Leader: Ron Altemus
Members: Rick Hagen, Mark Garrison, Joan Oppel, Gene Villiva, Susan Altemus, Lisa Petersen (pictured in front of George Mason's Gunston Hall)
Route: advertised as a casual tour of Mason Neck, we started off with an out and back on Belmont Blvd. Gunston Rd took us to the Mason Neck trail followed by a short spur on Springfield before rejoining the trail. We left the trail at High Point Rd to head down to the Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center. Retracing on High Point, we used Gunston Rd to tour the Hallowing Pointand Gunston Manor neighborhoods and then back to the trail. Gunston Hall and Pohick Bay Park were visited in turn off the trail before the final short stretch on Gunston Rd back to the ride start.
Weather: the great fall like weather continues! Sunny, temp range mid 60s to low 70s, light air movement, and NO humidity. Perfect day for riding and riding and riding...
AMS: RL was in the mid 11s.
Mechanicals/Mishaps: none
Report: as mentioned above, another fantastic day for bicycling. Two club members hadn't been to Mason Neck in over 30 years but actually it hasn't changed too much other than the number of MacMansions occupying large lots. We rode together the entire route with plenty of CCing (conversational cycling) taking place. Traffic was mostly light though there were occasional grouping of cars in one direction or another. Numerous other cyclists at the visitor's center but none on the trail or farther down the Neck in the neighborhoods.
Outbound on Belmont Blvd. Photo by Rick.
After the ride, all of us went to Panera's over at Lorton Market for nourishment and more conversating. A most excellent way to end the day's ride.
