most exciting for this time of year are our little friends, the Monarch butterflies. The females laid their eggs on our milkweed plants in mid August and now we need to try to NOT MOW THE MILKWEED before the little ones get through this critical life phase. The Monarchs have human friends as evidenced by the signs and flagging at several points along the trail (below, near mile 11).

Shooting stars

Today, the trail was brimming. A cool front moved through the area and everyone piled out of their houses and onto the W&OD. Tonight though. Tonight will see quiet darkness for a few hours, then a show! The Perseid meteor shower should begin at about 11 and continue until dawn.

Hidden treasure: A side trail to a creek near mile 11, look closely in the dappled shade and you will see Cardinal Flower in bloom.

Meteor image from Southdown Planetarium. Cardinal Flower photo courtesy Southern Indiana University.

Little Friend

It was 87 F for my commute this morning. Over 100 F yesterday and didn't bother to cool down much I guess. Still, I would rather be out on the trail among the statuesque Joe Pye and stalwart Queen Anne's Lace than standing in a crowded stuffy train car or, worse, lugging a ton of steel around to get me where I want to be.

Today I saw a little friend. A honeybee. It was crawling on the trail at about mile 6 and I remarked to myself on how long it has been since I have seen one. I wished it strength and good pollinating and a healthy hive as I rode by. The rise and fall of the honeybees will be written in the deep cores when future paleontologists puzzle out the secrets of the Anthropocene.

Photo is copywrite Mark Cassino, courtesy FCPS.

Sundrops

The construction under the Sycamore Street bridge in Banneker Park looks to be almost complete. The trail in early August is showing signs of our severe drought: even the ragweed --- soon to be in bloom --- is hanging its leaves. The bunnies at mile 4 are venturing closer to the trail for tender growth. Four-mile Run is very low.

The trail is also showing signs of the high levels of CO2 in the air. Vines are rampant: Chocolate Vine (you wish! no, not real chocolate) at mile 10.5, Kudzu at the Gallows Road intersection, wild grapes over everything, prickly mile-a-minute vine cloaking even the hardy bamboo in spots. These are all encouraged to grow more aggressively by the greenhouse gas that is trapping heat in our atmosphere. Code Orange indeed!

On a positive note: the Sundrops are blooming mornings now. Striking flowers in the primrose family. Photo is from http://outingclub.wlu.edu/guidebook/wildflowers/

I ride to eat

The W&OD Trail Report has provided insights into the wonders of nature along the trail and reported on activity on the trail. This item begins reporting about food along the trail. One of the true reasons that I ride a bike is so I can rationalize the calories I take in. So why not share the information of where the best tasting calories are lurking?

This idea of food reporting came to me as I read the Washington Post on Wednesday. As you may know, the Post publishes a Food Section each Wednesday. Every other week Greg Kitsock writes a column devoted to beer. Kitsock in this week's edition reported on the change of ownership of the Old Dominion Brewing Co. He ended the column with:

"And there is no question that the Old Dominion crew can produce memorable beers. Recently, the brewers made a superb, limited-edition porter, deep ruby-red and full of mocha flavors with licorice and herbal notes.

The problem is, the porter is available only in the brewery pub, a 40 minute drive from Washington. Will beer geeks continue to make that trek?"

Greg, the brewery pub is a couple of hundred yards from the W&OD Trail. If the beer geeks won't make the trek then there is just more for the trail users to enjoy.

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!

Gravel on trail in Reston

Watch for sand and gravel in the north lane of the trail under the Sallie Mae bridge at mile 17.5. This section of trail is very close to the unpaved parallel trail and there is no barrier for the loose gravel when there is a heavy rain. It happens frequently and the situation was reported to the park authority quite a while back. They will eventually come out and sweep it clear, but a long term solution is needed. It's a difficult section to fix. In the meantime, it's advisable not to go into that lane at full speed because the sand/gravel is deep.

Sky blue morning

The lush summer is here on the W&OD. If you like abundant moisture in your air, you are at home.

For my morning commute I enjoyed the heavy air, rich with the fragrance of mimosa and the lulling repetition of catbird calls. There was chicory all along the trail. Sky blue. Staring at and tracking the rising sun. It is a morning flower (top photo). Deep rooted and gritty. By afternoon the flowers have given up trying to understand solar physics and closed for the day (bottom photo).

Chicory seeds are loved by Goldfinches. The plant is a European native with many food and beverage uses. New to me was this one: "While modern farmers might use reapers to cut their chicory, there was a time long ago when only a golden sickle or a knife made from the horn of a stag could be used to cut the plant, which was harvested on certain special days, not as food for livestock but as an aphrodisiac for man." (J. Sanders. 2003. The Secrets of Wildflowers)

I did not see anyone with a stag-horn knife on the trail today.

Piney Branch bridge repair

It's been a year since the bridge over the Piney Branch washed out and repairs are finally underway. As you see from the photo, the streambed is dry beneath the bridge where the work is being done to shore up the old stone footings. They water is being diverted by a pump that runs continuously. It may be a while before the bridge is repaired, but at least there's hope that the end of the unpaved detour is in sight.

Beware: Glass at Rt. 29 intersection

I guess I crowed about my brand new "flat proof" kevlar-banded tires too soon. When I went to get my bike out for the ride home last night the rear tire was flat as a pancake. Why is it always the rear tire? Anyway, I wheeled it into an out-of-the-way spot and we eyed each other warily for a moment. Then I went through my little tool bag and got out two plastic tire levers and a patch kit. I managed to disengage the brake and, after some exceptionally black and greasy maneuvers, got the wheel off the bike. Then I spent 15 minutes or so trying to get the tire off the rim, I even got an assist from another biologist who rides in. He couldn't budge it either but we did answer the question that has plagued philosphers for centuries: How many PhD's does it take to change a bike tire? [answer: more than two!]. Finally I gave up, piled the carcass back in the bike cage, walked to the metro and provided amusement to bored commuters by attempting to clean the black stuff off my hands with a tube of lotion and a used napkin.

Back home, my sweetheart gallantly offered rescue, explaining that I just didn't have enough experience for this kind of skilled job. We drove to my office, got the bike, brought it home, and he attempted to fix it using only the tire levers that I had used. They didn't work for him either! He declared them useless, trashed them, and fixed my tire with HIS tire levers, which due to his immense generosity, are now MY new tire levers. My patch kit was also questionable, so he put a new tube in the tire after carefully removing the shard of glass that caused the flat.

My hero!!

Lesson #1 - don't bother with cheap plastic tire levers.
Lesson #2 - be sure to have a hero waiting in the wings.