Anybody interested in a monument tour ride?

[HillSlugger]

Capital City Brew Pub seems more reasonably priced.

[F8th637]

I love Old Ebbit Grill. That is our good ol' standby favorite.

[divingbiker]

I vote for the escalators at the southeast corner of the Union Station Metro platform exiting to First Street, at 8:30am.

I think I wasn't clear. I only know of two Metro escalators--at the southwest corner, and on the west side (by the Amtrak trains). If we want to meet at the southeast corner, we'll have to walk our bikes down there, which would be fine, too. I think that might be a less busy place to meet.

Cap City Brewery would be good, but I don't know what the bike rack/lockup situation is there. There are a lot of windows, so we'd be able to keep an eye on the bikes easily. Maybe we should just keep our options open and decide on Saturday. It sounds like we've got a couple of good choices.

F8th637, are you going to join us, or are you still a maybe? It would be great to meet you!

Janice, can you post a link to the route again?

Here's the link.

[Kalidurga]

Sorry about the obscure Clue reference. I was getting punchy at work yesterday. Ok, so we're meeting at the southeast corner outside of Union Station, at 8:30am Saturday morning?

[7rider]

Okay.
For the directionally challenged among us (who? me?)....
Where, exactly IS the "southeast corner"???
Can you give me a landmark?

[divingbiker]

Okay.
For the directionally challenged among us (who? me?)....
Where, exactly IS the "southeast corner"???
Can you give me a landmark?

In this picture, it's the arch at the far right side of Union Station. You'll come out of the Metro either along the left side of the station or through the arch at the left (don't know exactly where the elevator is), and walk along the front of the building, past all the taxis and tour buses, to the arch on the right.

Hope that makes sense...

[7rider]

Perfect.
Thanks!

[divingbiker]

OK, I finally had the patience to enter the route again into Bikely adding in all the points of interest and the Air Force Memorial and the Victims of Communism Memorial. The cue sheet gets pretty busy with all the sightseeing info in there. Here's the new route.

I assume that everyone knows we're going to have to play it by ear depending on traffic, street closures, etc, that don't show up on the mapping software. It will be especially confusing around the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials and the White House as the roads always seem to be a mess around there. And of course we have no idea what's happening in Arlington Cemetery, though I was told we could ride our bikes there.

Is that enough caveats for you????

My neighbor thinks that there might be places to park our bikes at the Capitol City Brewery next to Union Station (she works near there and checked as she walked by). If not there, there are lots of bike racks right across the street at Union Station and there are cops around there so thefts would be unlikely.

A new TE member, Sunnyside, is still setting up her profile but emailed me that she'll be joining us. So, see y'all at the southeast corner/rightmost arch (see two posts ago) of Union Station at 8:30 Saturday morning!

[Zen]

You guys get all the bugs worked out so the NEXT time you do this all will go smoothly for me

I'll be somewhere north of Thurmont by 8:30 heehee!

[Kalidurga]

Janice, it seems you've done a great job of organizing this ride, so thank you! If none of us get run over by a touron, it should be a ton of fun

ZenC, wave to the Catoctins for me! I love those mountains, but I wouldn't wanna ride 'em.

[HillSlugger]

Janice,

Awesome job on the route map! Thanks for taking care of this.

See you tomorrow by 8:30, Metro permitting.

[7rider]

Janice...you rock! Thanks.
I just got back from the Hill - had some meetings in Dirkson and Longworth. The toutistas were everywhere (even saw a pack of segways go by). The duck busses and double-deckers were out in force. I didn't have as much time as I wanted to scope out Union Station area for bike racks/traffic issues, but it did seem like there is a lot of construction in the area.

[F8th637]

Hi Ladies, what time do you think we'll be back? Just trying to get a sense of the time so that I can decide whether or not to join you this time around. Thanks!

[HillSlugger]

Regina needs to be "home (and showered) for my 2:30 appt." That would seem to mean she's done and headed home by 1 at the latest.

[F8th637]

I think I will have to pass this time around, ladies. Sunday would have worked better for me. It looks like I'll have to get some work done this weekend but I will definitely get some ride time in. I hope you ladies have fun and I hope to catch you next time around!