Biked from Roosevelt Island on the Mt Vernon Trail along the Potomac through Alexandria down to Mt Vernon...about 18 miles each way...36 miles total. Saw another snapping turtle alongside the road..this is the 4th large snapping turtle I've seen along or on the bike trails here. This particular trail gets really hilly after Alexandria...but scenic along the Potomac river...right on the water.

Tomorrow will bike from Vienna to Leesburg and back, about 45 miles. Schweet. Lookin forward to it. I need to get some bike shorts that allow the sun to go through - I'm getting a weird bike shorts tan.

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Frustrating day at work, decided to go on a long bike ride to "cool off" (relax). Was a really smoothe ride until I rolled into Leesburg, all of a sudden, sky turns black - I was like dang...another thunderboomer coming. The winds began to gust almost blowing me off the road. I had remembered that there was this gazebo off the trail in downtown right as it began to downpour. I biked fast until I found it then ducked inside as it started to rain harder and hail. I was glad I remembered where it was. Strangely, the storm only lasted about 5-10 minutes, then it was over...everything completely wet...asphalt steaming, sun shining. Another bizare thing happened on the way back, I was approaching Ashburn and I see what appeared to be a house on fire...well..the thick heavy smoke over the treeline with some flames. I was thinking that maybe one of the old houses there got struck by lightning and caught fire. I came closer and it was revealed that it was a intentional "controlled" fire set by the local fire department (for training). I was about 100 feet from this huge shack filled with rubbish - it was on fire...the entire house. The flames were so huge and intense, I could feel the heat from the trail and a house about 25 feet away was being hosed down - you could see the vinyl siding begin to melt.

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This spring weather is so unpredictable. It's beautiful during the day up until about 2pm - then it seems to threaten to thunderstorm, but does not. Then of course, it decides to thunderstorm when I'm about 16 miles into my bike ride. I love it though. Feels good - it's only the lightning and the close cracks of thunder that freak me out. I'm not afraid of lightning - just "cautious". But I have to admit - foolish that I will be biking in the middle of a thunderstorm. Granted I am riding on rubber tires - but I'm riding on a metal frame (conductor). Doubt my composite carbon fibre helmut is much of a deterrent to lightning, nor protection. Anyhoo, got back safe, dried off, then drove home.

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Ended working late at the office, but decided to take my bike ride regardless. Always seems to happen when crap hits the fan. Right about the time people are leaving the office. I've gotten in the habit of changing into my bike closes to signal that it's time to leave. I was about to escape when....the familiar "um, we just got this phone call..." Anyways, it was threatening to storm - and there was a severe thunderstorm warning. Same deal as the day before - knew I was gonna get wet. Did my standard bikeride to and from Purciville. It was spitting rain, Thundering & lightning. really heavy gusts - and the sky and light had this really odd mix of colors. On the way back, saw one of the most amazing sunsets. On one side was a sunset....ahead of me was this full rainbow - perfectly clear. SO clear it looked fake. Got home about 9:30. Long ass day.

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Was a beautiful day - even the heavy downpour I encountered at the last half hour of my 2 hour bike ride tonight. It was really cool - literally and figuratively. I know it was going to get caught in the storm, but since it was hot - I decided to embrace with the notion that I was going to get wet. It would be refreshing like a kid jumping through a sprinkler on a really hot summer day.

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Another Cicada contest followup, WMZQ was on the radio this morning talking to the first place winners of the Cicada Cookoff that I participated in over the weekend (and amusingly, I came in second place). The DJ was like...well to be honest with you, your entry won based on presentation, it was clearly not the best tasting....the second place was the best tasting". Too funny. They have posted the pictures of the entire event here on the WMZQ website.
(more press stuff: Here's a newscast video of the event on the news [requires real player])
I won second prize in this silly Cicada Cookoff, which was for these tickets to this thing at Wolftrap - who usually has amazing legends - or contemporary acts. But sheesh, I'm not really into Country music. SO I'm figuring that I'd try to give the tickets away. I ask everyone at work and some friends if they have ever heard of Diamond Rio or Patty Loveless - and if they wanted free tickets....a big no. I couldn't even give these tickets away. They are $36 per ticket. I have to show up there at the concert ticket counter to claim them with ID, I cannot just send someone to get them in advance to give them away. So, I'll make some Diamond Rio or Patty Loveless fan very happy if I try to make a posting on Fark.com to see if anyone wants them (for free). Meet me at the Wolftrap ticket counter at 7:00pm, Thursday, May 27 in Vienna, VA for two free tickets to Diamond Rio & Patty Loveless. I'll be wearing a Crest toothpaste bicycling jersey. Identify yourself as "Dotty Bluetooth" and the tickets are yours. No strings attached. Stay tuned to Fark.com if this story gets listed (more than likely not)
Anyhoo, damn..it was a hot ass bike ride tonigh - did 36 miles...solid 2 hours. saw a few turtles and a really friendly black cat. He walked 1/2 way out into the middle of the trail in front of me..and layed down..demanding attention..lol
I hope someone will get these tickets - will be my pleasure.

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What a beautiful day - on the muggy hot side, but nice. Slept in a little this morning, extended wierd dream after another. Had lunch and decided to go on a long bike ride somewhere totally different. I checked my Northern Virginia bike map (which has hundreds of miles of trails) and decided to check out the Mount Vernon Trail (George Washington Memorial Parkway trail). I biked this trail many years ago - in fact, I've biked it with my Mother! Back when I was in Boy Scouts, (back when I was a pre-teen/teenager) That trip, my father dropped my two brothers and I with my mother to bike this bike trail (it's only about 18 miles long). We biked from Mount Vernon towards Alexandria to Arlington. I did the same trip today, except I started at the Arlington side of Alexandria and biked to Mount Vernon and back - about 36 miles (chump change - ha!). It was a beautiful trip - it's right on the Potomac River, bike through some dense woods, through a marsh, through Old Towne Alexandria. It's now one of my favorite weekend trails. It's challenging too - hilly and curvy - not just straight terrain. After my bike ride - drove around Old Town Alexandria. I really love it there. Then came home and fixed a huge wonderful meal with the parents. Rib eye steak covered in sauteed marsala portabello mushrooms and onions, sweet potatos and some of my stuffed mushrooms (cicada free), with a nice Boujoulais wine. I feel so relaxed - before sunday night anxiety sets in.

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