STB's Big Adventure Part Six

This was taken at the Dickerson Whitewater Course used for training by the US Whitewater Slalom Team. It appeared that these guys were practicing rescue and survival skills. This is just off the C&O Trail and we followed a slow moving pickup truck to see what was going on only to find out the truck was escorting a manlift inside the fence and the electric gate that closed behind us. It was just a matter of minutes and we were politely asked to leave. Oops!

This was the end of the line for our C&O Canal part of the trip. We made it as far as the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center which is just a few miles outside of DC. You can take a canal boat ride here pulled by a mule and go through a lock just like the real thing about 100-150 years ago. This is right after I had a flat on the front and just minutes before I had a flat on the back - while trying to climb the big-ass hill leaving the river valley, of course. It all worked out and we were able to meet our ride in the town of Potomac a couple of hours later just about the time I was finishing up my salad & beer. I felt pretty good at that point in spite of the fact I was covered in mud and sweat.

The weather cleared up nicely the next day and we made it into Washington. We found a bike path that would take us into DC and the Mall for our sightseeing excursion but our driver had a little medical emergency so we went with the back up plan and drove in a little closer and then unloaded the bikes. We had a most pleasant spin around our nation's Capitol. Just a quick glance around and you know that a city like this could never be duplicated. The colossal expense, if you could find the craftspeople, to build these massive types of buildings will prevent anything even close to these ever being built again. We rode past the Capitol, White House, Library of Congress and many others. Another day cycling around the city would have been nice. I still haven't been inside any of the Smithsonian's buildings. Another time perhaps.

This one's for Cuzzin Ricky - Teamster HQ.

Jerry & Kevin

Thanks Jerry for the ride.

Thanks Kevin for the trip.

So there you have it. Pretty much the Alpha to Omega of Shop Teacher Bob's Big Adventure. It was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to the next big adventure that comes my way. I'm still paying for this one in the form of illness but I'm feeling better this morning. I've come to the self-diagnosed conclusion I'm suffering from Lyme disease but will have to have that confirmed by the doc when I go back this week. Whatever it is, it seems to be responding to antibiotics and that's the main thing. The weather forecast looks promising for the remainder of the week, so hopefully I'll be able to get out and start getting some of the jobs done around the shack I've been postponing. If I don't get the green light to start running pretty soon the marathon is going to be out, though. Just have to play that one by ear.