Leader: Ron Altemus
Members: Patricia S, Cindy H, Ellen G, Joan O, Mary S, Lisa O, Janell S, Steve P with Belmont Bay as a background
Route: casual tour of Mason Neck, starting with an out and back on Belmont Blvd with some of the group venturing down to the gate at the George Mason University Carter Center before retracing 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 Point and Gunston Manor neighborhoods and then back to the trail. Gunston Hall and Pohick Bay Park were visited including a spin through the latter's campground. Three hardy (masochistic?) souls rode down to the water and back up the hill. We returned to the trail and then another out and back into the golf course before the final short stretch on Gunston Rd to the ride start.
Weather: Great for the 3rd day of March; a bit cooler for the 3rd of May. Temps starting in the mid 50s, climbing to the low 60s. Brilliant sunshine, incredibly deep blue skies dotted with occasional puffs of white clouds. Continuous 11-13 mph air of the NW, gusting to the low 20s at times. No humidity.
AMS: low 11s or slightly faster depending on rider/routing
Mechanicals/Mishaps: one rider lodged a good size boulder in their cleat at Mason Neck Visitor Center and thus, couldn't clip-in. Major ditch digging/extraction equipment was needed to remove it, but once that was accomplished, it was like it never happened.
Report: a most excellent day bicycling even if the temperature was 12 degrees below the daily average. It was nice having Janell and Joan back riding and both of them are doing fine.
The breeze seemed to keep the pollen at bay (or blowing past us so fast it wasn't a concern) and the sky was crystal clear blue. Much of the route has extensive tree canopy on both sides of the road and the contrast of blue sky and numerous shadings of green was most delightful.
A very congenial group staying together for the entirety of the ride; traffic was fairly light and non-existent in the Hallowing Point and Gunston Manor neighborhoods. We only saw a few other riders - maybe the hammerheads rode earlier in the day.
Wildlife included osprey on next at the Visitor's Center, vultures and eagles soaring aloft, plenty of small brown somethings flitting about, and bird calls heard and identified but never seen.
