Day 5
Wednesday, 1 July 2020
Gaithersburg, MD to La Plata, MD
66.9 miles, 6h35m, 10.2 mph
Elapsed Time: 7h38m, Max speed: 36.9mph
Total Climbing: 2326ft, Max elevation: 352ft
Total mileage: 298.2
![](Images/Day05_09.jpg)
A long day that started in suburban Gathersburg and ended in
southern Maryland. Most of the day went fairly
slowly--I had to pick my way through the suburbs on bike paths and
through neighborhoods.
It's slow, but the constant need to navigate keeps me engaged.
![](Images/Day05_01.jpg)
It was maybe 10 miles to the Montgomery County Courthouse in
Rockville.
You can see it's having some work done.
![](Images/Day05_02.jpg)
And it is attached to the prior courthouse. With a little park.
![](Images/Day05_10.jpg)
After that it was alternating bike paths and neighborhoods. Here I
cross the beltway on a pedestrian bridge.
![](Images/Day05_11.jpg)
Eventually I reached the Capitol Crescent Trail. I noticed that
outdoor mask-wearing is much more common in
Montgomery County and DC than everywhere else I've been.
This photo is a little blurry because I was going so fast.
![](Images/Day05_12.jpg)
The Capitol Crescent crosses the C&O Canal a couple miles out
of downtown DC.
I did not switch over to the gravel path.
![](Images/Day05_03.jpg)
Finally into monumental Washington. Not many tourists around. But
a few.
![](Images/Day05_13.jpg)
I've always wanted to ride the bike lanes in the middle of
Pennsylvania Avenue. Done that.
![](Images/Day05_04.jpg)
And here's the DC Courthouse. There are a lot of courthouses
around here, but most are federal courts.
I'm pretty sure this is the DC Courthouse because there's a DC
flag flying out front.
I know it's not Maryland, but it used to be.
![](Images/Day05_14.jpg)
Then down the Mount Vernon Trail and past Reagan Airport. The
Economy lot may be closed, but it it not full.
![](Images/Day05_05.jpg)
I stopped for a sandwich at the Washngton Marina--where there was
a sailing summer camp going on--and then rode
through Alexandria--where some of the streets were closed so the
restaurants could put tables outside.
Then onto the Wilson Bridge to cross the Potomac.
![](Images/Day05_06.jpg)
This is the DC-Maryland border on the bridge. You start in
Virginia, then cross into DC for about 200 yards, and then into
Maryland.
There was also one of those scooter things abandoned in the middle
of the bridge. People leave those things all over.
![](Images/Day05_07.jpg)
Rest break on the Maryland side. This is Prince George's County,
but I won't see the courthouse for a couple days yet.
![](Images/Day05_15.jpg)
After that it was back to the large shoulders of big highways and
the small shoulders of rural roads.
And this brilliant contribution from Garmin. I was able to squeeze
around and it worked out okay.
![](Images/Day05_08.jpg)
This is the front door of the Charles County Courthouse. But like
many in rural houses, nobody uses the front door
and there's another entrance around the side that probably opens
right into the kitchen.
Tomorrow I ride to Leonardtown...and beyond!
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"Maryland 2020" Copyright © 2020 By Bob Clemons. All
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