between Miles 7 and 8

I have way too many photos of my 30-mile walk (May 15) to upload. Here are some more: pics from between Miles 7 and 8. I've done the Mount Vernon/Old Town gauntlet enough times to have memorized what special features I can find between the mile markers on the bike path.

Between Miles 0 and 1: The big downhill at the beginning. Nothing else very interesting happening except, of course, for the forest all around you. The woods are thin on your left; the parkway is plainly visible that way.

Between Miles 1 and 2: Riverside Park (it lies just beyond the Mile 1 marker).

Between Miles 2 and 3: Fort Hunt Park, whose entrance is at Mile 2.75. Pass the entrance and go uphill a bit, and you'll catch the Mile 3 marker while walking downhill into a wood. To reach the park, you have to walk through a tunnel that takes the bike path away from the river and puts it on the other side of the George Washington Parkway.

Between Miles 3 and 4: The bike path detour because of construction-- a new wooden bridge is being built. This is, to be honest, the most unpleasant section of the path for me. I'm not sure why. Maybe because it's the hilliest mile. (Whine, whine, whine.)

Between Miles 4 and 5: I call this the "golf course" section because it's so smooth, green, and bland, especially in comparison to the previous mile.

Between Miles 5 and 6: Just after Mile 5 is the stone bridge (Alexandria Avenue) that crosses over the GW Parkway, placing the bike path once again between the parkway and the Potomac River. This stretch also features that ritzy waterfront neighborhood, accessible only through some arcane back roads.

Between Miles 6 and 7: The main thrill here is the long wooden bridge. It's nice to walk over, but even cooler to bike over.

Between Miles 7 and 8: Belle Haven Park, which was until recently a temporary duck pond (as you'll see).

After that, you're pretty much in Old Town, and beyond Old Town, the path takes you past a large marina, past National Airport, and eventually up into Maryland, if I'm not mistaken. Theoretically, Georgetown University, which lies just across the river if you cross at Key Bridge, is walking distance from my parents' house. I might try that walk some day... but not this year.

And now: photos of Miles 7 to 8.

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