Great Falls Loop  We're having a great Fall here in N. Va. It's been warmer than usual with almost no rain. It's been terrible for the shrubs and garden but great cycling weather. Today was an ideal cycling day, cool, clear, and sunny. We spent the morning riding to the local farmer's market to pick up apples, yogurt, and corn on the cob and to chat with some friends. We stopped by the optometrist's office on the way back home and ran into another friend. She thought we were "playing", which we were, but we were also just doing the normal errands that most people do using their cars.

After lunch we decided to take a ride around the local area. I needed to check on some trails for a trail mapping project so we went there then rode through a very rural section of the county. It's been kept rural because of the very large lots. Some are horse farms, others are just large homes on really big lots; very wealthy people reside there. It makes for good cycling, with few cars and great scenery. It's about a 25 mile loop and a good workout with lots of hills.

We never started a car and yet we got lots done and had a great, scenic ride. There were a few places where the riding was terrible, but they were very short road sections that need better bicycle accommodations, and they would then link the good rural roads. The hyperlink above points to a map of the route. With our bicycle advocacy we hope to help the county map some of these good bike routes, and help make the roads more bicycle-friendly. Maybe we can get more people out of their cars, riding for local transportation and for recreation.
posted by Bruce Wright at 11:02 PM #