Memorial Day ride!!

[Jenn]

Well, we wen't camping and got back last night. Wow, with a 16 month old in a tent, THAT was fun!!!! Really it was....
A few of the wives here on base decided we'd go out this morning and ride our BUTTS off for those that cannot in this day of rememberance. So, we all took off this morning at 7AM and put in 40 miles, and it was the BEST ride I've had in a LONG time!! I think mostly because I've HAD to take it easy since the "wreck". I felt soooo strong!!! My average was 17 and my max was 27 so I was REALLY happy!!! Two of the women on the ride, their husbands are in Iraq and they led the ride and they were REALLY motivating. They both have little ones at home that hubbies haven't seen yet and they were TRUCKIN"!!!!
It felt SOO good to be back on my bike, even though I've been a little gun shy since the wreck and our LBS, bless their hearts, dropped my bike off at the gate for me last night, because they knew we were gone, not only did they fix EVERYTHING that was damaged, but they re-wrapped my handlebars....and left me a get well note! All at no cost....they are AWESOME!!!
Anyway, just wanted to post this, because I'm on that "after a good ride" high plus, just wanted to say maybe we can for a few seconds remember those brother and sisters of ours in arms!! Hope ya'll have a GREAT day!!!!
Jenn

[Mr. Bloom]

It's great that you're recuperating and feeling strong!

[SouthernBelle]

That sounds great, Jenn. The ride I did Saturday had several soldiers from Ft. Campbell. I had a nice chat with a young man from S. Georgia.

[divingbiker]

Your ride sounds great, Jenn. Glad that your recovery is going well.

I guess I'll turn this into the "Memorial Day Rides" thread. I did a ride that, too, was fitting for the day. I rode into downtown DC and stopped to have breakfast on a bench by the World War II Memorial. Then I rode along the reflecting pool to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Lots of activity there getting ready for a program later in the morning.

I crossed Memorial Bridge toward Arlington Cemetery (again lots of activity in advance of the President's wreath laying ceremony later in the morning) and headed south on the Mount Vernon trail to, well, Mount Vernon. On the way back, I caught the metro at National Airport and headed home, as it was getting warmer and my saddle was getting the better of me. Rode the last 2 miles from the metro station home. I think I did about 45 miles total.

Here are a few pictures from the day. You can see how hazy it was in this pic of the Washington Monument.



The World War 2 memorial



The Vietnam War memorial



Three Rolling Thunder guys for CrazyCanuck.

[Crankin]

I also did a fitting Memorial day ride. Hubby and I went out just to do a slow fun ride. We started out climbing up Strawberry Hill Rd. slowly, did some more climbing into Carlisle and then did a backwards version of one of our usual routes. It started getting really sunny and humid and I was getting hungry, so we stopped and sat on the porch at Ferns Country store in Carlisle. They serve sandwiches, but I just ate my Clif Bar. We were only about 6-7 miles from home when we remembered that Memorial Day Parade in Concord center started around 1-1:30, so we headed past our turn home, into the center. We timed it perfectly; the parade started about 10 minutes after we got there.
It was typical New England pagentry at its best. The Minutemen were followed by the parade leaders, lead by a marine and several other service people and vets. Right behind them was a group of military families that I could have been marching with! I wanted to introduce myself, but it would have interrupted the ceremony, so i will have to find out about this group.
After the ceremony, etc. we headed home. It got cloudy, thankfully and looked stormy, but nothing happened. Now I am waiting for son #1 to come for dinner.
21 miles at a slow pace...

[cosc]

Thanks for posting great pics and stories of memorial day rides. I went for a hike up the hill today as the wind is 30 with gusts higher . I made wholewheat rolls for supper tonight. YUMMY!

[SouthernBelle]

Well I haven't given my ride report yet. I headed out Hwy 70 which is a wide highway with wide shoulders. Then cut off to Hwy 109 to go to Old Laguardo Road. That's only about 5 miles long, but has some very old farms and an old log schoolhouse. Then waggled around out in the country.

At one point I heard a noise to my right and looked over to see a dog charging at me. I was ready to reach for my Halt, when I realized he was quite happy and just ran with me for about 1/2 mile.

My ice melted away quick and it was like drinking bathwater. But I saw a couple of phone trucks. They always have those big coolers strapped to the side. So I stopped and asked for ice and got a nice bottle of cold water. Love the phone company today!

Got in 26.5 miles.

[RolliePollie]

Happy Memorial Day! Seems very quiet around here today...not much traffic, downtown (which you might miss if you blink) was deserted. I had a great little ride through the countryside and noticed lots of folks remembered to put out their flags. I wished I had patriotic cycling gear, but I don't, so I just put red, white and blue rubber bands in my goofy Pippi Longstocking braids instead.

18 miles today, which brings my total for the 3-day weekend up to nearly 60 miles. That may not sound like much, but I've never ridden so many miles here locally without rest days in between.

All those great Washington D.C. pics make me wish there was something patriotic or celebratory going on around here!

[Mr. Bloom]

I did 37 miles. Silver's tri-team was doing a swim/bike/run. So, I rode 9 miles to the lake, watched them swim. Then I rode 19 miles at 18.8mph avg (a personal best for a ride that length). I played SAG wagon briefly going back to one of the riders with a flat, then I pedaled the 9 miles home.

Felt good!

[makbike]

I did a quick 14 miles as a recovery ride this afternoon. My legs and back were a bit stiff after my long rides on Saturday and Sunday. I did stop at one point to help a little baby robin. It has evidently just left the nest and was sitting the middle of the road. I picked it up, its mouth flew open to say "feed me, please!" and father robin gave me an earful. I moved the little guy to high weeds on the side of road and can only hope it makes it to adulthood. I guess this counts as my good deed for the day.

[crazycanuck]

Divingbiker-Thanks for the photos. I really want to go back to DC & see the memorials again. I was awed by the Wall, the Nurses Memorial & the reflecting pool..(ok well the reflecting pool was because of Forrest gump).
I missed the rolling thunder parade when i was there but i did get to visit Harpers Ferry instead.

C

[Aggie_Ama]

Jenn- Thanks to your DH and all those you live with. I really wish we could bring my friends in Iraq and Afghanistan home.

DC Gals- Is there a Korean War Memorial? My dear Pawpaw was a Korean War vet (he got a medal and all). Just curious.

We didn't do anything particularly Memorial Day centric, but we did put in 31 miles. Days like today always make me think of my Pawpaw who passed in 2003. I know he would have been flying his American Flag proudly (well he did every day); I miss him dearly.

[Zen]

I would love to do a tour of the memorials in DC but I have no Metrorail pass to get my bike down there from Shady Grove, must look into getting a new one.

The only ride my bike took today was on the back of the jeep to the LBS, getting a tune up, handlebars raised, and some Kool-Stop pads! Yay!

[divingbiker]

Is there a Korean War Memorial? My dear Pawpaw was a Korean War vet (he got a medal and all). Just curious.

Yes, there is! As you look at the Lincoln Memorial in my WW2 memorial picture above, the Vietnam Veterans memorial is on the right, and the Korean War memorial is to the left.

The Korean memorial is a field of statues of men in ponchos walking through a rice paddy. Here's a pic I found on the web:

[divingbiker]

I would love to do a tour of the memorials in DC but I have no Metrorail pass to get my bike down there from Shady Grove, must look into getting a new one.

Zencentury, you don't need a pass for your bike to take it on Metro any more. You can be on any car at the front or back doors (not the middle door), except at rush hour--no bikes on metro at rush hour.