Ride leader: Steve Palincsar
Members: Joan Oppel, Ron Altemus, Pat Walthers, Jessica Hirschhorn and joining us en route, Lou Dallorso
Weather: Overcast on the way down, and entering Accokeek a light drizzle began. As the riders arrived the rain grew stronger. Radar maps that had been clear but for snow west of the Blue Ridge two hours earlier now showed green everywhere, not at all what had been forecast. It was still around 50 and the forecast did call for clearing skies and rising temps -- an no rain -- so we went anyway. After five miles or so the rain stopped, and by the time we got to the first rest stop the skies cleared, the sun came out and it started getting warmer. By the time we finished, it was in the high 50s and sunny. They say it was breezy, but honestly I never noticed, it was just too nice a day.
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11506734 36 miles, only 1000' of elevation gain. Down Farmington (still as potholed as ever) and across 210, up through The Preserve on Medinah Ridge to Danville, Gardner to Acton to Hamilton, and there we found Lou Dallorso about ready to turn into his driveway after the cancellation (or so we all believed) of Holly's Manokeek ride. Through Waldorf and around the three Circles, a bit of the IHRT, Bensville to Manning and back to Accokeek. After my flat we decided to skip the final couple of miles, as we all were feeling some time pressure due to the delays fixing flats.
Mishaps and mechanicals: Ron had a flat just before the first rest stop at the WaWa and I had a flat near the end on the back streets of Accokeek. Glass in both cases.
AMS: I never even checked.
Joan took some photos.
