Ok. I know we’re crazy.
Heat wave of triple digit temps. Power outages throughout the city. Trees and branches down. And potential for thunderstorms to match last weekend…
So let’s ride!
Actually, it wasn’t too bad. A meet up at the Key Bridge Exxon found about a dozen bikes and riders huddling in the shade. Pulling out around 12:30pm, the seemingly cooler “wind in our hair” was a welcome change.
Dmitri took the lead and brought us out Clara Barton Parkway and into DC suburban farmland fairly quickly.
Only one bike casualty, Steve Teague‘s CB350 Honda didn’t like the heat and/or a bad headlight wire and decided to shut down in front of a friendly drive-way. Swapping out fuses seemed to help – temporarily. I ran ahead with money stolen from Steve to find fuses. I didn’t find fuses, and in the end I abandoned Steve and his fellow Honda buddy and finished the ride. I’m a total asshole!
A brief wait for the Whites Ferry and a half-hour ride to our furthest point Brunswick, MD. The dark clouds appeared on the horizon in Lovettesville, a few drops fell as we hid under a gas station canopy.
A quick jaunt over the bridge to Brunswick allowed us to be the July 8th parade for one happy, inebriated, and badly farmer-tanned resident. Even after recommendations of many private drinking clubs from said farmer-tanned Brunswick resident, El Sloppy Taco proved to be our only option as a dining establishment, but their BYOB policy was kind of a downer.
Alex and I battled cell phone weather reports to discover we were sitting in a pocket between two storm “globs.” We ditched sloppy tacos and mounted up again. The hope was to race the storm back to DC.
My GoPro went into hiding during the rain – so there is no photographic evidence – but the ride home was kind of surreal with a grey sky and steam floating off the pavement. In the end, the route worked and we made it to Breadsoda with little rain in our path.
A little food and drink at Breadsoda – which beats El Sloppy Taco in so many ways – and it was the end of a successful ride. Thanks to everyone who joined us, organized this, and led the ride. I just hope Steve forgives me for leaving him hanging…
