Leader: Ron Altemus
Members: Cindy Halliday, Joan Oppel, Jill Thompson Riese
Route: From Gunston Elementary, an out and back on Belmont Blvd for a scenic view of Belmont Bay, then the Mason Neck trail/Springfield spur to a rest stop at the State Park visitors center. Departing the park, east on Gunston Road to tour Hallowing Point followed by Gunston Estates. Brief jogs into Gunston Hall, Pohick Bay Park, and Pohick Bay golf course completed our route.
Weather: Another fabulous day - plenty of sunshine, temps climbing from the upper 50s to probably 70, and marginal air movement from some direction or other.
AMS: leisurely mid 11s
Mechanicals/Mishaps: none
Report: another initial club ride for a new member as Cindy just joined and rode this route for the first time. She was surprised at the rural nature of Mason Neck and the large sections of property under government control which precludes further development. Welcome Cindy - we hope to see you on more club rides.
With Jill on her eDomane and Cindy riding an etrike, the decision was made to include two additional descents/climbs to the usual route. At the overlook of Belmont Bay, we continued down the hill on Old Spring to the George Mason conference center. Though the gate was locked, we got a bit of hill work in retracing our route back to Belmont Blvd. Then at Pohick Bay Park, we added the descent down to the bay. The return back up the hill saw a steady 11% (with a flash of 12) grade, most of the reason why we don't usually go down there.
A most enjoyable conversational cycling ride today.
